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LEAVES collected from the PIOZZIAN WREATH lately woven to adora the Shrine of Dr. JOHNSON. (Concluded from Page 252).

SAMUEL Johnfon was the fon of Michael Johnson, a bookfeller at Litchfield, in Staffordshire, a very pious and worthy man, but wrong-headed, pofitive, and afflicted with melancholy, as his fon, from whom alone I had the information, once told me. His bufinefs, however, leading him to be much on horfeback, contributed to the prefervation of his bodily health, and mental fanity, which, when he ftaid long at home, would fometimes bé about to give way; and Mr. Johnson said, that when his work fhop, a detached building, had fallen half down for want of money to repair it, his father was not lefs diligent to lock the door every night, though he faw that any body might walk in at the back part, and knew that there was no fecurity obtained by barring the front door. “ This (fays his son) was mad"nefs, you may fee, and would have been dif"coverable in other inftances of the preva"lence of inagination, but that poverty pre"vented it from playing fuch tricks as riches and leifure encourage." Michael was a man of ftill larger fize and greater ftrength than his fon, who was reckoned very like him, but did not delight in talking much of his family" one has (fays he) so little pleasure in "reciting the anecdotes of beggary."

Michael Johnson was paft fifty years old when he married his wife, who was upwards of forty; yet I think her fon told me that she remained three years childless before he was born into the world, who fo greatly contributed to improve it. In three years more The brought another fon, Nathaniel, who live ed to be twenty-feven or twenty-eight years old, and of whofe manly spirit I have heard his brother speak with pride and pleafure. Their father, Michael, died of an inflammatory fever, at the age of feventy-fix, as Mr. Johnfon told me; their mother at eighty-nine, of a gradual decay. She was flight in her perfon, he faid, and rather below than above the common úze

Mr. Johnson's mother was daughter to a gentleman in the country, such as there were many in those days, who, poffefling perhaps one or two hundred pounds a year in land, lived on the profits, and fought not to increase their income. She was therefore inclined to think higher of herself than of her husband, whofe conduct in money matters being but indifferent, she had a trick of teizing him about it. The lady's maiden name was Ford; and The parfon who fets next to the punch-bowl in Hogarth's Modern Midnight Converfation was her brother's fon. This Ford was a man who chose to be eminent only for vice, with

talents that might have made him confpicuous in literature, and refpectable in any profeffion he could have chofen. His coufin has mentioned him in the Lives of Fenton and of Broome; and when he spoke of him to me, it was always with tenderness, praifing his acquaintance with life and manners, and recollecting one piece of advice that no man farely ever followed more exactly : “Obtain (says "Ford) fome general principles of every sci"ence. He who can talk only on one subject, " or act only in one department, is seldom "wanted, and perhaps never wished for; "while the man of general knowledge can "often benefit, and always pleafe." He used to relate, however, another story, lefs to the cre dit of his coufin's penetratio, how Ford, on fome occasion, said to him, “ You will make

your way the more eafily in the world, I "fee, as you are contented to difpute no man's "claim to converfation excellence; they will, "therefore, more willingly allow your pre"teufions as a writer."

Dr. Johnson first learned to read of his mother and her old maid Catharine, in whose lap he well remembered fitting while fhe explained to him the story of St. George and the Dragon.--Such was his tendernefs, and fuch his gratitude, that he took a journey to Lichfield, fifty-feven years afterwards, to support and comfort her in her laft illness. He had enquired for his nurse, and she was dead.—

At eight years old he went to school, for his health would not permit him to be sent fooner; and at the age of ten years his mind was disturbed by fcruples of infidelity, which preyed upon his fpirits, and made him very uneafy.

The remembrance of what had paffed in his own childhood made Mr. Johnson very folicitous to preferve the felicity of children; and when he had perfuaded Dr. Sumner to remit the tasks ufually given to fill up boys' time during the holidays, he rejoiced exceedingly in the fuccefs of his negociation, and told me that he never ceafed reprefenting to all the eminent schoolmatters in England the abfurd tyranny of poisoning the hour of permitted pleasure, by keeping future mifery be fore the children's eyes, and tempting them by bribery or falfehood to evade it,"

At the age of eighteen Dr. Jolinfon quitted fchool, and efcaped from the tuition of thofe he hated or those be despited. I have heard him relate very few college adventures. He used to say that our best accounts of his beha viour there would be gathered from Dr. Adams and Dr. Taylor, and that he was fure they

would

would always tell the truth." Taylor," faid he, "is better acquainted with my beart than ❝any man or woman now alive; and the hif"tory of my Oxford exploits lies all between "him and Adams; but Dr. James knows my 66 very early days better than he. After my "coming to London, to drive the world about "a little, you must all go to Jack Hawkefworth for anecdotes. I lived in great fa"miliarity with him (though I think there was not much affection) from the year 1753 till the time Mr. Thrale and you took me "up. I intend, however, to disappoint the rogues, and either make you write the life, "with Taylor's intelligence, or, which is bet66 ter, do it myself, after outliving you all. "I am now (added he) keeping a diary, in "hopes of using it for that purpose fome time."

