[ Titic-Ray to the Third Editier.)

THE

LIFE

OR

· SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D.

COMPREHENDING

AN ACCOUNT OF HIS STUDIES
AND NUMEROUS WORKS,

IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER;

A SERIES OF HIS EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE AND CONVERSATIONS WITH MANY EMINENT PERSONS;

AND

VARIOUS ORIGINAL PIECES OF HIS COMPOSITION,

NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED:

THE WHOLE EXHIBITING A VIEW OF LITERATURE AND LITERARY MEN IN GREAT-BRITAIN, FOR NEAR HALF A CENTURY, DURING WHICH

HE FLOURISHED.

BY JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

Quò fit ut OMNIS
Votiva pateat veluti descripta tabella
VITA SENIS.

HORAT,

THE THIR]) EDITION, REVISED AND AUGMENTED,

IN FOUR VOLUMES.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY H. BALDWIN & SON,
FOR CHARLES DILLY, IN THE POULTRY.

MDCCXCIX.

1

575821

ADVERTISEMENT

The text adopted for the present publication is that of the third edition, işsued under the superintendence of Edmond Malone in 1799.

The notes at the foot of the page are Boswell's own, with the exception of those added by Malone, which are marked [M.].

Boswell's spelling and punctuation have been retained, ...in accordance with his own ideas as expressed in the preface to An Account of Corsica. If this work,' he writes, 'should at any future period be reprinted, I hope that care will be taken of my orthography.' Typographical errors, however, have been corrected, and the spelling of proper names in the Index has been made to conform to received usage.

240273

A CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE OF THE PROSE WORKS

OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D.

10

LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON (SEPT. 18, 1709–

MARCH, 1776)

DEDICATION TO SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS

MY DEAR SIR,--Every liberal motive that can actuate an Authour in the dedication of his labours, concurs in directing me to you, as the person to whom the following Work should be inscribed.

If there be a pleasure in celebrating the distinguished merit of a contemporary, mixed with a certain degree of vanity not altogether inexcusable, in appearing fully sensible of it, where can I find one, in complimenting whom I can with more general approbation gratify those feelings ? Your excellence not only in the Art over which you have long presided with unrivalled fame, but also in Philosophy and elegant Literature, is well known to the present, and will continue to be the admiration of future ages. Your equal and placid temper, your variety of conversation, your true politeness, by which you are so amiable in private society, and that enlarged hospitality which has long made your house a common centre of union for the great, the accomplished, the learned, and the ingenious; all these qualities I can, in perfect confidence of not being accused of flattery,

ascribe to you.

If a man may indulge an honest pride, in having it known to the world, that he has been thought worthy of particular attention by a person of the first eminence in the age in which he lived, whose company has been universally courted, I am justified in availing myself of the usual privilege of a Dedication, when I mention that there has been a long and uninterrupted friendship between us.

If gratitude should be acknowledged for favours received, I have this opportunity, my dear Sir, most sincerely to thank you for the many happy hours which I owe to your kindness, --for the cordiality with which you have at all times been pleased to welcome me,- for the number of valuable acquaintances to whom you have introduced me,--for the noctes conæque Deûm, which I have enjoyed under your roof.

B

BOSWELL. 1