"He will stay to Christmas upon security. He is willing to continue you tenant, or will sell the mill to any that shall work or buy the machine. He values his mill at a thousand pounds. "He did not come up about this business, but another. «Mr. Barker, as young Mr. Cave thinks, is at Northampton. “These, Sir, are the particulars that I have gathered. I am, Sir, your very humble servant, -Pocock MSS. "SAM. JOHNSON." JOHNSON TO PAUL. (No date.) “SIR,- I am no less surprised than yourself at the treatment which you have met with, and agree with you that Mr. Cave must impute to himself part of the discontent that he shall suffer till the spindles are produced. “If I have any opportunity of dispelling the gloom that overcasts him at present, I shall endeavour it both for his sake and yours; but it is to little purpose that remonstrances are offered to voluntary inattention or to obstinate prejudice. Cuxon in one place and Garlick in the other, leave no room for the unpleasing reasonings of your humble servant, Pocock MSS. SAM. JOHNSON."] His works this year were, an abstract or epitome, in octavo, of his folio Dictionary, and a few essays in a monthly publication, entitled "THE UNIVERSAL VISITER." Christopher Smart, with whose unhappy vacillation of mind he sincerely sympathised, was one of the stated undertakers of this miscellany; and it was to assist him that Johnson sometimes employed his pen. All the essays marked with two asterisks have been ascribed to him; but I am confident, from internal evidence, that of these neither "The Life of Chaucer," "Reflections on the State of Portugal," nor "An Essay on Architecture," were written by him. I am equally confident, upon the same evidence, that he wrote "Further Thoughts on Agriculture;"† being the sequel of a very inferior essay on the same subject, and which, though carried on as if by the same hand, is both in thinking and expression so far above it, and so strikingly peculiar, as to leave no doubt of its true parent; ! This concludes the correspondence with Paul, of which I can give no further explanation. - CROKER. and that he also wrote "A Dissertation on the State of Literature and Authors," and "A Dissertation on the Epitaphs written by Pope." The last of these, indeed, he afterwards added by him are marked in the same manner with to his "Idler." Why the essays truly written but, with deference to those who have ascribed some which he did not write, I cannot explain; to him the three essays which I have rejected, they want all the characteristical marks of Johnsonian composition. He engaged also to superintend and contribute largely to another monthly publication, entitled "THE LITERARY MAGAZINE, OR UNIVERSAL REVIEW," "*2 the first number of which came out in May this year. What were his emoluments from this undertaking, and what other writers were employed in it, I have not discovered. He continued to write in it, with think that he never gave better proofs of the intermissions, till the fifteenth number; and I force, acuteness, and vivacity of his mind, than in this miscellany, whether we consider his original essays, or his reviews of the works of others. The "Preliminary Address"† to the public, is a proof how this great man could embellish with the graces of superior composition, even so trite a thing as the plan of a magazine. His original essays are, "An Introduction to the Political State of Great Britain; "† "Remarks on the Militia Bill;"+ "Observations on his Britannic Majesty's Treaties with the Empress of Russia and the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel;"+"Observations on the Present State of Affairs;" and, "Memoirs of Frederick II. King of Prussia." In all these he displays extensive political' knowledge and sagacity, expressed with uncommon energy and perspicuity, without any of those words which he sometimes took a pleasure in adopting, in imitation of Sir Thomas Browne; of whose "Christian Morals" he this year gave an edition, with his "Life"* prefixed to it, which is one of Johnson's best biographical performances. In one instance only in these essays has he indulged his Brownism. Dr. Robertson, the historian, mentioned it to me, as having at once convinced him that Johnson was the author of the "Memoirs of the King of Prussia." Speaking of the pride which the old King, the father of his hero, took in being master of the tallest regiment in Europe, he says, "To review this towering regiment was his daily pleasure; and to perpetuate it was so much his care, that when he met a tall woman, he immediately commanded one of his Titanian retinue to marry her, that they might propagate procerity." For this Anglo-Latian word procerity, Johnson had, however, the authority of Addison. His reviews are of the following books: Probably the design mentioned to Dr. Adams, antè, p. 93. - CROKER. history of the Royal Society;"† of prying with profane eyes into the recesses of - Grav 8-Ina Journal; "+ Warton's, policy, it is evident that this reverence can be The Writings and Genius of Pope, claimed only by counsels yet unexecuted, and pro-Hampton's Translation of Poly-jects suspended in deliberation. But when a design Blackwell's Memoirs of the Court of has ended in miscarriage or success, when every Russell's Natural History of eye and every ear is witness to general discontent, Sir Isaac Newton's Arguments in or general satisfaction, it is then