The piety of Dr. Johníon was exemplary and edifying. The coldeft and moft languid hearer of the word must have felt themfelves animated by his manner of reading the Holy Scriptures; and to pray by his fick-bed required ftrength of body as well as of mind, fa vehement were his manners, and his tones of voice fo pathetic.-When we talked of convents, and the hardships fuffered in them, "Remember always (faid he) that a convent ❝is an idle place, and where there is nothing to be done, fomething must be endured: "mustard has a bad tafte per fe, you may ob“ serve, but very infipid food cannot be eaten without it."

Johnfon encouraged parents to carry their daughters early and much into company; ❝for what harm can be done before fo many "witneffes? Solitude is the fureft nurfe of all "prurient paffions; and a girl, in the hurry "of preparation, or tumult of gaiety, has nei"ther inclination nor leisure to let tender expreffions toften or fink into her heart. The ball, the show, are not the dangerous places. "No, 'tis the private friend, the kind confo"ler, the companion of the eafy vacant hour, "whofe compliance with her opinions can "flatter her vanity, and whose converfation can “just footh, without ever stretching, her mind; "that is the lover to be feared. He who buz "zes in her ear at court or at the opera, must "be contented to buzz in vain."

I have forgotten the year, but it could fcarce H, I think, be later than 1765 or 1766, that he was called abruptly from our house after dinner, and returning in about three hours, faid, he had been with an enraged author, whofe landlady preffed him for payment within doors, while the bailiffs befet him without; that he was drinking himself drunk with Madeira to drown care, and fretting over a novel, which, when finished, was to be his whole fortune, watir done for distraction, nor

could he step out of doors to offer it for fale, Mr. Johnson, therefore, fet away the bottle, and went to the bookfeller, recommending the performance, and defiring fome immediate relief; which when he brought back to the writer, he called the woman of the house directly to partake of the punch, and pafs their time in merriment.-It was not till ten years after, I dare fay, that fomething in Dr. Gold. fmith's behaviour ftruck me with an idea that he was the very man, and then Johnson confeffed that he was fo. The novel was the charming Vicar of Wakefield. —There was a Mr. Boyle too, of whofe ingenuity and diftrefs I have heard Dr. Johnfon tell fome curious anecdotes; particularly, when he was almost perifhing with hunger, and some money was produced to purchase him a dinner, he got a bit of roast beef, but could not eat it without ketchup, and laid out the last half-guinea he poffeffed in truffles and mushrooms, eating them in bed too, for want of cloaths, or even a fhirt to fit up in."

When lamentation was made of the neglect thewed to Jeremiah Markland, a great philologift, as fome one ventured to call him, "He is a fcholar, undoubtedly, Sir (replied "Dr. Johnson); but remember that he "would run from the world, and that it is "not the world's business to run after him. "I hate a fellow whom pride, or cowardice,

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When Davies printed the Fugitive Pieces without his knowledge or confent, “How" (faid "would Pope have raved, had he been ferved fo?"We fhould never (replyed he) have heard the laft on't, to be fure; "but then Pope was a narrow man. 1 will

however (added he) (form and blufter myself "a little this time;"-fo went to London in all the wrath he could mufter up. At his return I asked how the affair ended: "Why "(taid he) I was a fierce fellow, and pretend"ed to be very angry, and Thomas was a "good-natured fellow, and pretended to be

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very forry; fo there the matter ended. "I believe the dog loves me dearly. Mr. "Thrale (turning to my hufband) what thail

you and I do that is good for Tom Davies? "We will do fomething for him, to be "fure."-

We were talking of Richardson, whe wrote Clariffa: "You think I love flattery

(fays Dr. Johnson), and so I dò; but a lit "tle too much always difguts me. That "fellow Richardfon, on the contrary, could "not be contented to fail quietly down the

ftream of reputation without longing to taste "the froth from every ftroke of the "par."

