JOHNSON TO BOSWELL. "Feb. 18. 1777. "DEAR SIR, It is so long since I heard any thing from you', that I am not easy about it: write something to me next post. When you sent your last letter, every thing seemed to be mending; I hope nothing has lately grown worse. I suppose young Alexander continues to thrive, and Veronica is now very pretty company. I do not suppose the lady is yet reconciled to me; yet let her know that I love her very well, and value her very much. "Dr. Blair is printing some sermons. If they are all like the first, which I have read, they are sermones aurei, ac auro magis aurei. It is excellently written both as to doctrine and language. Mr. Watson's book seems to be much esteemed. 46 'Poor Beauclerk still continues very ill. Langton lives on as he used to do. His children are very pretty, and, I think, his lady loses her Scotch. Paoli I never see. "I have been so distressed by difficulty of breathing, that I lost, as was computed, six-and-thirty ounces of blood in a few days. I am better, but not well. I wish you would be vigilant and get me Graham's Telemachus' [antè, p. 139.] that was printed at Glasgow, a very little book; and Johnstoni Poemata [antè, p. 295.], another little book, printed at Middleburgh. "Mrs. Williams sends her compliments, and promises that when you come hither she will accommodate you as well as ever she can in the old room. She wishes to know whether you sent her book to Sir Alexander Gordon. My dear Boswell, do not neglect to write to me; for your kindness is one of the pleasures of my life, which I should be sorry to lose. I am, &c., SAM. JOHNSON." BOSWELL TO JOHNSON. Edinburgh, Feb. 24. 1777. "DEAR SIR, -Your letter dated the 18th instant, I had the pleasure to receive last post. Although my late long neglect, or rather delay, was truly culpable, I am tempted not to regret it, since it has produced me so valuable a proof of your regard. I did, indeed, during that inexcusable silence, some. times divert the reproaches of my own mind, by fancying that I should hear again from you, enquiring with some anxiety about me, because, for❘ aught you knew, I might have been ill. "You are pleased to show me that my kindness is of some consequence to you. My heart is elated at the thought. Be assured, my dear Sir, that my affection and reverence for you are exalted and steady. I do not believe that a more perfect attachment ever existed in the history of mankind. And it is a noble attachment; for the attractions are genius, learning, and piety. "Your difficulty of breathing alarms me, and brings into my imagination an event, which, although, in the natural course of things, I must expect at some period, I cannot view with composure. [JOHNSON TO MRS. ASTON. "Bolt-Court, March 8. 1777. "DEAR MADAM,- As we pass on through the journey of life, we meet, and ought to expect, many unpleasing occurrences, but many likewise encounter us unexpected. I have this morning heard from Lucy of your illness. I heard, indeed, in the next sentence that you are to a great degree recovered. May your recovery, dearest Madam, be complete and lasting! The hopes of paying you the annual visit is one of the few solaces with which my imagination gratifies me; and my wish is, that I may find you happy. My health is much broken; my nights are very restless, and will not be made more comfortable by remembering that one of the friends whom I value most is suffering equally with myself. Be pleased, dearest lady, to let me know how you are; and if writing be troublesome, get dear Mrs. Gastrell to write for you. I hope she is well and able to assist you; and wish that you may so well recover, as to repay her kindness, if she should want you. May you both live long happy together! I am, dear Madam, &c., SAM. JOHNSON."] JOHNSON TO BOSWELL. "March 14. 1777. "DEAR SIR, —I have been much pleased with your late letter, and am glad that my old enemy, Mrs. Boswell, begins to feel some remorse. As to Miss Veronica's Scotch, I think it cannot be helped. An English maid you might easily have; but she would still imitate the greater number, as they would be likewise those whom she must most respect. Her dialect will not be gross. Her mamma has not much Scotch, and you have yourself very little. I hope she knows my name, and does not call me Johnston.