a proper time to + Boriase's History of the disentangle confusion and illustrate obscurity; to shew by what causes every event was produced, and -Heime's Experiments on in what effects it is likely to terminate; to lay down with distinct particularity what rumour always huddles in general exclamation, or perplexes by indigested narratives; to shew whence happiness or calamity is derived, and whence it may be expected; and honestly to lay before the people what inquiry can gather of the past, and conjecture can estimate of the future." A - Brown's Christian Morals;"† A W Here we have it assumed as an incontrovertible principle, that in this country the people are the superintendents of the conduct and measures of those by whom government is administered; of the beneficial effect of which the present reign afforded an illustrious example, when addresses from all parts of the kingdom controlled an audacious attempt to introduce a new power subversive of the crown.2 A still stronger proof of his patriotic spirit appears in his review of an "Essay on Waters, by Dr. Lucas," of whom, after describing him as a man well known to the world for his exerted on the side of wrong, he thus speaks :daring defiance of power, when he thought it 3 "Appeal to Pohawaaming Kitirai Byng; "*"HanGurney, and Essay on it & Wiitary Treatise;" Bestha Tha siculars in relation to the @mima. Ping, by a Gentleman of OxComitice of the Ministry relating partially examined;" Inquis as the Nature and Origin s from interual evidence, wow pilna by „Vaison: some of them I know Navy and have marked them with an alvisligi. Mr. Thomas Davies, inwww.han the Review of Mr. Burke's "The Irish ministers drove him from his native Made in the Origin of our Ideas of the country by a proclamation, in which they charge Pac and Neotud," and Sir John Haw-him with crimes of which they never intended to de wernment, has inserted it in be called to the proof, and oppressed him by Mod of "odason's works: whereas it methods equally irresistible by guilt and innoLet the man thus driven into exile, for du a camelbae to Johnson's composition, cence. a west towa to have been written by having been the friend of his country, be received Mr. Mall, who has acknowledged it to me in every other place as a confessor of liberty; and let the tools of power be taught in time, that they may rob, but cannot impoverish." Já vikuḥy of Pomar, in justice to Johnwat value characun, which has been misbatsindy # # submissive to power', A Marks on the present State of wn as animated a spirit of conResim lag as can be found any where. Some of his reviews in this Magazine are very short accounts of the pieces noticed, and I mention them only that Dr. Johnson's opinion of the works may be known; but many of them are examples of elaborate criticism, in the most masterly style. In his review of the "Memoirs of the Court of Augustus," he has the resolution to think and speak from his own mind, regardless of the cant transmitted from age to age, in praise of the ancient Romans. Thus: "I know not why any one but a schoolboy in his declamation should whine over the Commonwealth of Rome, which grew great only by 2 Mr. Boswell means Mr. Fox's celebrated India Bill, as an adversary of which he distinguished himself as much as a man in a private station could do. — CROKER. 3 Dr. Lucas was an apothecary in Dublin, (afterwards M.D.), who brought himself into public notice and a high degree of popularity by his writings and speeches against the government. He was elected representative of Dublin in 1761 and a marble statue to his honour is erected in the Royal Exchange of that city. He died in Nov. 1771. CROKER. the misery of the rest of mankind. The Romans, like others, as soon as they grew rich, grew corrupt; and in their corruption sold the lives and freedoms of themselves, and of one another." Again: "A people, who while they were poor robbed mankind; and as soon as they became rich robbed one another."-In his review of the Miscellanies in prose and verse, published by Elizabeth Harrison, but written by many hands, he gives an eminent proof at once of his orthodoxy and candour. relish the infusion of that fragrant leaf than Qui, cùm victus erit, mecum certasse feretur." 2 But, indeed, the good Mr. Hanway laid himself so open to ridicule, that Johnson's animadversions upon his attack were chiefly to make sport. "The authors of the essays in prose seem generally to have imitated, or tried to imitate, the copiousness and luxuriance of Mrs. Rowe. This, however, is not all their praise; they have laboured to add to her brightness of imagery, her purity of sentiments. The poets have had Dr. Watts before their eyes; a writer, who, if he stood not in the first class of genius, compensated that defect by a ready application of his powers to the promotion of piety. The attempt to employ the ornaments of romance in the decoration of religion, was, I think, first made by Mr. Boyle's Martyrdom of Theodora;' but Boyle's philosophical studies did not allow him time for the cultivation of style and the completion of the great design was reserved for The generosity with which he pleads the Mrs. Rowe. Dr. Watts was one of the first who cause of Admiral Byng is highly to the honour taught the Dissenters to write and speak like other of his heart and spirit. Though Voltaire affects men, by shewing them that elegance might consist to