Of GREAT MEN; and of Dr. SAMUEL JOHNSON.
[From "SYLVA; or, The WooD," lately published.]

He

moft important, is known to have held opini ons, which are abfolutely a difgrace to human understanding.

The Prefident Montefquieu has faid, that "the rank or place which pofterity beltows, "is fubject like all others to the will and ca

GREAT man? fays Voltaire. We must by no means be lavish of this title. We can indeed hardly ever apply it at all, if by great be meant univerfally fo; that is, omnibus numeris abfolutus. Lord Bacon was a great man, a very great man; yet only partially fo. had a great and comprehensive understanding," price of fortune || :" and our Wollafton perhaps the greatest that hath yet fhone forth among the fons of men but it does not appear, that he would have been great in either field or cabinet; and for greatnefs of foul, as it is called, the poet who ftiles him the wift and the brightest, brands him at the fame time for the meanest of mankind.

Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, was a very great man: even Bolingbroke, who certainly was not prejudiced in his favour, allows him to have been the greatest general as "well as the greatest minifter that our country or perhaps any other has produced †.” Yet Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, was illiterate to an extreme; of an understanding totally uncultivated; and in which, if you could have crept under the glare of his exterior, you would probably have difcerned weakneffes equal to thofe of the weakest men.-Julius Cæfar was a very great general, and a very great statesman; but he was more. Jolius Cæfar was a man of letters, and a fine writer; had a moft comprehenfive as well as cultivated understanding; and, withal, a moft uncommon greatness of foul. Julius Cæfar is, in my humble opinion, the greatest man upon record. Lewis XIV. like many other tyrants furrounded by pimps and flatterers, had the title of Great conferred upon him: but Lewis's greatness was to real greatnefs, what the bom baft is to the fublime, or the fimulacra of Epi curus to real bodies.

The late Dr. Samuel Johnfon was a man of great parts, and was indifputably a great man, if great parts fimply can make one but Dr. Johnfon was the meanest of bigots, a dupe and flave to the most contemptible prejudices §; and, upon fubjects the

was fo difgufted with the foolish and iniquitous judgments of men, that he betook himfelf early in life to retirement, propter ini qua bominum judicia, as he left to be infcribed upon his tomb-ftone. If any thing could cure a man's anxiety, and render him indifferent, about what is faid or thought of him, now or hereafter, it would be thefe blind, abfurd, iniquitous judgments of men; who break riotously forth into praife or cenfure, without regard to truth or justice, but just as paffion and prejudice impel!.

Dr Johnfon" feems, together with the "ableft head, poffelfed of the very best heart "at prefent exifting," fays one writer. "Ne"ver on earth did one mortal body encom"pafs fuch true greatnefs and fuch true good"nefs," fays another ¶; who observes also, that his Lives of the Poets" would alone have "been fufficient to immortalize his name." How able his bead, or (as a third expreffes it) what fupendous frength of underfunding he might have, cannot be precifely defined; but it is certain, that this fupendous understanding was not frong enough to force its way through the meanest prejudices, with which it was once entangled. And for the very best beart, and fuch true goodness as one mortal body did never before encompass,-this is the la guage of journalifts and periodical writers: let us hear the teftimony of those, who have always known him perfonally, and intimately,

Bishop Newton, fpeaking of the above Lives of the Pacts, fays, that "malevolence "predominates in every part; and that though "fome paff ges are judicious and well wit"ten, yet they make not fufficient compenfa"tion for fo much fpleen and ill-humour *."

* Grand homme? Il ne faut pas prodiguer ce titre. Siecle de Louis, in Cat. DoUIAT. + Upon Hiftory, Letter viii.

He was probably learned; but I do not reckon learning among the attributes of great men. Learning may be attained by little men, who will apply: but learning without parts, or a capacity to use it, is merely dead unwieldy matter, caput mortuum, devoid of life or fpirit. Like wealth or titles, it often ferves only to make a blockhead confpicuous

One would think, from a paffage in the Rambler, that he himself did a little fufpect this: "the pride of wit and knowledge," fays he, " is often mortified by finding, that they can con"fer no fecurity against the common errors, which mislead the weakest and meanest of man"Kind." No. 6.

Les places que la poftérité donne font fujettes, comme les autres, aux caprices de la fortune.

Grand. des Rom. c. I.

¶ Gent.'s Magazine, for Dec, 1784.

*Life by himself.