* "The immediate cause of my writing is this. One Shaw, who seems a modest and a decent man, has written an Erse Grammar, which a very learned Highlander, Macbean, has, at my request, examined and approved. The book is very little, but Mr. Shaw has been persuaded by his friends to set it at half a guinea, though I advised only a crown, and thought myself liberal. You, whom the author considers as a great encourager of ingenious men, will receive a parcel of his proposals and receipts. I have undertaken to give you notice of them, and to solicit your countenance. You must ask no poor man, because the price is really too high. Yet such a work deserves patronage. "It is proposed to augment our club from twenty to thirty, of which I am glad; for as we have several in it whom I do not much like to 1 By the then course of the post, my long letter of the 14th had not yet reached him. - BOSWELL. 2 History of Philip the Second. - BOSWELL. 3 Lady Rothes (antè, p. 222.) was a native of England, but she had lived long in Scotland, and never, it is said, entirely lost the accent she had acquired there. -CROKER. 4 Johnson is the most common English formation of the surname from John; Johnston the Scotch. My illustrious friend observed that many North Britons pronounced his name in their own way. BOSWELL. The names are radically different: one is patronymic, John's son; the other local, John's town. Wyntown calls the ancestor of the Annandale family "Schyr Jhon of Thonstown," — CROKER, 1835. consort with, I am for reducing it to a mere miscellaneous collection of conspicuous men, without any determinate character. I am, dear Sir, most affectionately yours, SAM. JOHNSON. 66 "You forget that Mr. Shaw's Erse Grammar was put into your hands by myself last year. Lord Eglintoun put it into mine. I am glad that Mr. Macbean approves of it. I have received My respects to Madam, to Veronica, to Alex- Mr. Shaw's proposals for its publication, which I ander, to Euphemia, to David." [JOHNSON TO MRS. ASTON. I "March 15. 1777. "DEAREST MADAM, - The letter with which I was favoured, by the kindness of Mrs. Gastrell, has contributed very little to quiet my solicitude. am indeed more frighted than by Mrs. Porter's account. Yet, since you have had strength to conquer your disorder so as to obtain a partial recovery, I think it reasonable to believe, that the favourable season which is now coming forward may restore you to your former health. Do not, dear Madam,, lose your courage, nor by despondence or inactivity give way to the disease. Use such exercise as you can bear, and excite cheerful thoughts in your own mind. Do not harass your faculties with laborious attention: nothing is, in my opinion, of more mischievous tendency in a state of body like yours, than deep meditation or perplexing solicitude. Gaiety is a duty, when health requires it. Entertain yourself as you can with small amusements, or light conversation, and let nothing but your devotion ever make you serious. But while I exhort you, my dearest lady, to merriment, I am very serious myself. The loss or danger of a friend is not to be considered with indifference; but I derive some consolation from the thought, that you do not languish unattended; that you are not in the hands of strangers or servants, but have a sister at hand to watch your wants and supply them. If, at this distance, I can be of any use, by consulting physicians, or for any other purpose, I hope you will employ me. "I have thought on a journey to Staffordshire : and hope, in a few weeks, to climb Stow Hill, and to find there the pleasure which I have so often found. Let me hear again from you. dear Madam, your most humble servant, SAM. JOHNSON."] I am, BOSWELL TO JOHNSON. "Edinburgh, April 4. 1777. (After informing him of the death of my little son David, and that I could not come to London this spring); " I think it hard that I should be a whole year without seeing you. May I presume to petition for a meeting with you in the autumn? You have, I believe, seen all the cathedrals in England, except that of Carlisle. If you are to be with Dr. Taylor, at Ashbourne, it would not be a great journey to come thither. We may pass a few most agreeable days there by ourselves, and I will accompany you a good part of the way to the southward again. Pray think of this. 1 On account of their differing from him as to religion and politics. BosWELL. Messrs. Burke, Beauclerk, Fox, &c. It was about this time that Mr. Sheridan, Lord Upper-Ossory, Dr. Marlay (afterwards Bishop of Waterford), and Mr. Dunning, were admitted; but they were all of the same cast of Whig politics. The Club, though it has the reputation of Johnson's name, had, as its records show, for many of his latter years, very little of his company.