late noble lord' distinguished for abstruse science. I have heard Johnson himself talk of the character, and say that it was meant for George Lord Lyttelton, in which I could by no means agree; for his lordship had nothing of that violence which is a conspicuous feature in the composition. Finding that my illustrious friend could bear to have it supposed that it might be meant for him, I said, laughingly, that there was one trait which unquestionably did not belong to him; "he throws his meat anywhere but down his throat."Sir, (said he) Lord Chesterfield never saw me eat in his life."2

66

On the 6th of March came out Lord Bolingbroke's works, published by Mr. David Mallet. The wild and pernicious ravings under the name of "Philosophy," which were thus ushered into the world, gave great offence to all wellprincipled men. Johnson, hearing of their tendency 3, which nobody disputed, was roused with a just indignation, and pronounced this memorable sentence 4 upon the noble author and his editor:-"Sir, he was a scoundrel, and a coward: a scoundrel for charging a blunderbuss against religion and morality; a coward, because he had not resolution to fire it off himself, but left half-a-crown to a beggarly Scotchman, to draw the trigger after his death! 11 5 Garrick, who, I can attest from my own knowledge, had his mind seasoned with pious reverence, and sincerely disapproved of the infidel writings of several whom in the course of his almost universal gay intercourse with men of eminence he treated with external civility, distinguished himself upon this occasion. Mr. Pelham having died on the very day on which Lord Bolingbroke's works came out, he wrote an elegant Ode on his death, beginning

"Let others hail the rising sun,

I bow to that whose course is run;"

in which is the following stanza :

! Probably George, second Earl of Macclesfield, who published, in 1751, a learned pamphlet on the alteration of the style, and was, in 1752, elected President of the Royal So. ciety. Lord Macclesfield's manner was, no doubt, awkward and embarrassed, but little else in his character resembles that of the "respectable Hottentot," which much more probably was, as the world supposed, intended for Johnson.CROKER.

2 Nor did we- and yet we know that Lord Chesterfield's picture, if meant for Johnson, was not overcharged; for what between his blindness, his nervousness, and his eagerness, all his friends describe his mode of eating to have been something worse than awkward. See post, August 5th, 1763. CROKER.

3 See post, March, 1750, where Johnson admits that he had not read this book. CROKER.

4 It was the first remarkable phrase which Mr. Murphy ever heard him utter. - CHOKER.

5 Mallet's wife, a foolish and conceited woman, one evening introduced herself to David Ilumne, at an assembly,

JOHNSON TO THOMAS WARTON. "London, July 16. 1754. "SIR, It is but an ill return for the book with

I am too apt to

which you were pleased to favour me, to have delayed my thanks for it till now. be negligent; but I can never deliberately show my disrespect to a man of your character; and I now pay you a very honest acknowledgment, for the advancement of the literature of our native country. You have shown to all, who shall hereafter attempt the study of our ancient authors, the way to success; by directing them to the perusal of the books which those authors had read. Of this method, Hughes', and men much greater than Hughes, seem never to have thought. The reason why the authors, which are yet read, of the sixteenth century, are so little understood, is, that they are read alone; and no help is borrowed from those who lived with them, or before them. Some part of this ignorance I hope to remove by my book, [the Dictionary,] which now draws towards its end; but which I cannot finish to my mind, without visiting the libraries of Oxford, which I therefore hope to see in about a fortnight. I know not how long I shall stay, or where I shall lodge; but shall be sure to look for you at my arrival, and we shall easily settle the rest. I am, dear Sir, your most obedient, &c.

8

SAM. JOHNSON."

Of his conversation while at Oxford at this time, Mr. Warton preserved and communicated to me the following memorial, which, though not written with all the care and attention which that learned and elegant writer bestowed on those compositions which he intended for the public eye, is so happily expressed in an easy style, that I should injure it by any alter

ation.

saying, "We deists, Mr. Hume, should know one another." Home was exceedingly displeased and disconcerted, and replied, “Madam, I am no deist; I do not so style myself, neither do I desire to be known by that appellation."- Hardy's Life of Lord Charlemont, vol. í. p. 235. Boswell himself tells the same story in his Hypochondriac. This imputation would, even on mere worldly grounds, be very disagreeable to Hume; for I have in my possession proof that when Lord Hertford (whose secretary, in his embassy to Paris, Hume had been) was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, his lordship declined continuing him in the same character, alleging as a reason the dissatisfaction that it would excite on account of Hume's anti-religious principles. CROKER.