An

An Impartial account (fo it is called) of Dr. Jabnfon in the European Magazine †, faid to be written by the ingenious Mifs Seward, fets forth, that he was indeed a man of very great parts, and of many good qualities, which it is far from our intent to deny or detract from; but that his character was a very mixed and (fhe might have added) a very imperfect one. His writings are represented as excellent and fine, where not "difgraced as in his cri"ticisms, with the faults of his difpofition. "He had firong affections," it is faid, "where literary envy did not interfere; but that envy was of fuch deadly potency, as to load his converfation, as it has loaded his biogra"phic works, with the rancour of party-vio «lence, with national averfion, bitter farcasm, and unchriftian-like invective. He turned "from the compositions of rifing genius with " a visible horror, which proved too plainly, that envy was the bosom-ferpent of this literary defpot. His pride was infinite; yet, « amidst all the over bearing arrogance it pro duced, his heart melted at the fight, or at

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"the representation, of difeafe and poverty; "and, in the hours of affluence, his purfe was "ever open to relieve them. He was a fu“rious Jacobite, while one hope for the Stuart "line remained; and his politics, always lean"ing towards defpotifm, were inimical to liberty, and the natural rights of mankind. "He was punctual in his devotions; but his "religious faith had much more of bigot-fierce "nefs, than of that gentleness which the gof"pel inculcates," &c.

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If this reprefentation be in any degree just, and I have never heard of its being either difown'd or contradicted, what are we to think of panegyrifts, who afcribe to him fuch true greatness and fuch true goodness, as were never before encompassed by one mortal body ?

We are far from meaning to depreciate Dr. Johnson; our aim in this paper is only to difcuntenance those extravagant eloges, fo frequently and fo blindly given to an ima gined perfection, which human nature, when cultivated in the best and happiest manner, never was, nor ever will be, able to attain.

To the PHILOLOGICAL SOCIETY of LONDON. GENTLEMEN,

T is the peculiar privilege of inferiority to hate fuperior excellence, and it is obferved, that those who are moit eager to cenfure others, are leaft capable of judging.

Thefe reflections have arifen from the perufał of two volumes, written and published in German by the celebrated Mr. Reichardt, Erft composer to the King of Pruflia, and mufic.mafter of the Royal Chapel. The preceding work is called Mufical Travels; and it should be naturally expected, that the royal mafter had chofen fome great genius as mafter and conductor of his mufical band: whe ther this has been the cafe, will be fully exemplified by the fucceeding obfervations.

The author has treated our excellent mufical hiftorian Dr. Burney with the greatest liberality; for instead of confidering our great mufical luminary as a critic in the fcience of mufic, instead of animadverting on the Doctor's literary production, Mr. Reichardt defcends to perional fcurrility and infamous abute. Such conduct merits no answer from a mufical profeffor, fo universally esteemed by the first judges in Europe, and who, perhaps, filently fmiles at the puerile malevolence of fuch impotent malice. There scarce, indeed, requires any ftronger proof of Dr. Burney's noble and candid fentiments, than what has been reported, of his kind reception and protection of this Pruffian cenfurer. Many friendly fervices it is well known Dr. Burney demonftrated to Mr. Reichardt, while he remained in England.

In 1785, Mr. Reichardt had several opportunities to difplay his mufical talents at the Opera House and Pantheon.

The public papers having announced the intended performance of fo great a compofer and suppos'd scientific critic, the profeffors of mufic naturally expected compositions of inperlative excellence, where genius, art, and fcience, were judiciously united. How were they difappointed in hearing Mr. Reichardt's chorufes! Nothing appeared striking; no fuges, either in fimple or double counterpoints, or at least with one or two fubjects. Thele are the matter-pieces of great compofers, and might reasonably be expected from the first composer of fo great a monarch. It seems, Mr. Reichardt is totally unacquainted with the counterpoint; for which purpose we recommend him to recommence his ftudies; hy this means he may understand something more of mufical compofitions, and the fublime effect of the counterpoint.

In hearing Mr. Reichardt's five or fix choruffes exhibited publicly, it would have been difficult to have determined, whether it was church, theatrical, convivial, or ele. gant domeftic mufic. The ftyle, after the moft impartial criticism, feemed to be illegitimate, the mere baftard offspring of a diftempered brain; where rash paflion broke through the bounds of decency, and produced a monftrous birth, crude, immature, and devoid of all harmonious refinement. It muit be observed, that one idea was tolerable: this + For May, 1785.