- CROKER, 1831, 1847. can perceive are written by the hand of a master. Pray get for me all the editions of Walton's Lives.' I have a notion that the republication of them with notes will fall upon me, between Dr. Horne and Lord Hailes." a Though the Erse dialect of the Celtic language has, from the earliest times, been spoken in Britain, and still subsists in the northern parts and adjacent islands, yet, by the negligence of a people rather warlike than lettered, it has hitherto been left to the caprice and judgment of every speaker, and has floated in the living voice, without the steadiness of analogy, or direction of rules. "An Erse Grammar is an addition to the stores of literature; and its author hopes for the indulgence always shown to those that attempt to do what was never done before. If his work shall be found defective, it is at least all his own; he is not, like other grammarians, a compiler or transcriber ; what he delivers, he has learned by attentive observation among his countrymen, who, perhaps, will be themselves surprised to see that speech reduced to principles, which they have used only by imitation. "The use of this book will, however, not be confined to the mountains and islands; it will afford a pleasing and important subject of speculation to those whose studies lead them to trace the affinity of languages, and the migrations of the ancient races of mankind." BOSWELL TO JOHNSON. "MY DEAR SIR, "Glasgow, April 24. 1777. Our worthy friend Thrale's death having appeared in the newspapers, and been afterwards contradicted, I have been placed in a state of very uneasy uncertainty, from which I hoped to be relieved by you; but my hopes have as yet been vain. How could you omit to write to me on such an occasion? I shall wait with anxiety. -I am going to Auchinleck to stay a fortnight with my father. It is better not to be there very long at one time. But frequent renewals of attention are agreeable to him. "Pray tell me about this edition of English Poets, with a Preface, biographical and critical, to each Author, by Samuel Johnson, LL. D.' which I see advertised. I am delighted with the prospect of it. Indeed, I am happy to feel that I am capable of being so much delighted with literature. But is not the charm of this publication chiefly owing to the magnum nomen in the front of it? None of the persons here mentioned executed the work which they had in contemplation. Walton's valuable book, however, has been correctly republished in quarto and octavo, with notes and illustrations by the Rev. Mr. Zouch. -MALONE. It was also printed at the Clarendon press, in 1805, in two volumes, 2mo, and in one vol. 8vo, 1824.Hall.-CROKER. MM “What do you say of Lord Chesterfield's Memoirs and last letters?1 "My wife has made marmalade of oranges for you. I left her and my daughters and Alexander all well yesterday. I have taught Veronica to speak of you thus; Dr. Johnson, not Johnston. I remain, &c., JAMES BOSWELL." JOHNSON TO BOSWELL. "May 3. 1777. "DEAR SIR,— The story of Mr. Thrale's death, as he had neither been sick nor in any other danger, made so little impression upon me, that I never thought about obviating its effects on any body else. It is supposed to have been produced by the English custom of making April fools; that is, of sending one another on some foolish errand on the first of April. "Tell Mrs. Boswell that I shall taste her marmalade cautiously at first. Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes. Beware, says the Italian proverb, of a reconciled enemy. But when I find it does me no harm, I shall then receive it, and be thankful for it, as a pledge of firm, and, I hope, of unalterable kindness. She is, after all, a dear, dear lady. "Please to return Dr. Blair thanks for his The Scotch write English wonderfully sermons. well. "Your frequent visits to Auchinleck, and your short stay there, are very laudable and very judicious. Your present concord with your father gives me great pleasure; it was all that you seemed to want. "My health is very bad, and my nights are very unquiet. What can I do to mend them? I have for this summer nothing better in prospect than a journey into Staffordshire and Derbyshire, perhaps with Oxford and Birmingham in my way. "Make my compliments to Miss Veronica; I must leave it to her philosophy to comfort you for the loss of little David. You must remember, that to keep three out of four is more than your share. Mrs. Thrale has but four out of eleven. "I am engaged to write little Lives, and little Prefaces, to a little edition of the English Poets. I think I have persuaded the booksellers to insert something of Thomson; and if you could give me some information about him, for the life which we have is very scanty, I