Observations on Spenser's Fairy Queen, the first edition of which was now published. - WARTON.

7 Hughes published an edition of Spenser.-WARTON. He came to Oxford within a fortnight, and stayed about five weeks. He lodged at Kettel Hall. WARTON. But during his visit, he collected nothing in the libraries for his Dictionary. - MALONE.

"When Johnson came to Oxford in 1754, the long vacation was beginning, and most people were leaving the place. This was the first time of his being there, after quitting the University. The next morning after his arrival, he wished to see his old college, Pembroke. I went with him. He was highly pleased to find all the college-servants which he had left there still remaining, particularly a very old butler; and expressed great satisfaction at being recognised by them, and conversed with them familiarly. He waited on the master, Dr. Radcliffe, who received him very coldly. Johnson at least expected that the master would order a copy of his Dictionary, now near publication; but the master did not choose to talk on the subject, never asked Johnson to dine, nor even to visit him, while he staid at Oxford. After we had left the lodgings, Johnson said to me, There lives a man, who lives by the revenues of literature, and will not move a finger to support it. If I come to live at Oxford, I shall take up my abode at Trinity. We then called on the Reverend Mr. Meeke, one of the fellows, and of Johnson's standing. Here was a most cordial greeting on both sides. On leaving him, Johnson said, I used to think Meeke had excellent parts, when we were boys together at the college: but, alas!

Lost in a convent's solitary gloom !'"I remember, at the classical lecture in the Hall, I could not bear Meeke's superiority, and I tried to sit as far from him as I could, that I might

not hear him construe.'

"As we were leaving the college, he said, 'Here I translated Pope's Messiah. Which do you think is the best line in it?. - My own favourite is,

'Vallis aromaticas fundit Saronica nubes.'

I told him, I thought it a very sonorous hexameter. I did not tell him, it was not in the Virgilian style. He much regretted that his first tutor was dead; for whom he seemed to retain the greatest regard. He said, I once had been a whole morning sliding in Christ-Church meadows, and missed his lecture in logic. After dinner he sent for me to his room. I expected a sharp rebuke for my idleness, and went with a beating heart. 3 When we were seated, he told me he had sent for me to drink a glass of wine with him, and to tell me, he was not angry with me for missing his lecture. This was, in fact, a most severe reprimand. Some more of the boys were then sent for, and we spent a very

There is some excuse for Dr. Ratcliff (so he spelt his name) not ordering a copy of the book, for this visit occurred seven or eight months before the Dictionary was published. His personal neglect of John-on is less easily :o be accounted for, unless it be by the fact, that he was a great invalid; but the imputation of his li ing by the revenues of literature, and doing nothing for it, cannot, as Dr. Hall informed me, be justly made against Dr. Ratcliff; for he bequeathed to his college 1000. 4 pe cents. for the establishment of an exhibition for the son of a Gloucestershire clergyman; 1000/. for th improvement of the college buildings; 1001. worth of books; and 100%. for contingent expenses. The residue of his property (except 6004. lett for the repair of the prebendal house of Gloucester) he left to the old butler mentioned in the text, who had long been his servant: a bequest which Johnson himself imitated in favour of his own servant, Barber. CROKER.

2 Mr. Warton's own College. - CROKER.

3 This was Johnson's earliest account of this little event, and probably the most accurate; many years after this he told the story to Boswell and Mrs. Piozzi, and made a parade of

pleasant afternoon.' Besides Mr. Meeke, there was only one other fellow of Pembroke now resident : from both of whom Johnson received the greatest civilities during this visit, and they pressed him very much to have a room in the college.

