PROSE WORKS OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D. 13 Authours.' The Dissertation on the Epitaphs written by Pope he afterwards acknowledged, and added to his 'Idler.' Life of Sir Thomas Browne prefixed to a new Edition of his Christian Morals. acknowl. In the Literary Magazine; or, Universal Review, which began in January 1756. His Original Essays are Preliminary Address. intern. evid. An introduction to the Political State of Great Britain. intern. evid. Remarks on the Militia Bill. intern. evid. Observations on his Britannick Majesty's Treaties with the Empress of Russia and the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel. intern. evid. Observations on the Present State of Affairs. intern. evid. Memoirs of Frederick III. King of Prussia. intern. evid. In the same Magazine his Reviews are of the following Books: 'Birch's History of the Royal Society.'-' Browne's Christian Morals.'-'Warton's Essay on the Writings and Genius of Pope, Vol. I.-Hampton's Translation of Polybius.'—ʻ Sir Isaac Newton's Arguments in Proof of a Deity.'-' Borlase's History of the Isles of Scilly.'-'Home's Experiments on Bleaching.'-' Browne's History of Jamaica.'' Hales on Distilling Sea Water, Ventilators in Ships, and curing an ill Taste in Milk.'-'Lucas's Essay on Waters.' .' Keith's Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops.'-' Philosophical Transactions, Vol. XLIX.'-' Miscellanies by Elizabeth Harrison.''Evans's Map and Account of the Middle Colonies in America.' -The Cadet, a Military Treatise.'-'The Conduct of the Ministry relating to the present War impartially examined.' intern. evid. 'Mrs. Lennox's Translation of Sully's Memoirs.'-' Letter on the Dedication to the Earl of Rochford of, and Preface to, Mr. Payne's Introduction to the London Chronicle, an Evening Paper which 1757. Speech on the Subject of an Address to the Throne after the Expedition to Rochefort; delivered by one of his Friends in some publick Meeting: it is printed in the Gentleman's Magazine for October 1785. intern. evid. 14 A CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE OF THE The first two Paragraphs of the Preface to Sir William Chambers's 1758. THE IDLER, which began April 5, in this year, and was continued till April 5, 1760. acknowl. An Essay on the Bravery of the English Common Soldiers was added to it when published in Volumes. acknowl. 1759. Rasselas Prince of Abyssinia, a Tale. acknowl. Advertisement for the Proprietors of the Idler against certain Persons who pirated those Papers as they came out singly in a Newspaper called the Universal Chronicle or Weekly Gazette. intern. evid. For Mrs. Charlotte Lennox's English Version of Brumoy,-‘A Introduction to the World Displayed, a Collection of Voyages and Three Letters in the Gazetteer, concerning the best plan for Black- 1760. Address of the Painters to George III. on his Accession to the Throne. intern. evid. Dedication of Baretti's Italian and English Dictionary to the Marquis of Abreu, then Envoy-Extraordinary from Spain at the Court of Great-Britain. intern. evid. Review in the Gentleman's Magazine of Mr. Tytler's acute and able Vindication of Mary Queen of Scots. acknowl. Introduction to the Proceedings of the Committee for Cloathing the French Prisoners. acknowl. 1761. Preface to Rolt's Dictionary of Trade and Commerce. acknowl. Corrections and Improvements for Mr. Gwyn the Architect's Pamphlet, intitled' Thoughts on the Coronation of George III.' 1762. Dedication to the King of the Reverend Dr. Kennedy's Complete System of Astronomical Chronology, unfolding the Scriptures, Quarto Edition. acknowl. Concluding Paragraph of that Work. intern. evid. Preface to the Catalogue of the Artists' Exhibition. intern. evid. 1763. Character of Collins in the Poetical Calendar, published by Fawkes and Woty. acknowl. Dedication to the Earl of Shaftesbury of the Edition of Roger The Life of Ascham, also prefixed to that edition. acknowl. Dedication to the Queen of Mr. Hoole's Translation of Tasso. acknowl. Account of the Detection of the Imposture of the Cock-Lane Ghost, published in the Newspapers and Gentleman's Magazine. acknowl. 1764. Part of a Review of Grainger's 'Sugar Cane, a Poem,' in the London Chronicle. acknowl. PROSE WORKS OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D. 15 Review of Goldsmith's Traveller, a Poem, in the Critical Review. 1765. The Plays of William Shakspeare, in eight volumes, 8vo. with 1766. The Fountains, a Fairy Tale, in Mrs. Williams's Miscellanies. 1767. Dedication to the King of Mr. Adams's Treatise on the Globes. 1769. Character of the Reverend Mr. Zachariah Mudge, in the London 1771. Thoughts on the late Transactions respecting Falkland's Islands. 