He was first taught to read English by Dame Oliver, a widow, who kept a school for young children in Lichfield. He told me she could read the black letter, and asked him to borrow for her, from his father, a Bible in that character. When he was going to Oxford, she came to take leave of him, brought him, in the simplicity of her kindness, a present of gingerbread, and said he was the best scholar she ever had. He delighted in mentioning this early compliment: adding, with a smile, that "this was as high a proof of his merit as he could conceive." His next instructor in English was a master, whom, when he spoke of him to me, he familiarly called Tom Brown, who, said he, “published a spelling-book, and dedicated it to the UNIVERSE; but I fear no copy of it can now be had." Indeed, Johnson was very sensible how much he owed to Mr. Hunter. Mr. Langton one day asked him how he had acquired so accurate a knowledge of Latin, in which, I believe, he was exceeded by no man of his time; he said, "My master whipt me very well. Without that, Sir, I should have done nothing." He told Mr. Langton, that while Hunter was flogging his boys unmercifully, he used to say, " And this I do to save you from the gallows." Johnson, upon all occasions, expressed his approbation of enforcing instruction by means of the rod. "I would rather (said he) have the rod to be the general terror to all, to make them learn, than tell a child, if you do thus, or thus, you will be more esteemed than your brothers or sisters. The rod produces an effect which terminates in itself. A child is afraid of being whipped, and gets his task, and there's an end on't; whereas, by exciting emulation and comparisons of superiority, you lay the foundation of lasting mischief; you make brothers and sisters hate each other." When Johnson saw some young ladies in Lincolnshire who were remarkably well be haved, owing to their mother's strict discipline and severe correction, he exclaimed, in one of Shakspeare's lines, a little varied,t He began to learn Latin with Mr. Hawkins, usher, or under-master, of Lichfield school, a man (said he), very skilful in his little way." With him he continued two years, and then rose to be under the care of Mr. Hunter, the head-master, who, according to his account," was very severe, and wrong-headedly severe. He used (said he) to beat us unmercifully; and he did not distinguish between ignorance and negligence; for he would beat a boy equally for not knowing a thing, as for neglecting to "Rod, I will honour thee for this thy duty." know it. He would ask a boy a question, That superiority over his fellows, which and if he did not answer it, he would beat he maintained with so much dignity in his him, without considering whether he had march through life, was not assumed from an opportunity of knowing how to answer vanity and ostentation, but was the natural it. For instance, he would call up a boy and constant effect of those extraordinary and ask him Latin for a candlestick, which the powers of mind, of which he could not but boy could not expect to be asked. Now, Sir, be conscious by comparison; the intellecif a boy could answer every question, there tual difference, which, in other cases of would be no need of a master to teach him." comparison of characters, is often a matter It is, however, but justice to the memory of undecided contest, being as clear in his of Mr. Hunter to mention, that though he case as the superiority of stature in some might err in being too severe, the school of men above others. Johnson did not strut Lichfield was very respectable in his time. or stand on tiptoe; he only did not stoop. The late Dr. Taylor, Prebendary of West-From his earliest years, his superiority was minster, who was educated under him, told perceived and acknowledged. He was, from me, that "he was an excellent master, and the beginning, avut avigwv, a king of men. that his ushers were most of them men of His schoolfellow, Mr. Hector, has obligingly eminence; that Holbrook, one of the most furnished me with many particulars of his ingenious men, best scholars, and best preach- boyish days; and assured me that he never ers of his age, was usher during the greatest knew him corrected at school, but for talkpart of the time that Johnson was at school. ing and diverting other boys from their Then came Hague, of whom, as much business. He seemed to learn by intuimight be said, with the addition that he was tion; for though indolence and procrasan elegant poet. Hague was succeeded by tination were inherent in his constitution, Green, afterwards Bishop of Lincoln, whose whenever he made an exertion, he did more character in the learned world is well known. than any one else. In short, he is a meIn the same form with Johnson was Con-morable instance of what has been often greve, who afterwards became chaplain to Archbishop Boulter, and by that connexion obtained good preferment in Ireland. He was a younger son of the ancient family of Congreve, in Staffordshire, of which the poet was a branch. His brother sold the estate. There was also Lowe, afterwards Canon of Windsor." observed, that the boy is the man in miniature; and that the distinguishing characteristics of each individual are the [Johnson's