should be glad. I am, dear Sir, &c., SAM. JOHNSON." To those who delight in tracing the progress of works of literature, it will be an entertainment to compare the limited design with the ample execution of that admirable performance, "The Lives of the English Poets," which is the richest, most beautiful, and, indeed, most perfect production of Johnson's pen. His notion of it at this time appears in the preceding letter. He has a memorandum in this year: “May 29., Easter eve, I treated with booksellers on a bargain, but the time was not long." (Pr. and Med. p. 155.) Dr. Maty's posthumous edition of the Memoirs and Miscellaneous Works of Lord Chesterfield, published by Mr. Justamond early in 1777. - CROKER. The bargain was concerning that undertaking; but his tender conscience seems alarmed, lest it should have intruded too much on his devout preparation for the solemnity of the ensuing day. But, indeed, very little time was necessary for Johnson's concluding a treaty with the booksellers; as he had, I believe, less attention to profit from his labours, than any man to whom literature has been a profession. I shall here insert, from a letter to me from my late worthy friend Mr. Edward Dilly, though of a later date, an account of this plan, so happily conceived, since it was the occasion of procuring for us an elegant collection of the best biography and criticism of which our language can boast. and bustle of London, as when I wrote to you last. I am happy to find you had such an agreeable meeting with your old friend Dr. Johnson: I have no doubt your stock is much increased by the interview; few men, nay, I may say, scarcely any man has got that fund of knowledge and entertainment as Dr. Johnson in conversation. When he opens freely, every one is attentive to what he says, and cannot fail of improvement as well as pleasure. do honour to the English press; and a concise acThe edition of the poets, now printing, will count of the life of each author, by Dr. Johnson, will be a very valuable addition, and stamp the reputation of this edition superior to any thing that is gone before. The first cause that gave rise to this undertaking, I believe, was owing to the little trifling edition of the poets, printing by the Martins at Edinburgh, and to be sold by Bell in London. Upon examining the volumes which were printed, the type was found so extremely small, that many persons could not read them: not only this inconvenience attended it, but the inaccuracy of the press was very conspicuous. These reasons, as well as the idea of an invasion of what we call our Literary Property, induced the London booksellers to print an elegant and accurate edition of all the English poets of reputation, from Chaucer to the present time. "Accordingly a select number of the most respectable booksellers met on the occasion: and, on consulting together, agreed, that all the proprietors of copyright in the various poets should be summoned together; and when their opinions were given, to proceed immediately on the business. Accordingly a meeting was held, consisting of about forty of the most respectable booksellers of London, when it was agreed that an elegant and uniform edition of The English Poets' should be immediately printed, with a concise account of the life of each author, by Dr. Samuel Johnson; and that three persons should be deputed to wait 2 Johnson seems not to be aware that it is equally a Scottish custom: it also exists on the Continent; what we call April fools the French term "poisson d'Avril.” CROKER. upon Dr. Johnson, to solicit him to undertake the Lives,' viz. T. Davies, Strahan, and Cadell. The Doctor very politely undertook it, and seemed exceedingly pleased with the proposal. "As to the terms, it was left entirely to the Doctor to name his own: he mentioned two hundred guineas; it was immediately agreed to; and a farther compliment, I believe, will be made him. A committee was likewise appointed to engage the best engravers, viz. Bartolozzi, Sherwin, Hall, &c. Likewise another committee for giving directions about the paper, printing, &c.; so that the whole will be conducted with spirit, and in the best manner, with respect to authorship, editorship, engravings, &c. &c. My brother will give you a list of the poets we mean to give, many of which are within the time of the Act of Queen Anne, which Martin and Bell cannot give, as they have no property in them: the proprietors are almost all the booksellers in London of consequence. "I am, dear Sir ever yours, "EDWARD DILLY." I shall afterwards have occasion to consider the extensive and varied range