be witty upon the fate of that unfortunate with piety. They would have both done honour officer, observing that he was shot" pour ento a better society, for they had that charity which courager les autres," the nation has long been might well make their failings be forgotten, and satisfied that his life was sacrificed to the poliwith which the whole Christian world wish for tical fervour of the times. In the vault becommunion. They were pure from all the heresies longing to the Torrington family, in the church of an age, to which every opinion is become a favourite that the universal church has hitherto de-lowing epitaph upon his monument, which I of Southill, in Bedfordshire, there is the foltested! This praise the general interest of mankind requires to be given to writers who please and do not corrupt, who instruct and do not weary. But to them all human eulogies are vain, whom I believe applauded by angels, and numbered with the just." His defence of Tea against Mr. Jonas Hanway's violent attack upon that elegant and popular beverage, shows how very well a man of genius can write upon the slightest subject, when he writes, as the Italians say, con amore: I suppose no person ever enjoyed with more 1 In this review, Johnson candidly describes himself as “a hardened and shameless tea-drinker, who has for many years diluted his meals with only the infusion of this fascinating plant; whose kettle has scarcely time to cool; who with tea amuses the evening, with tea solaces the midnights, and with tea welcomes the morning." This last phrase his friend, Tom Tyers, happily parodied, "te veniente die-te decedente." Hawkins calls his addiction to it unmanly, and almost gives it the colour of a crime. The Rev. Mr. Parker, of Henley, is in possession of a tea-pot which belonged to Dr. Johnson, and which contains above two quarts. — CROKER. 2" Losing, he wins, because his name will be Ennobled by defeat, who durst contend with me." DRYDEN. 3 Nothing can be more unfounded than the assertion that Byng fell a martyr to " political persecution." It is impossible to read the trial without being convinced that he had miscon ducted himself; and the extraordinary proceedings in both Houses of Parliament subsequent to his trial, prove, at once, the zeal of his friends to invalidate the finding of the court. martial, and the absence of any reason for doing so. By a strange coincidence of circumstances, it happened that there was a total change of ministry between the accusation and the sentence, so that one party prepared the trial and the have transcribed : "TO THE PERPETUAL DISGRACE other directed the execution: there can be no stronger proof that he was not a political martyr. See this subject treated at large in the Quarterly Review for April, 1822-1831. But though legally, and, I believe, justly convicted, it is likely that he would have been pardoned had not popular fury ran so high. The public had from the first condemned the unhappy admiral, and anticipated his fate. Thus Lloyd writes on the 30th September, 1756, three months before the change of ministry, and six months before Byng's execution :— "So ministers of basest tricks, I love a fling at politics; Amuse the nation's court and king, And in the London Magazine for the same month, in a I now believe that the general officer alluded to, antè, p. 42., may have been General Fowke, whom, after a kind of acquittal by a court-martial, George II. struck out of the army lists, and that the narrators of the anecdote mistook the date. CROKER. Johnson's most exquisite critical essay in the Literary Magazine, and indeed any where, is his review of Soame Jenyns's "Inquiry into the Origin of Evil." Jenyns was possessed of lively talents, and a style eminently pure and easy, and could very happily play with a light subject, either in prose or verse: but when he speculated on that most difficult and excruciating question, the Origin of Evil, he "ventured far beyond his depth," and, accordingly, was exposed by Johnson, both with acute argument and brilliant wit. I remember when the late Mr. Bicknell's humorous performance, entitled "The Musical Travels of Joel Collyer," in which a slight attempt is made to ridicule Johnson, was ascribed to Soame Jenyns, "Ha! (said Johnson) I thought I had given him enough of it." His triumph over Jenyns is thus described by my friend Mr. Courtenay, in his "Poetical Review of the literary and moral character of Dr. Johnson;" a performance of such merit, that had I not been honoured with a very kind and partial notice in it, I should echo the sentiments of men of the first taste loudly in its praise : "When specious sophists with presumption scan way To pathless wastes where wilder'd sages stray; Where, like a farthing link-boy, Jenyns stands, And the Cim torch drops from his feeble hands."1 This year Mr. William Payne, brother of the respectable bookseller of that name, published" An Introduction to the Game of Draughts," to which Johnson contributed a Dedication to the Earl of Rochford,* and a Preface, both of which are admirably adapted to the treatise to which they are prefixed. Johnson, I believe, did not play at draughts after leaving College; by which he suffered; for it would have afforded him an innocent soothing relief from the melancholy which distressed him so often. I have heard him regret that he had not learnt to play at cards; and the game of