As

"In the course of this visit Johnson and I walked three or four times to Ellesfield, a village beautifully situated about three miles from Oxford, to see Mr. [Francis] Wise, Radelivian librarian, with whom Johnson was much pleased. At this place, Mr. Wise had fitted up a house and gardens, in a singular manner, but with great taste. Here was an excellent library, particularly a valuable collection of books in Northern literature, with which Johnson was often very busy. One day Mr. Wise read to us a dissertation which he was preparing for the press, intitled 'A History and Chronology of the Fabulous Ages.' Some old divinities of Thrace, related to the Titans, and called the Cabiri, made a very important part of the theory of this piece; and in conversation afterwards, Mr. Wise talked much of his Cabiri. we returned to Oxford in the evening, I outwalked Johnson, and he cried out Sufflamina, a Latin word which came from his mouth with peculiar grace, and was as much as to say, Put on your drag chain. Before we got home, I again walked too fast for him; and he now cried out, Why, you walk as if you were pursued by all the Cabiri in a body.' In an evening we frequently took long walks from Oxford into the country, returning to ruins of the abbeys of Oseney and Rewley, near supper. Once, in our way home, we viewed the Oxford. After at least half an hour's silence, Johnson said, I viewed them with indignation!' We had then a long conversation on Gothic buildings; and in talking of the form of old halls, he said, In these halls, the fire-place was anciently always in the middle of the room, till the Whigs removed it on one side.' About this time there had been an execution of two or three criminals at Oxford on a Monday. Soon afterwards, one day at dinner, I was saying that Mr. Swinton", the chaplain of the gaol, and also a frequent preacher before the university, a learned man, but often thoughtless and absent, preached the condemnation sermon on repentance, before the convicts, on the preceding day, Sunday; and that in the close he told his audience, that he should give them the remainder of what he had to say on the subject the next Lord's Day. Upon which, one of our company, a doctor of divinity, and a plain matterof-fact man, by way of offering an apology for Mr.

his having waited on his tutor, not with a “beating heart,” but with "nonchalance and even insolence." See p. 13. n. 4.—C. 4 Lately Fellow of Trinity College, and at this time was Radclivan Librarian at Oxford; of considerable learning, and eminently skilled in Roman and Anglo-Saxon antiquities. WARTON.

5 What can this mean? What had the Whigs to do with removing the smoky hearths from the centre of the great halls to a more commodious chimney at the side? And there are hundreds of very ancient halls with their chimneys in the sides. Johnson was either joking, or he alluded to some particular circumstances which Warton omitted to notice.CROKER. I have since found that my conjecture was right, and that Johnson alluded to an alteration of the halt of University College, which made some noise at the time; and, I suppose, was effected by some college authorities, who happened to be Whigs.

6 The Rev. John Swinton. B. D., of Ch. Ch., one of the chief writers of the Universal History, (c ncerning which, see post, December G. 1784,) died in 1777, aged 79.- CROKER.

"I had lately the favour of a letter from your brother, with some account of poor Collins, for whom I am much concerned. I have a notion, that by very great temperance, or more properly abstinence, he may yet recover.

"There is an old English and Latin book of poems by Barclay, called "The Ship of Fools;" at the end of which are a number of Eglogues, so he writes it, from Egloga, which are probably the first in our language. If you cannot find the book, I will get Mr. Dodsley to send it you.

"I shall be extremely glad to hear from you soon, to know if the affair proceeds. I have mentioned it to none of my friends, for fear of being laughed at for my disappointment.

"You know poor Mr. Dodsley has lost his wife; I believe he is much affected. I hope he will not suffer so much as I yet suffer for the loss of mine.

Οἴμοι· τί δ' οἴμοι; θνῆτα γὰρ πεπόνθαμεν.

I have ever since seemed to myself broken off from mankind; a kind of solitary wanderer in the wild of life, without any direction, or fixed point of view; a gloomy gazer on the world, to which I have little relation. Yet I would endeavour, by the help of you and your brother, to supply the want of closer union by friendship; and hope to have long the pleasure of being, dear Sir, most affectionately yours, SAM. JOHNSON."

[JOHNSON TO JOSEPH WARTON.
"[London,] Dec. 24. 1754.