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was the kettle-drum crefcenti, which would have produced an excellent effect, had the whole band, under Mr. Reichardt's direction, performed in exact time. This part was frequently introduced, but always failed; perhaps more owing to the ill performance of the band, than Mr. Reichardt's fkill. While thefe performances were proceeding for Mr. Salomon's benefit, one mufical profeffor, with furprife, interrogated another, Whose compo. fition is this? Mr. Reichardt's, anfwered a third, What! the first composer to the King of Pruffia? Yes. God defend our ears from the fecond compofer, fays the enquirer.

In Paris, at II Concerto fpirituale, Mr. Reichardt's performances received univerfal difapprobation; his compofitions gave general difguft; and that very polite people, ever ready to countenance and protect frangers, hiffed his mufic off the ftage.

This compofer not only wants knowledge of the grounds of the true principles of har mony, but likewife genius; without which no mufical compofer can ever fucceed. He is advised, therefore, to confult fome able malters, who will frankly, and in a friendly manner, expofe his defects; for inclination, how ever warm, is not fufficient to produce original and scientific compofition. It would be advif ble, in order to avoid appearing ridiculous, to withdraw his compofitions from the public ear, and not celebrate, or become the herald of his own unfortunate vanity and folly, by what he calls his musical inventions; or rather whimsical indigefted crudities; which title is more applicable.

Mr. Reichardt was prefent at Westminster Abbey, and heard the grand compofitions of the great, the immortal Handel. This circumstance, above all others, demonstrates his want of taste, genius, skill, and even common fenfe; for he prefumed to produce in public his quaint gingle of founds to an audience whofe ears were refined by the harmony of Handel and the greatest compofers in Europe. How little mankind know themfelves! If Mr. Reichardt travelled for musical improve

ment, it is feared he has loft his labour; his peregrinations will prove useless to his country, and degrading to his excellent monarch.

The Berlin mufic has been frequently and juftly cenfured; because it was defective, devoid of tafte, and unharmonious. The only compofer who has received approbation is Graun. Berlin mufic in general is only approved by Pruffians in their own country; for one stupid perfon always finds another more ftupid to admire him. All the compofers and musicians who have unfortunately lived in Berlin have their taste so much vitiated by bad examples, that they fail of fuccess in all other countries. If folemn gravity, felf-importance, pedantry, diftinguish men as learned, they poffefs thefe qualities to the utmost degree; but pedantry rarely poffefles genius or taste. It only extends to the rudiments of knowledge, and therefore fails in real life, amongst polite and civilized fociety. School-boy knowledge is commonly peit, vaiu, full of difputation, obstinacy, and abfurdity; which nothing but refinement and comparative views of fuperior excellence will eradicate from the mind. Rouffeau has truly reprefented French mufic with all its defects: he was hung in effigy at Paris, at the very time they performed his opera: his mu fic was approved, and refined the French taste. It is certainly no crime to write against the mufical tafte of nations; it is a happy circumitance, when improvement enfues from just cenfure. It is fincerely hoped this will he the cafe amongst the Pruffian composers, and particularly with Mr. Reichardt. Critics and cenfurers, however impartial and scientific, are commonly rewarded with ingratitude; for mankind enjoy the improvements, but hate the improvers. Instead of public thanks, they commonly experience private malevolence and calumny. One pretended friend flatters another on his production, but leaves him ignorant of his defects: this may be polite, but nothing can be more unfriendly or infamous. I am, Sir,

A FRIEND to INJURED MERIT.

SOME PARTICULARS CONCERNING the LIFE and CHARACTER of

CAPTAIN COOK.

[By DAVID SAMWELL, SURGEON to the DISCOVERY.]

APTAIN Cook was born at Marton, in

CAPT

Cleaveland, in the county of York, a mall village, diftant five miles fouth-east from Stockton. His name is found in the parish register in the year 1729 (so that Captain King was mistaken, in placing the time of his birth in the year 1727). The cottage in which his father formerly lived, is now de. cayed, but the fpot where it ftood is ftill Lewn to ftrangers. A gentleman is now liEuaqp. Mag.

ving in that neighbourhood, with whom the old man formerly worked as a common daylabourer in the fields. However, though placed in this humble station, he gave his fon a common school education, and at an early age placed him apprentice with one Mr. Saunderfon, a fhopkeeper at Staith, (always pronounced Steers) a small fishing town on the Yorkshire coast, about nine miles to the northward of Whitby. The business is now carried

T!

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