draughts we know is peculiarly calculated to fix the attention without straining it. There is a composure and gravity in draughts which insensibly tranquillises the mind; and, accordingly, the Dutch are fond of it, as they are of smoking, of the sedative influence of which, though he himself never smoked, he had a high opinion. Besides, there is in draughts some exercise of the faculties; and accordingly, Johnson, wishing to dignify the subject in his Dedication with what is most estimable in it, observes, "Triflers may find or make any thing a trifle: but since it is the great characteristic of a wise man to see events in their causes, to obviate consequences, and ascertain contingencies, your lordship will think nothing a trifle by which the mind is inured to caution, foresight, and circumspection." As one of the little occasional advantages which he did not disdain to take by his pen, as a man whose profession was literature, he this year accepted of a guinea from Mr. Robert Dodsley, for writing the Introduction to "The London Chronicle," an evening newspaper; and even in so slight a performance exhibited peculiar talents. This Chronicle still subsists, and from what I observed, when I was abroad, has a more extensive circulation upon the continent than any of the English newspapers. It was constantly read by Johnson himself; and it is but just to observe, that it has all along 1 Some time after Dr. Johnson's death, there appeared in the newspapers and magazines [the following] illiberal and petulant attack upon him, in the form of an Epitaph, under the name of Mr. Soame Jenyns, very unworthy of that gentleman, who had quietly submitted to the critical lash while Johnson lived. It assumed, as characteristics of him, all the vulgar circumstances of abuse which had circulated amongst the ignorant: "Here lies poor JOHNSON. Reader, have a care, Tread lightly, lest you rouse a sleeping bear; Religious, moral, generous, and humane He was but self-sufficient, rude, and vain ; Ill-bred and overbearing in dispute, A scholar and a Christian― yet a brute. Would you know all his wisdom and his folly, Will tell you how he wrote, and talk'd, and cough'd, and This was an unbecoming indulgence of puny resentment, at a time when he himself was at a very advanced age, and had a near prospect of descending to the grave. I was truly sorry for it; for he was then become an avowed and (as my Lord Bishop of London, who had a serious conversation with him on the subject, assures me) a sincere Christian. He could not expect that Johnson's numerous friends would patiently bear to have the memory of their master stigmatized by no mean pen, but that, at least, one would be found to retort. Accordingly, this unjust and sarcastic epitaph was met in the same public field by an answer, in terms by no means soft, and such as wanton provocation only could justify: The answer was no doubt by Mr. Boswell himself, and does more credit to his zeal than his poetical talents. This Review was so successful that Johnson re-published it in a separate pamphlet. Jenyns was born in 1705, and died in 1787. He was for near forty years in Parliament, and published some poetry; but his best known work is his Source of the Nile; also, Evidences of the Christian Religion, published in 1774. Of this work, the seriousness and sincerity was much questioned, which is the occasion of Mr. Boswell's observation as to his being "a sincere Christian." — CROKER. 2 See post, August 19. 1773. Hawkins heard Johnson say, that insanity had grown more frequent since smoking had gone out of fashion. - CROKER. 3 The London Chronicle, or Universal Evening Post, was published three times a week. The first number, containing Johnson's Introduction, appeared Jan. 1. 1757. Mr. Boswell often wrote in this journal. - CROKER. been distinguished for good sense, accuracy, moderation, and delicacy. 1 Another instance of the same nature has been communicated to me by the Reverend Dr. Thomas Campbell, who has done himself considerable credit by his own writings. "Sitting with Dr. Johnson one morning alone, he asked me if I had known Dr. Madden, who was author of the premium-scheme 2 in Ireland. On my answering in the affirmative, and also that I had for some years lived in his neighbourhood, &c., he begged of me that when I returned to Ireland, I would endeavour to procure for him a poem of Dr. Madden's called Boulter's Monument.' 3 The reason (said he) why I wish for it, is this: when Dr. Madden came to London, he submitted that work to my castigation; and I remember I blotted a great many lines, and might have blotted many more without making the poem worse. However, the Doctor was very thankful, and very generous, for he gave me ten guineas, which was to me at that time a great sum." 5 4 He this year resumed his scheme of giving an edition of Shakspeare with notes. He issued Proposals of considerable length 6, in which he shewed that he perfectly well knew what a variety of research such an undertaking required; but his indolence prevented him from pursuing it with that diligence which alone can collect those scattered facts, that genius, however acute, penetrating, and luminous, cannot discover by its own force. It is remarkable, that at this time his fancied activity was for the moment so vigorous, that he promised his work should be published before Christmas, 1757. Yet nine years elapsed before it saw the light. His throes in bringing it forth had been severe and remittent; and at last we may almost conclude that the Cæsarian operation was performed by the knife of Churchill, whose 1 See post, April 6. 