"DEAR SIR,I am sat down to answer your kind letter, though I know not whether I shall direct it so as that it may reach you; the miscarriage of it will be no great matter, as I have nothing to send but thanks, of which I owe you many; yet, if a few should be lost, I shall amply find them in my own mind; and professions of respect, of which the profession will easily be renewed while the respect continues: and the same causes which first produced can hardly fail to preserve it. Pray let me know, however, whether my letter finds its way to you.

"Poor dear Collins-Let me know whether you think it would give him pleasure if I should write to him. I have often been near his state, and therefore have it in great commiseration,

“I sincerely wish you the usual pleasures of this joyous season, and more than the usual pleasures, those of contemplation on the great event which this festival commemorates. I am, dear Sir, your most affectionate and most humble servant,

SAM. JOHNSON."]

JOHNSON TO THOMAS WARTON. "[London,] Feb. 1. 1755. but believe did not direct accurately, and therefore "DEAR SIR, I wrote to you some weeks ago, know not whether you had my letter. I would, likewise, write to your brother, but know not where to find him. I now begin to see land, after having wandered, according to Mr. Warburton's phrase, in this vast sea of words. What reception I shall meet with on the shore, I know not: whether the sound of bells, and acclamations of the people, which Ariesto talks of in his last Canto, or a general murmur of dislike, I know not: whether I shall find upon the coast a Calypso that will court, or a Polypi eme that will eat me. if Polypheme comes, have at his eye. I hope, however, the critics will let me be at peace; for though I do not much fear their skill and strength, I am a little afraid of myself, and would not willingly feel so much ill-will in my bosom as literary quarrels are apt to excite.

But

"Mr. Baretti is about a work for which he is in great want of Crescimbeni, which you may have again when you please.

"There is nothing considerable done or doing among us here. We are not, perhaps, as innocent as villagers, but most of us seem to be as idle. I hope, however, you are busy; and should be glad to know what you are doing. I am, dearest Sir, your humble servant,

SAM. JOHNSON."

JOHNSON TO THOMAS WARTON. "[London,] Feb. 4. 1755. "DEAR SIR, I received your letter this day, with great sense of the favour that has been done me; for which I return my most sincere thanks : and entreat you to pay to Mr. Wise such returns as I ought to make for so much kindness so little deserved.

1 This verse is from the long-lost BELLEROPHON, a tragedy by Euripides. It is preserved by Suidas. - CHARLES BURNEY. The meaning is, " Alas! but why should I say alas? we have only suffered the common lot of mortality!" It was the habitual exclamation of the philosopher Crantor.-CROKER. 2 Antè, p. 5. and post, p. 336.

2 "Sento venir per allegrezza, un tuono
Che fremar l'aria, e rimbombar far l' onde:
Odo di squille," &c.

Orlando Furioso, c. xlvi. s. 2. — WRIGHT.

3 His degree had now past the suffrages of the heads of colleges; but was not yet finally granted by the university: it was carried without a dissentient voice. -WARTON.

"I sent Mr. Wise the Lexicon, and afterwards wrote to him; but know not whether he had either the book or letter. Be so good as to contrive to inquire.

But why does my dear Mr. Warton tell me nothing of himself? Where hangs the new volume1? Can I help? Let not the past labour be lost, for want of a little more: but snatch what time you can from the Hall, and the pupils, and the coffee-house, and the Parks, and complete your design. I am, dear Sir, &c.,

"SAM. JOHNSON."

JOHNSON TO THOMAS WARTON. "[London,] Feb. 13. 1755. “Dear Sir, — I had a letter last week from Mr. Wise, but have yet heard nothing from you, nor know in what state my little affair stands; of which I beg you to inform me, if you can, tomorrow, by the return of the post.

Mr. Wise sends me word, that he has not had the Finnick Lexicon yet, which I sent some time ago; and if he has it not, you must inquire after it. However, do not let your letter stay for that.

"Your brother, who is a better correspondent than you, and not much better, sends me word, that your pupils keep you in College: but do they keep you from writing too? Let them at least give you time to write to, dear Sir, your most affectionate, &c., SAM. JOHNSON."