observations to Dr. Rose, on this subject, may be found in a subsequent part of this work. See vol. ii. near the end of the year 1775. B.] † (More than a little. The line is in KING HENRY VI. Part ii. Act iv. Sc. last: "Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed." M.] same, through the whole course of life. His favourites used to receive very liberal assistance from him; and such was the submission and deference with which he was treated, such the desire to obtain his regard, that three of the boys, of whom Mr. Hector was sometimes one, used to come in the morning as his humble attendants, and carry him to school. One in the middle stooped, while he sat upon his back, and one on each side supported him; and thus he was borne triumphant. Such a proof of the early predominance of intellectual vigour is very remarkable, and does honour to human nature.-Talking to me once himself of his being much distinguished at school, he told me, “they never thought to raise me by comparing me to any one; they never said, Johnson is as good a scholar as such a one; but such a one is as good a scholar as Johnson; and this was said but of one, but of Lowe; and I do not think he was as good a scholar." He discovered a great ambition to excel, which roused him to counteract his indolence. He was uncommonly inquisitive; and his memory was so tenacious, that he never forgot any thing that he either heard or read. Mr. Hector remembers having recited to him eighteen verses, which, after a little pause, he repeated verbatim, varying only one epithet, by which he improved the line. He never joined with the other boys in their ordinary diversions; his only amusement was in winter, when he took a pleasure in being drawn upon the ice by a boy barefooted, who pulled him along by a garter fixed round him: no very easy operation, as his size was remarkably large. His defective sight, indeed, prevented him from enjoying the common sports; and he once pleasantly remarked to me, "how wonderfully well he had contrived to be idle without them." Lord Chesterfield, however, has justly observed in one of his letters, when earnestly cautioning a friend against the pernicious effects of idleness, that active sports are not to be reckoned idleness in young people; and that the listless torpor of doing nothing, alone deserves Of this dismal inertness of disposition, Johnson had all his life too great Mr. Hector relates, that "he could not oblige him more than by sauntering away the hours of vacation in the fields, during which he was more engaged in talking to himself than to his companion." that name. a share. Dr. Percy, the Bishop of Dromore, who was long intimately acquainted with him, and has preserved a few anecdotes concerning him, regretting that he was not a more diligent collector, informs me, that, "when a boy, he was immoderately fond of reading romances of chivalry, and he retained his fondness for them through life; so that After having resided for some time at the house of his uncle, Cornelius Ford, Johnson was, at the age of fifteen, removed to the school of Stourbridge, in Worcestershire, of which Mr. Wentworth was then master. This step was taken by the advice of his cousin, the Rev. Mr. Ford, a man in whom both talents and good dispositions were disgraced by licentiousness, but who was a very able judge of what was right. At this school, he did not receive so much benefit as was expected. It has been said. that he acted in the capacity of an assistant to Mr. Wentworth, in teaching the younger boys. "Mr. Wentworth, (he told me) was a very able man, but an idle man, and to me very severe; but I cannot blame him much. I was then a big boy: he saw I did not reverence him; and that he should get no honour by me. I had brought enough with me to carry me through; and all I should get at his school would be ascribed to my own labour, or to my former master. Yet he taught me a great deal." He thus discriminated to Dr. Percy, Bishop of Dromore, his progress at his two grammar-schools. "At one, I learned much in the school, but little from the master; in the other, I learned much from the master, but little in the school." The Bishop also informs me, that " Dr. Johnson's father, before he was received at Stourbridge, applied to have him admitted as a scholar and assistant to the Rev. Samue! Lea, M.A. head master of Newport school, in Shropshire (a very diligent good teacher, at that time in high reputation, under whom, Mr. Hollis is said, in the Memoirs of his life, to have been also educated.) This application to Mr. Lea was not successful; but Johnson had afterwards the gratification to hear that the old gentleman, who lived to a very advanced age, mentioned it as one of the most memorable events of his life, that "he was very near having that great man for his scholar." He remained at Stourbridge little more than a year, and then he returned home, where he may be said to have loitered, for two years, in a state very unworthy his un [Cornelius Ford, according to Sir John Hawkins, was his cousin german, being the son of Dr. Joseph (Q. Nathanael) Ford, an eminent Physician, who was brother to Johnson's mother. M.j He is said to be the original of the parson in Hogarth's Modern Midnight Conversation. As