1782. The greatest, if not the whole, of a Reply, by the Reverend Mr. Shaw, to a Person at Edinburgh, of the Name of Clarke, refuting his arguments for the authenticity of the Poems published by Mr. James Macpherson as Translations from Ossian. intern. evid. *1784. List of the Authours of the Universal History, deposited in the British Museum, and printed in the Gentleman's Magazine for December, this year. acknowl. VARIOUS YEARS. Letters to Mrs. Thrale. acknowl. Prayers and Meditations, which he delivered to the Rev. Mr. [* To this List of the Writings of Dr. Johnson, Mr. Alexander Chalmers, with considerable probability, suggests to me that we may add the following: IN THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. 1747. Lauder's Proposals for printing the Adamus Exul of Grotius. Vol. 20. p. 404. 1750. Address to the Publick, concerning Miss Williams's Miscellanies, Vol. 20. p. 428. 1753. Preface. Notice of Mr. Edward Cave's death, inserted in the last page of the Index. IN THE LITERARY MAGAZINE. 1756. "Observations on the foregoing letter;" i. e. A letter on the American Colonies. Vol. i. p. 66. MALONE.] [Since the above were communicated to Mr. Malone, Mr. C. has discovered the following in the Gentleman's Magazine : 1739. Address to the Reader in May 1749. Letter on Fire-works, in January. 1751. Preface to the Gentleman's Magazine. Criticism on Moore's Gil Blas. 1754. Preface. A. C.] Such was the number and variety of the Prose Works of this extraordinary man, which I have been able to discover, and am at liberty to mention; but we ought to keep in mind, that there must undoubtedly have been many more which are yet concealed; and we may add to the account, the numerous Letters which he wrote, of which a considerable part are yet unpublished. It is hoped that those persons in whose possession they are, will favour the world with them. JAMES BOSWELL. "After my death I wish no other Herald, SHAKSPEARE, Henry VIII. See Dr. Johnson's letter to Mrs. Thrale, dated Ostick in Skie, September 30, 1773: "Boswell writes a regular Journal of our travels, which I think contains as much of what I say and do, as of all other occurrences together; "for such a faithful chronicler is Griffith." ROUND ROBIN addressco to SAMUEND WRITIN with FAC SIMILES 7 & Metcalfe. Apibbon. Jos. Warton. Style Fir 60 We the CircumR روز appears to be for elegant Composi Author, are yet of opinion, that the not delineated with all the exactness. capable of giving it: We therefore car of his lif naro. I his Works are Ornament, Which we also l ノ Lector hims 784. Engraved by Side THE LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL. D. To write the Life of him who excelled all mankind in writing the lives of others, and who, whether we consider his extraordinary endowments, or his various works, has been equalled by few in any age, is an arduous, and may be reckoned in me a presumptuous task. Had Dr. Johnson written his own Life, in conformity with the opinion which he has given,' that every man's life may be best written by himself; had he employed in the preservation of his own history, that clearness of narration and elegance of language in which he has embalmed so many eminent persons, the world would probably have had the most perfect example of biography that was ever exhibited. But although he at different times, in a desultory manner, committed to writing many particulars of the progress of his mind and fortunes, he never had persevering diligence enough to form them into a regular composition. Of these memorials a few have been preserved; but the greater part was consigned by him to the flames, a few days before his death. As I had the honour and happiness of enjoying his |