3

JOHNSON TO THOMAS WARTON. "[London,] Feb. 1755. "DEAR SIR, - Dr. King was with me a few minutes before your letter; this, however, is the first instance in which your kind intentions to me have ever been frustrated. I have now the full effect of your care and benevolence; and am far from thinking it a slight honour or a small advantage; since it will put the enjoyment of your conversation more frequently in the power of, dear Sir, your most obliged and affectionate,

"SAM. JOHNSON.

TO THE REV. DR. HUDDESFORD, [President of Trinity College,] Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford; to be communicated to the Heads of Houses, and proposed in Convocation. "Grosvenor Street, Feb. 4. 1755. "MR. VICE-CHANCELLOR, AND GENTLEMEN ;;"Mr. Samuel Johnson, who was formerly of Pembroke College, having very eminently distinguished himself by the publication of a series of essays, excellently calculated to form the manners of the people, and in which the cause of religion and morality is every where maintained by the strongest powers of argument and language; and who shortly intends to publish a Dictionary of the English tongue, formed on a new plan, and executed with the greatest labour and judgment; I persuade myself that I shall act agreeably to the it may be proposed in convocation to confer on sentiments of the whole university, in desiring that him the degree of Master of Arts by diploma, to which I readily give my consent; and am, Mr. Vice-Chancellor, and Gentlemen, your affectionate friend and servant, ARRAN."

"CANCELLARIUS, Magistri, et Scholares Universitatis Oxoniensis omnibus ad quos hoc presens scriptum pervenerit, salutem in Domino sempiternam.

"Cùm eum in finem gradus academici à majoribus nostris instituti fuerint, ut viri ingenio et doctrinâ præstantes titulis quoque præter cateros insignirentur; cùmque vir doctissimus Samuel Johnson è Collegio Pembrochiensi, scriptis suis popularium mores informantibus dudum literato orbi innotuerit; quin et linguæ patriæ tum ornandæ tum stabilienda (Lexicon scilicet Anglicanum summo studio, summo à se judicio congestum propediem editurus) etiam nunc utilissimam impendat operam; Nos igitur Cancellarius, Magistri, et Scholares antedicti, nè virum de literis humanioribus optimè meritum diutius inhonoratum prætereamus, in solenni Convocatione Doctorum, Mugistrorum, Regentium, et non Regentium, decimo die Mensis Februarii Anno Domini Millesimo Septingentisimo Quinquagesimo quinto habitá, præfatum virum Samuelem Johnson (conspirantibus omnium suf

stituimus; eumque, virtute præsentis diplomatis, singulis juribus, privilegiis, et honoribus ad istum gradum quàquà pertinentibus frui et gaudere jussimus. "In cujus rei testimonium sigillum Universitatis Oxoniensis præsentibus apponi fecimus.

"Datum in Domo nostra Convocationis die 20° Mensis Feb. Anno Dom. prædicto.

"Diploma supra scriptum per Registrarium lectum erat, et ex decreto venerabilis Domus communi Uni

versitatis sigillo munitum.” 5

1 On Spenser. - WARTON.

2 The walks near Oxford so called. CROKER.

3 Principal of Saint Mary Hall, at Oxford. He brought with him the diploma from Oxford. - WARTON. Dr. William King was born in 1685; entered of Baliol 1701; D. C. L., 1715; and Principal of Saint Mary Hall in 1718. In 1722, he was a candidate for the representation of the university in parliament, on the Tory interest; but was defeated. He was a wit and a scholar, and, in particular, celebrated for his latinity; highly obnoxious to the Hanoverian party, and the idol of the Jacobites. It appears from his Anecdotes of his own Times, published in 1819, that he was one of those intrusted with the knowledge of the Pre

tender's being in London in the latter end of the reign of George the Second, where Dr. King was introduced to him. His Memoirs say, in 1750; but this is supposed to be an error of the press or transcriber for 1753. He died in 1763. — CROKER.

4 I suppose Johnson means, that my kind intention of being the first to give him the good news of the degree being granted was frustrated because Dr. King brought it before my intelligence arrived. WARTON. Dr. King_was secre tary to Lord Arran, as Chancellor of Oxford. CROKER. 5 The original is in my possession. - BOSWELL. It now belongs to Mr. Pocock.-CROKER.