which Johnson took, when he was once led upon ground which he trode with a peculiar delight, having long been intimately acquainted with all the circumstances of it that could interest and please. JOHNSON TO O'CONNOR." "May 19..1777. “SIR, — Having had the pleasure of conversing with Dr. Campbell about your character and your literary undertaking, I am resolved to gratify my self by renewing a correspondence which began and ended a great while ago, and ended, I am afraid, by my fault; a fault which, if you have not forgotten it, you must now forgive. "If I have ever disappointed you, give me leave to tell you that you have likewise disappointed me. I expected great discoveries in Irish antiquity, and large publications in the Irish language; but the world still remains as it was, doubtful and ignorant. What the Irish language is in itself, and to what languages it has affinity, are very interesting questions, which every man wishes to see resolved that has any philological or historical curiosity. Dr. Leland begins his history too late: the ages which deserve an exact inquiry are those times (for such there were) when Ireland was the school of the West, the quiet habitation of sanctity and literature. If you could give a history, though imperfect, of the Irish nation, from its conversion to Christianity to the invasion from England, you would amplify knowledge with new views and new EARLY in this year came out, in two volumes quarto, the posthumous works of the learned Dr. Zachary Pearce, bishop of Rochester; being "A Commentary, with Notes, on the four Evangelists and the Acts of the Apostles," with other theological pieces. Johnson had turn to that excellent prelate, who, we have now an opportunity of making a grateful reassistance in the compilation of his Dictionary. seen, was the only person who gave him any The bishop had left some account of his life and character, written by himself. To this Johnson made some valuable additions †, and also furnished to the editor, the Rev. Mr. Derby, a dedication†, which I shall here insert; both because it will appear at this time with peculiar propriety, and because it will tend to propagate and increase that "fervour of loyalty," which in me, who boast of the name of Tory, is not only a principle but a passion. "To the King. "SIR,-I presume to lay before your majesty the last labours of a learned bishop, who died in the toils and duties of his calling. He is now beyond the reach of all earthly honours and rewards; and only the hope of inciting others to imitate him makes it now fit to be remembered, that he enjoyed in his life the favour of your majesty. I suspect that something of national zeal may have misguided the pen of the Irish copyist. I have in vain enquired after the original letter to clear up this point. - CHOKER. 4 Rector of Southfleet and Longfield in Kent. See antè, p. 97. He had married Bishop Pearce's niece. Johnson, in a letter to Mrs. Thrale, says, "My clerical friend Derby is dead." He died in 1778.-CROKER. 5 This statement, that the Bishop "died in his calling," which might be said of any bishop, seems superfluous, but it is in truth an allusion to the very special circumstance that Bishop Pearce had endeavoured, on account of his age and infirmities, to resign his episcopal charge, but George III. had scruples about such a resignation, and would not permit it. C., 1831. In some recent instances of episcopal inca. pacity, coadjutors have been nominated. — CROKER, 1847. "The tumultuary life of princes seldom permits them to survey the wide extent of national interest, without losing sight of private merit; to exhibit qualities which may be imitated by the highest and the humblest of mankind; and to be at once amiable and great. "Such characters, if now and then they appear in history, are contemplated with admiration. May it be the ambition of all your subjects to make haste with their tribute of reverence! and as posterity may learn from your majesty how kings should live, may they learn likewise from your people how they should be honoured! I am, may it please your majesty, with the most profound respect, your majesty's most dutiful and devoted subject and servant.' In the summer he wrote a prologue*, which was spoken before "A Word to the Wise," a comedy by Mr. Hugh Kelly, which had been brought upon the stage in 1770; but he being a writer for ministry in one of the newspapers, it fell a sacrifice to popular fury, and, in the playhouse phrase, was damned. By the generosity of Mr. Harris, the proprietor of Covent-garden theatre, it was now exhibited for one night, for