The life of Samuel Johnson. [With] The principal corrections and additions to the first edition, Volume 11822 |
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Page xi
... doubts I at any time entertained , have been en- tirely removed by the very favourable reception with which it has been honoured . That reception has excited my best exertions to render my Book more perfect ; and in this endeavour I ...
... doubts I at any time entertained , have been en- tirely removed by the very favourable reception with which it has been honoured . That reception has excited my best exertions to render my Book more perfect ; and in this endeavour I ...
Page xii
... doubt , if his discourse at other periods had been collected with the same attention , the whole tenour of what he uttered would have been found equally excellent . His strong , clear , and animated enforcement of religion , morality ...
... doubt , if his discourse at other periods had been collected with the same attention , the whole tenour of what he uttered would have been found equally excellent . His strong , clear , and animated enforcement of religion , morality ...
Page xviii
... doubt it will be found not less perfect than the former edition ; the great- est care having been taken , by correctness and elegance , to do justice to one of the most instruc- tive and entertaining works in the English lan- guage ...
... doubt it will be found not less perfect than the former edition ; the great- est care having been taken , by correctness and elegance , to do justice to one of the most instruc- tive and entertaining works in the English lan- guage ...
Page 2
... doubt I should not have been very prompt to gratify Sir John Hawkins with any compliment in his life - time , I do now frankly acknowledge , that , in my opinion , his volume , how- ever inadequate and improper as a life of Dr. Johnson ...
... doubt I should not have been very prompt to gratify Sir John Hawkins with any compliment in his life - time , I do now frankly acknowledge , that , in my opinion , his volume , how- ever inadequate and improper as a life of Dr. Johnson ...
Page 14
... doubt . For , there is no instance of any man , whose history has been minutely related , that did not in every part of life discover the same proportion of intellectual vigour . " In all such investigations it is certainly unwise to ...
... doubt . For , there is no instance of any man , whose history has been minutely related , that did not in every part of life discover the same proportion of intellectual vigour . " In all such investigations it is certainly unwise to ...
Common terms and phrases
acknowl acquainted admiration afterwards appears authour believe BENNET LANGTON Bishop bookseller Boswell Burney Cave character conversation David Garrick DEAR SIR death Dictionary Dodsley edition elegant eminent endeavour English Essay excellent favour Garrick gave genius Gentleman's Magazine give happy heard Hector honour hope House of Stuart humble servant JAMES BOSWELL Joseph Warton kind King labour lady Langton language Latin learned letter Lichfield literary lived London Lord Chesterfield Lucy Porter MALONE mankind manner master mentioned merit mind mother never obliged observed opinion Oxford paper Pembroke College person pleased pleasure poem poet praise Preface publick published Rambler received remarkable Reverend Robert Dodsley SAMUEL JOHNSON Savage Shakspeare shew Sir John Hawkins Sir Joshua Reynolds spirit suppose talk thing THOMAS WARTON thought Thrale tion told translation truth verses Warton William wish write written wrote
Popular passages
Page xxvi - After my death I wish no other herald, No other speaker of my living actions, To keep mine honour from corruption, But such an honest chronicler as Griffith.
Page 203 - The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it. I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling that the public should consider me as owing that to a patron which Providence has enabled me to do for myself.
Page 237 - I have protracted my work till most of those whom I wished to please have sunk into the grave, and success and miscarriage are empty sounds. I therefore dismiss it with frigid tranquillity, having little to fear or hope from censure or from praise.
Page 356 - I believe, sir, you have a great many. Norway, too, has noble, wild prospects, and Lapland is remarkable for prodigious, noble, wild prospects. But, sir, let me tell you, the noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees is the high road that leads him to England!
Page 396 - Here lies our good Edmund, whose genius was such, We scarcely can praise it, or blame it too much; Who, born for the universe, narrow'd his mind, And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.
Page 203 - I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulsed from your door ; during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it, at last, to the verge of publication, without one act of assistance,* one word of encouragement, or one smile of favour. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a Patron before. " The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a native of the rocks.
Page 202 - When, upon some slight encouragement, I first visited your Lordship, I was overpowered, like the rest of mankind, by the enchantment of your address, and could not forbear to wish that I might boast myself Le vainqueur du vainqueur de la terre...
Page 386 - Sir, a woman's preaching is like a dog's walking on his hind legs. It is not done well ; but you are surprised to find it done at all.
Page 207 - Johnson having now explicitly avowed his opinion of Lord Chesterfield, did not refrain from expressing himself concerning that nobleman with pointed freedom: 'This man (said he) I thought had been a Lord among wits; but, I find, he is only a wit among Lords!' And when his Letters to his natural son were published, he observed, that 'they teach the morals of a whore, and the manners of a dancing master.
Page 325 - Mr. Davies mentioned my name, and respectfully introduced me to him. I was much agitated, and, recollecting his prejudice against the Scotch, of which I had heard much, I said to Davies, "Don't tell where I come from." "From Scotland," cried Davies, roguishly. "Mr. Johnson," said I, "I do indeed come from Scotland, but I cannot help it.