was likewise the Bishop of Dromore, many years afterward. common abilities. He had already given several proofs of his poetical genius, both in his school exercises and in other occasional compositions. Of these I have obtained a considerable collection, by the favour of Mr. Wentworth, son of one of his masters, and of Mr. Hector, his schoolfellow and friend, from which I select the following specimens: Translation of VIRGIL. Pastoral 1. MELIBUS. Now, Tityrus, you, supine and careless laid, TITYRUS. Those blessings, friend, a deity bestow'd, For I shall never think him less than god: Oft on his altar shall my firstlings lie, Their blood the consecrated stones shall dye: He gave my flocks to graze the flowery meads, And me to tune at ease th' unequal reeds. MELIBUS. My admiration only I exprest, (No spark of envy harbours in my breast) To you alone this happy state remains. Here I, though faint myself, must drive my goats, Translation of HORACE. Book I. Ode xxii. For while my Chloe's image charm'd, Dire nurse of raging lions, bore. Translation of HORACE. Book II. Odeix. CLOUDS do not always veil the skies, Nor showers immerse the verdant plain; Nor do the billows always rise, Or storms afflict the ruffled main: Nor, Valgius, on th' Armenian shores Or bends with violent force the trees. The wise experienc'd Grecian sage So much lament his slaughter'd son. Leave off, at length, these woman's sighs Augustus' numerous trophies sing; Repeat that prince's victories, To whom all nations tribute bring. Niphates rolls an humbler wave; Át length the undaunted Scythian yields, Content to live the Romans' slave, And scarce forsakes his native fields. Translation of part of the Dialogue between HECTOR and ANDROMACHE; from the Sixth Book of HoMER'S ILIAD. SHE ceased; then godlike Hector answer'd kind, That Priam's house and Priam's self shall bleed: Yet Hecuba's nor Priam's hoary age, Whose blood shall quench some Grecian's thirsty rage, As the sad thought of your impending fate: And, fainting, scarce support the liquid weight: Behold the wife of Hector, guard of Troy ! Tears, at my name, shall drown those beauteous eyes, To a YOUNG LADY, on her BIRTH-DAY. Thy form more lovely, more adorned thy mind; May powerful nature join with grateful art, Those sovereign charms with strictest care employ, THE YOUNG AUTHOR.t WHEN first the peasant, long inclin'd to roam, Mr. Hector informs me, that this was made almost impromptu in his presence. This he inserted, with many alterations, in the Gentleman s Magazine, 1743. C same, through the whole course of life. His favourites used to receive very liberal assistance from him; and such was the submission and deference with which he was treated, such the desire to obtain his regard, that three of the boys, of whom Mr. Hector was sometimes one, used to come in the morning as his humble attendants, and carry him to school. One in the middle stooped, while he sat upon his back, and one on each side supported him; and thus he was borne triumphant. Such a proof of the early predominance of intellectual vigour is very remarkable, and does honour to human nature.-Talking to me once himself of his being much distinguished at school, he told me, they never thought to raise me by comparing me to any one; they never said, Johnson is as good a scholar as such a one; but such a one is as good a scholar as Johnson; and this was said but of one, but of Lowe; and I do not think he was as good a scholar." 66 He discovered a great ambition to excel, which roused him to counteract his indolence. He was uncommonly inquisitive; and his memory was so tenacious, that he never forgot any thing that he either heard or read. Mr. Hector remembers having recited to him eighteen verses, which, after a little pause, he repeated verbatim, varying only one epithet, by which he improved the line. He never joined with the other boys in their ordinary diversions; his only amusement was in winter, when he took a pleasure in being drawn upon the ice by a boy barefooted, who pulled him along by a garter fixed round him: no very easy operation, as his size was remarkably large. His defective sight, indeed, prevented him from enjoying the common sports; and he once pleasantly remarked to me, "how wonderfully well he had contrived to be idle without them." Lord Chesterfield, however, has justly observed in one of his letters, when earnestly cautioning a friend against the pernicious effects of idleness, that active sports are not to be reckoned idleness in young people; and that the listless torpor of doing nothing, alone deserves that name. Of this dismal inertness of disposition, Johnson had all his life too great Mr. Hector relates, that he could not oblige him more than by sauntering away the hours of vacation in the fields, during which he was more engaged in talking to himself than to his companion." a share. Dr. Percy, the Bishop of Dromore, who was long intimately acquainted with him, and has preserved a few anecdotes concerning him, regretting that he was not a more díligent collector, informs me, that, "when a boy, he was immoderately fond of reading romances of chivalry, and he retained his fondness for them through life; so that (adds his lordship) spending part of a summer