1775. — C. In the College of Dublin, four quarterly examinations of the students are held in each year, in various prescribed branches of literature and science; and premiums, consisting of books impressed with the College Arms, are adjudged by examiners (composed generally of the Junior Fellows), to those who have most distinguished themselves in the several classes, after a very rigid trial, which lasts two days. This regulation, which has subsisted about seventy years, has been attended with the most beneficial effects. Dr. Samuel Madden was the first proposer of those premiums. They were instituted about the year 1734. He was also one of the founders of the Dublin Society for the Encouragement of Arts and Agriculture. In addition to the premiums which were and are still annually given by that society for this purpose, Dr. Madden gave others from his own fund. Hence he was usually called "Premium Madden." - MALONE. Dr. Hugh Boulter, Archbishop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland. He died Sept. 27. 1742, at which time he was, for the thirteenth time, one of the Lords Justices of that kingdom. Johnson speaks of him in high terms of commendation, in his Life of Ambrose Philips.- Boswell. 4 Dr. Madden wrote very bad verses. The few lines in 'Boulter's Monument' that rise above mediocrity, may be attributed to Johnson. - CROKER. 5 Such casual emoluments as these," says Hawkins, "Johnson frequently derived from his profession of an author." About this time, as it is supposed, for sundry beneficed clergymen that requested him, he composed pulpit discourses, and for these, he made no scruple of confessing, he was paid; his price, I am informed, was a moderate one, -a guinea; and such was his notion of justice, that having upbraiding satire, I dare say, made Johnson's friends urge him to dispatch. "He for subscribers baits his hook, And takes your cash; but where's the book? But what, to serve our private ends, About this period he was offered a living of considerable value in Lincolnshire 7, if he were inclined to enter into holy orders. It was a rectory in the gift of Mr. Langton, the father of his much valued friend. But he did not accept of it; partly, I believe, from a conscientious motive, being persuaded that his temper and habits rendered him unfit for that assiduous and familiar instruction of the vulgar and ignorant, which he held to be an essential duty in a clergyman; and partly because his love of a London life was so strong, that he would have thought himself an exile in any other place, particularly if residing in the country. Whoever would wish to see his thoughts upon that subject displayed in their full force, may peruse the Adventurer, Number 126. 8 In 1757 it does not appear that he published any thing, except some of those articles in the Literary Magazine, which have been mentioned. That magazine, after Johnson ceased to write in it, gradually declined, though the popular epithet of Antigallican was added to it; and in July, 1758, it expired. He probably prepared a part of his Shakspeare this year, and he dictated a speech on the subject of an address to the Throne, after the expedition to Rochfort, which was delivered by one of his friends, I know not in what public meeting. It is printed in the Gentleman's Magazine for October, 1785, as his, and bears sufficient marks of authenticity. By the favour of Mr. Joseph Cooper been paid, he considered them so absolutely the property of the purchaser, as to renounce all claim to them. He reckoned that he had written about forty sermons; but, except as to some, knew not in what hands they were. "I have," said he," been paid for them, and have no right to inquire about them." This practice is of very doubtful propriety. In the case of an elective chapel, it might, as the Bishop Elrington observed to me, amount to an absolute fraud, as a person might be chosen for the merits of a sermon not written by himself. See antè, p. 82. — CROKER. 6 They have been reprinted by Mr. Malone, in the Preface to his edition of Shakspeare. - BOSWELL. 7 Langton, near Partney. - CROKER. 8 Hawkins, who first told this fact on Johnson's own authority, does not mention this latter and lower motive for Johnson's refusal. "It was," he says, “in a pleasant country, and of such yearly value, as might have tempted one in better circumstances, but he had scruples about the duties of the ministerial functions." "I have not," Johnson said, “the requisites for the office, and I cannot in conscience shear the flock which I am unable to feed." And Hawkins further informs us that about this period he was in circumstances more straitened than usual, and even his ordinary relaxation of his club failed him. "About the year 1756, time had produced a change in the situation of many of Johnson's friends, who were used to meet him in Ivy-lane. Death had taken from them M'Ghie; Barker went to settle as a practising physician at Trowbridge; Dyer went abroad; Hawkesworth was busied in forming new connections; and I had lately made one that removed from me all temptations to pass my evenings from home. The consequence was, that our symposium at the King's Head broke up." - CROKER. |