the benefit of the author's widow and children. To conciliate the favour of the audience was the intention of Johnson's prologue, which, as it is not long, I shall here insert, as a proof that his poetical talents were in no degree impaired. "This night presents a play, which public rage, The man whom fate has laid where all must lie. 1 Mr. Murphy related in Dr. Johnson's hearing one day, and he did not deny it, that when Murphy joked him for having been so diligent of late between Dodd's sermon and Kelly's prologue, Dr. Johnson replied," Why, Sir, when they come to me with a dead staymaker and a dying parson, what can a man do?" He said, however, that he hated to give away literary performances, or even to sell them too cheaply. "The next generation," added he, "shall not accuse me of beating down the price of literature: one hates besides to give what one has been accustomed to sell; would not you now, turning to Mr. Thrale," rather give away money than porter?"- Piozzi. — CROKER. Our author has here fallen into a slight mistake. The prologue to this revived tragedy being written by Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Boswell very naturally supposed that it was performed at Drury-lane theatre. But in fact, as Mr. Kemble observes to me, it was acted at the theatre in Covent-garden [Feb. 1. 1777]. - MALONE. 3" Life of Richard Savage, by Dr. Johnson.""- SHERIDAN. 4 He likewise made some retribution to Dr. Johnson for Yet then shall calm reflection bless the night When liberal pity dignified delight; When pleasure fired her torch at virtue's flame, And mirth was bounty with an humbler name.' A circumstance which could not fail to be very pleasing to Johnson occurred this year. Sir Thomas Overbury," The tragedy of written by his early companion in London, Richard Savage, was brought out with alterations at Drury-lane theatre. The prologue to it was written by Mr. Richard Brinsley Sheridan; in which, after describing very pathetically the wretchedness of "Ill-fated Savage, at whose birth was given No parent but the Muse, no friend but Heaven;" he introduced an elegant compliment to Johnson on his Dictionary, that wonderful performance which cannot be too often or too highly praised; of which Mr. Harris, in his Philological Inquiries (part i. chap. iv.), justly and liberally observes, "Such is its merit, that our language does not possess a more copious, learned, and valuable work." The concluding lines of this prologue were these: "So pleads the tale that gives to future times The son's misfortunes and the parent's crimes; There shall his fame (if own'd to-night) survive, Fix'd by the hand that bids our language live." Mr. Sheridan here at once did honour to his taste and to his liberality of sentiment, by showing that he was not prejudiced from the unlucky difference which had taken place between his worthy father and Dr. Johnson.* I have already mentioned that Johnson was very desirous of reconciliation with old Mr. Sheridan. It will, therefore, not seem at all surprising that he was zealous in acknowledging the brilliant merit of his son. While it had as yet been displayed only in the drama, Johnson proposed him as a member of the Literary Club, observing, that "He who has written the two best comedies of his age is 195 And he had, surely a considerable man.' accordingly, the honour to be elected; for an honour it undoubtedly must be allowed to be, when it is considered of whom that society consists, and that a single black ball excludes a candidate. the attack he had meditated, about two years before, on the pamphlet he had published about the American question, entitled "Taxation no Tyranny." Some fragments found among Sheridan's papers show that he had intended answering this pamphlet in no very courteous way. See Moore's Life, vol. i. p. 152. - Hall. - CROKER. Whatever Sheridan has done has been, par excellence, always the best of its kind. He has written the best comedy (School for Scandal), the best drama (The Duenna, in my niind, far before the Beggar's Opera), the best farce (the Critic), and the best Address (Monologue on Garrick); and, to crown all, delivered the very best oration (the famous Begum speech) ever conceived or heard in this country.” —Byron. The School for Scandal, however, was not one of the two plays alluded to by Johnson, for it had not yet appeared. He meant the Rivals and the Trip to Scarborough, or, perhaps, the Duenna, though this is not properly a comedy. But it must be observed that Sheridan's admission to the Club took place about five or six weeks after the pane gyrical prologue. -CROKER. |