1772. Defence of a Schoolmaster; dictated to me for the House of Argument in Support of the Law of Vicious Intromission; dic- 1775. A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland. acknowl. Proposals for publishing the Works of Mrs. Charlotte Lennox, in Three Volumes Quarto. acknowl. Preface to Baretti's Easy Lessons in Italian and English. intern. evid. Taxation no Tyranny; an Answer to the Resolutions and Address of the American Congress. acknowl. Argument on the Case of Dr. Memis; dictated to me for the Court of Session in Scotland. acknowl. Argument to prove that the Corporation of Stirling was corrupt; 1776. Argument in Support of the Right of immediate, and personal Proposals for publishing an Analysis of the Scotch Celtick Lan- 1777. Dedication to the King of the Posthumous Works of Dr. Pearce, Additions to the Life and Character of that Prelate; prefixed to Various Papers and Letters in Favour of the Reverend Dr. Dodd. 1780. Advertisement for his Friend Mr. Thrale to the Worthy Electors of the Borough of Southwark. acknowl. The first Paragraph of Mr. Thomas Davies's Life of Garrick, 1781. Prefaces Biographical and Critical to the Works of the most Argument on the Importance of the Registration of Deeds; dic- 16 A CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE, ETC. On the Distinction between TORY and WHIG; dictated to me. acknowl. On Vicarious Punishments, and the great Propitiation for the Sins of the World, by JESUS CHRIST; dictated to me. acknowl. Argument in favour of Joseph Knight, an African Negro, who claimed his Liberty in the Court of Session in Scotland, and obtained it; dictated to me. acknowl. Defence of Mr. Robertson, Printer of the Caledonian Mercury, against the Society of Procurators in Edinburgh, for having inserted in his Paper a ludicrous Paragraph against them; demonstrating that it was not an injurious Libel; dictated to me. acknowl. 1782. The greatest part, if not the whole, of a Reply, by the Reverend Mr. Shaw, to a Person at Edinburgh, of the Name of Clark, refuting his arguments for the authenticity of the Poems published by Mr. James Macpherson as Translations from Ossian. intern. evid. 1784. List of the Authours of the Universal History, deposited in the British Museum, and printed in the Gentleman's Magazine for December, this year. acknowl. Various Years. Letters to Mrs. Thrale. acknowl. Prayers and Meditations, which he delivered to the Rev. Mr. Sermons left for Publication by John Taylor, LL.D. Prebendary Such was the number and variety of the Prose Works of this extraordinary man, which I have been able to discover, and am at liberty to mention; but we ought to keep in mind, that there must undoubtedly have been many more which are yet concealed; and we may add to the account, the numerous Letters which he wrote, of which a considerable part are yet unpublished. It is hoped that those persons in whose possession they are, will favour the world with them. JAMES BOSWELL. After my death I wish no other herald, SHAKSPEARE, Henry VIII. [Act IV. Sc. 2.] 1 See Dr. Johnson's letter to Mrs. Thrale, dated Ostick in Skie, September 30, 1773:- Boswell writes a regular Journal of our travels, which I think contains as much of what I say and do, as of all other occurrences together; "for such a faithful chronicler is Griffith.” ' THE LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D. To write the Life of him who excelled all mankind in writing the lives of others, and who, whether we consider his extraordinary endowments, or his various works, has been equalled by few in any age, is an arduous, and may be reckoned in me a presumptuous task. Had Dr. Johnson written his own life, in conformity with the opinion which he has given 1, that every man's life may be best written by himself; had he employed in the preservation of his own history, that clearness of narration and elegance of language in which he has embalmed so many eminent persons, the world would probably have had the most perfect example of biography that was ever exhibited. But although he at different times, in a desultory manner, committed to writing many particulars of the progress of his mind and fortunes, he never had persevering diligence enough to form them into a regular composition. Of these memorials a few have been preserved; but the greater part was consigned by him to the flames, a few days before his death. As I had the honour and happiness of enjoying his friendship for upwards of twenty years; as I had the scheme of writing his life constantly in view; as he was well apprised of this circumstance, and from time to time obligingly satisfied my inquiries, by communicating to me the incidents of his early years; as I acquired a facility in recollecting, and was very assiduous in recording, his conversation, of which the extraordinary vigour and vivacity constituted one of the first features of his character; and as I have spared no pains in obtaining materials concerning him, from every quarter where I could discover that they were to be found, and have been favoured with the most liberal communications by his friends; I flatter myself that few biographers 1 Idler, No. 84. |