at my parsonage-house in the country, he chose for his regular reading the old Spanish romance of FELIXMARTE OF HIRCANIA, in folio, which he read quite through. Yet I have heard him attribute to these extravagant fictions that unsettled turn of mind which prevented his ever fixing in any profession." After having resided for some time at the house of his uncle, Cornelius Ford, Johnson was, at the age of fifteen, removed to the school of Stourbridge, in Worcestershire, of which Mr. Wentworth was then master. This step was taken by the advice of his cousin, the Rev. Mr. Ford, a man in whom both talents and good dispositions were disgraced by licentiousness, but who was a very able judge of what was right. At this school, he did not receive so much benefit as was expected. It has been said. that he acted in the capacity of an assistant to Mr. Wentworth, in teaching the younger boys. "Mr. Wentworth, (he told me) was a very able man, but an idle man, and to me very severe; but I cannot blame him much. I was then a big boy: he saw I did not reverence him; and that he should get no honour by me. I had brought enough with me to carry me through; and all I should get at his school would be ascribed to my own labour, or to my former master. Yet he taught me a great deal." He thus discriminated to Dr. Percy, Bishop of Dromore, his progress at his two grammar-schools. "At one, I learned much in the school, but little from the master ; in the other, I learned much from the master, but little in the school." The Bishop also informs me, that " Dr. Johnson's father, before he was received at Stourbridge, applied to have him admitted as a scholar and assistant to the Rev. Samue! Lea, M.A. head master of Newport school, in Shropshire (a very diligent good teacher, at that time in high reputation, under whom, Mr. Hollis is said, in the Memoirs of his life, to have been also educated.) This application to Mr. Lea was not successful; but Johnson had afterwards the gratification to hear that the old gentleman, who lived to a very advanced age, mentioned it as one of the most memorable events of his life, that "he was very near having that great man for his scholar." He remained at Stourbridge little more than a year, and then he returned home, where he may be said to have loitered, for two years, in a state very unworthy his un [Cornelius Ford, according to Sir John Hawkins, was his cousin german, being the son of Dr. Joseph (Q. Nathanael) Ford, an eminent Physician, who was brother to Johnson's mother. M.j He is said to be the original of the parson in Hogarth's Modern Midnight Conversation. As was likewise the Bishop of Dromore, many years afterward. common abilities. He had already given several proofs of his poetical genius, both in his school exercises and in other occasional compositions. Of these I have obtained a considerable collection, by the favour of Mr. Wentworth, son of one of his masters, and of Mr. Hector, his schoolfellow and friend, from which I select the following specimens: Translation of VIRGIL. Pastoral 1. MELIBCUS. Now, Tityrus, you, supine and careless laid, Play on your pipe beneath this beechen shade; While wretched we about the world must roam, And leave our pleasing fields and native home, Here at your ease you sing your amorous flame, And the wood rings with Amarillis' name. TITYRUS. Those blessings, friend, a deity bestow'd, Their blood the consecrated stones shall dye: My admiration only I exprest, Here I, though faint myself, must drive my goats, Translation of HORACE. Book I. Ode xxii. THE man, my friend, whose conscious heart With virtue's sacred ardour glows, Nor taints with death the envenom'd dart, Nor needs the guard of Moorish bows: Though Scythia's icy cliffs he treads, Or horrid Afric's faithless sands; Or where the famed Hydaspes spreads His liquid wealth o'er barbarous lands. For while my Chloe's image charm'd, Too far in Sabine woods I stray'd; Me singing, careless and unarm'd, A grisly wolf surprised, and fled. Dire nurse of raging lions, bore. Translation of HORACE. Book II. Odeix. CLOUDS do not always veil the skies, Or storms afflict the ruffled main: Or bends with violent force the trees. The wise experienc'd Grecian sage So much lament his slaughter'd son. To whom all nations tribute bring. At length the undaunted Scythian yields, And scarce forsakes his native fields. Translation of part of the Dialogue between HECTOR and ANDROMACHE; from the Sixth Book of HoMER'S ILIAD. SHE ceased; then godlike Hector answer'd kind, That Priam's house and Priam's self shall bleed: Whose blood shall quench some Grecian's thirsty rage, As the sad thought of your impending fate: And, fainting, scarce support the liquid weight: Behold the wife of Hector, guard of Troy! Tears, at my name, shall drown those beauteous eyes, To a YOUNG LADY, on her BIRTH-DAY. Thy form more lovely, more adorned thy mind; May powerful nature join with grateful art, O then, when conquered crowds confess thy sway, Those sovereign charms with strictest care employ, THE YOUNG AUTHOR.† WHEN first the peasant, long inclin'd to roam, Mr. Hector informs me, that this was made almost impromptu in his presence. f This he inserted, with many alterations, in the Gentleman s Magazine, 1743. C |