ADVERTISEMENT TO THE AMERICAN EDITION. IN republishing a work, which has so much interested and amused the literary world, and has so long subjected its author to the sarcasms of foes, or to the plaudits of friends, it seems but the bounden duty of the American editor, to suffer the author in this place to offer those vindications which he afterwards saw fit to annex to his "Life of Johnson." They are calculated in a peculiar manner to do away the prejudices of many of his readers.-Many who might otherwise think him weak in detailing the foibles of his illustrious friend, or over vain in the too favourable mention of himself, will be inclined to ascribe them to his candour, or to that unconcern which a man may manifest who knows he has not departed from the truth. That he was proud of the commendation and love of him, to whose transcendant genius, all paid homage, there can be no doubt: for he has often and cheerfully asserted it. But surely Mr. Boswell has often conde scended to expose himself in terms, to which no man of ostentatious vanity could have submitted. With what naiveté and unconcern does he for instance, tell us, that "Johnson told him, that he (Mr. B.) got into the Literary Club, by assiduously recommending himself to the members; that several wished to keep him out; and that Burke doubted his fitness, &c." Mr. Boswell speaking of this work, says: "I was almost unboundedly open in my communications, and from my eagerness to display the wonderful fertility and readiness of Johnson's wit, freely shewed to the world its dexterity, even when I was myself the object of it. I trusted that I should be liberally understood, as knowing very well what I was about, and by no means as simply unconscious of the pointed effects of the satire. I own, indeed, that I was arrogant enough to suppose that the tenour of the rest of the book would sufficiently guard me against such a strange imputation.-But it seems I judged too well of the world." And again, in another place; "I am fully aware of the objections which may be made to the minuteness of my detail of Johnson's conversations, and how happily it is adapted for the petty exercise of ridicule by men of superficial understanding, and ludicrous fancy; but I remain firm and confident in my opinion that minute particulars are frequently characteristick, and always amusing, when they relate to a distinguished man,-of one thing I am certain, that considering the value set upon the little we have of the table-talk and other anecdotes of our cele brated writers, and how earnestly it is regretted that we have not more, I am justified in preserving too many rather than too few of Johnson's sayings." In addition to his own opinion thus given, we think it pertinent to subjoin the opinion which his friend John Courtenay, Esq. has given of his abilities as a Journalist and Biographer. "With Reynolds' pencil, vivid, bold, and true, So fervent Boswell gives him to our view: Philadelphia, May, 1810. CONTENTS. August 15. Sir W. Forbes. Practice of the law. Emigration. Dr. Beattie and Mr. Hume. Dr. Robertson. Mr. Burke's various and extraordinary talents. Question concerning genius. Whitfield and Wesley. Instructions to political parties. Dr. Johnson's opinion of Garrick as a tragedian. August 16. Ogden on Prayer. Aphoristick writing. Edin- burgh surveyed. Character of Swift's works. Evil spirits and witchcraft. Lord Monboddo. August 17. Poetry and Dictionary-writing. Scepticism. Eter- nal necessity refuted. Lord Hailes's criticism on The Vanity August 19. and conversation compared. Change of manners. The Union. Value of money. St. Andrews and John Knox. Retirement from the world. Dinner with the Professors. Question con- cerning sorrow and content. Instructions for composition. Dr. Johnson's method. Uncertainty of memory. August 20. Effect of prayer. Observance of Sunday. Professor Shaw. Transubstantiation. Literary property. Mr. Tyers's remark on Dr. Johnson. Arrive at Montrose. August 21. Want of trees. Laurence Kirk. Dinner at Mon- August 22. Professor Thomas Gordon. Publick and private education. Sir Alexander Gordon. Trade of Aberdeen. Pre- scription of murder in Scotland. Mystery of the Trinity. Sa- tisfaction of Christ. Importance of old friendships. August 23. Dr. Johnson made a burgess of Aberdeen. Dinner at Sir Alexander Gordon's. Warburton's powers of invective. Goldsmith and Graham. Slains castle. Education of children. Buller of Buchan. Entails. Consequence of Peers. Sir Joshua Reynolds. Earl of Errol. August 25. The advantage of being on good terms with relations. Life of Country gentlemen. THE LITERARY CLUB. August 26. Lord Monboddo. Use and importance of wealth. Elgin. Macbeth's heath. Fores. August 27. Leonidas. Paul Whitehead. Derrick. Origin of Angust 28. Fort George. Sir Adolphus Oughton. Contest between Warburton and Lowth. Dinner at Sir Eyre Coote's. Incorrectness of writers of Tra- vels. Coinage of new words. Dr. Johnson's Dictionary. August 31. Anoch. Emigration. Goldsmith. Poets and soldiers compared. Life of a sailor. Landlord's daughter at Anoch. 114 September 1. Glensheal. The Macraas. Dr. Johnson's anger at being left for a little while by the authour on a wild plain. September2. Dr. Johnson relents. Isle of Sky. Armidale. 127 September 3. Colonel Montgomery, now Earl of Eglintoune. 129 |