several answers came out, in which care was taken to remind the public of his former attacks upon government, and of his now being a pensioner, without allowing for the honourable terms upon which Johnson's pension was granted and accepted, or the change of sys tem which the British court had undergone upon the accession of his present Majesty. He was, however, soothed in the highest strain of panegyric, in a poem called "The Remonstrance," by the Rev. Mr. Stockdale, to whom he was, upon many occasions, a kind pro tector. The following admirable minute made by him, describes so well his own state, and that of numbers to whom self-examination is habitual, that I cannot omit it: - "June 1, 1770. Every man naturally persuades himself that he can keep his resolutions, nor is he convinced of his imbecility but by length of time and frequency of experiment. This opinion of our own constancy is so prevalent, that we always despise him who suffers his general and settled purpose to be overpowered by an occasional desire. They, therefore, whom frequent failures have made desperate, cease to form resolutions; and they who are become cunning, do not tell them. Those who do not make them are very few, but of their effect little is perceived; for scarcely any man persists in a course of life planned by choice, but as he is restrained from deviation by some external power. He who may live as he will, seldom lives long in the observation of his own rules. I never yet saw a regular family, unless it were that of Mrs. Harriot's, nor a regular man, except Mr. whose exactness I know only by his own report, and Psalmanazer, whose life was, I think, uniform." [Pr. and Med. p. 100.] Of this year I have obtained the following letters :— LETTER 120. TO THE REV. DR. FARMER. "Johnson's Court, March 21, 1770. "SIR,-As no man ought to keep wholly to himself any possession that may be useful to the public, I hope you will not think me unreasonably intrusive, if 1 The Rev. Percival Stockdale, whose strange and rambling "Autobiography was pub lished in 1808: he was the author of several bad poems, and died in 1810, at the age of 75. He was Johnson's neighbour for some years, both in Johnson's Court and Bolt Court.-C. From the animated, ingenious, and eccentric Percival Stockdale, Miss Burney drew the Belfield of her "Cecilia." His "Memoirs" were written under the pressure of extreme debility, and nervous irritation, from the rapid increase of a disorder he inherited from his cradle. Irrita bility of temper was, indeed, his only fault. He has left behind him the remembrance of his charities in the breasts of the poor, and the image of his worth in the hearts of many lament ing friends.-JANE PORTER. I have recourse to you for such information as you are more able to give me than any other man. "In support of an opinion which you have already placed above the need of any more apport, Mr. Steevens, a very ingenious gentleman, lately of King's College, has collected an account of all the translations which Shakspeare might have seen and used. He wishes his catalogue to be perfect, and therefore intreats that you will favour him by the insertion of such additions as the accuracy of your inquiries has enabled you to make. To this request, I take the liberty of adding my own solicitation. "We have no immediate use for this catalogue, and therefore do not desire that it should interrupt or hinder your more important employments. But it will be kind to let us know that you receive it. I am, Sir, &c., "SAM. JOHNSON." LETTER 121. TO MRS. LUCY PORTER. "May 1, 1770. "DEAREST MADAM,-Among other causes that have hindered me from answering your last kind letter, is a tedious and painful rheumatism, that has afflicted me for many weeks, and still continues to molest me. I hope you are well, and will long keep your health and your cheerfulness. "One reason why I delayed to write, was my uncertainty how to answer your letter. I like the thought of giving away the money very well; but wher I consider that Tom Johnson is my nearest relation, and that he is now old and in great want; that he was my playfellow in childhood, and has never done anything to offend me; I am in doubt whether I ought not rather give it him than any other. "Of this, my dear, I would have your opinion. I would willingly please you, and I know that you will be pleased best with what you think right. Tell me your mind, and do not learn of me to neglect writing; for it is a very sorry trick, though it be mine. "Your brother is well; I saw him to-day, and thought it long since I saw aim before: it seems he has called often and could not find me. I a I am, my dear, your affectionate humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." LETTER 122. TO THE SAME. "London, May, 29, 1770. "MY DEAREST DEAR,—I am very sorry that your eyes are bad; take greas care of them, especially by candlelight. Mine continue pretty good, but they are sometimes a little dim. My rheumatism grows gradually better. I have considered your letter, and am willing that the whole money should go where you, my dear, originally intended. I hope to help Tom some other way. So that matter is over. "Dr. Taylor has invited me to pass some time with him at Ashbourne: if I come, you may be sure that I shall take you and Lichfield in my way When I am nearer coming, I will send you word. "Of Mr. Porter I have seen very little, but I know not that it is his fault, for he says that he often calls, but never finds me; I am sorry for it, for I love him. Mr. Mathias has lately had a great deal of money left him, of which you have probably heard already. I am, my dearest, your most affectionate servant, LETTER 123. TO THE REV. THOMAS WARTON. "SAM. JOHNSON.' "London, June 28, 1770. "DEAR SIR,-The readiness with which you were pleased to promise me some notes on Shakspeare, was a new instance of your friendship. I shall not hurry you; but am desired by Mr. Steevens, who helps me in this edition, to let you know, that we shall print the tragedies first, and shall therefore want first the notes which belong to them. We think not to incommode the readers with a supplement; and therefore, what we cannot put into its proper place, will do us no good. We shall not begin to print before the end of six weeks, perhaps not so soon. I am, &c., "SAM. JOHNSON LETTER 124. TO MRS. THRALE. "Lichfield, July, 7, 1770. "I thought I should have heard something to-day about Streatham; but there is no letter; and I need some consolation, for rheumatism is come again, though in a less degree than formerly. I reckon to go next week to Ashbourne, and will try to bring you the dimensions of the great bull. The skies and the ground are all so wet that I have been very little abroad; and Mrs. Aston is from home, so that I have no motive to walk. When she is at home, she lives on the top of Stowhill, and I commonly climb up to see her once a day. There is nothing there now but the empty nest. To write to you about Lichfield is of no use, for you never saw Stow-pool, nor Borowcop-hill. I believe you may find Borow or Boroughcop-hill in my Dictionary, under cop or cob. Nobody here knows what the name imports." "Lichfield, July 11, 1770. "Mr. Greene, the apothecary, has found a book which tells who paid levies in our parish, and how much they paid above an hundred years ago. Do you not think we study this book hard? Nothing is like going to the bottom of things. Many families that paid the parish rates are now extinct, like the race of Hercules. Pulvis et umbra sumus. What is nearest us touches us most. The passions rise higher at domestic than at imperial tragedies. I am not wholly unaffected by the revolutions in Sadler Street; nor can forbear to mourn when old names vanish away, and new come into their place." "Ashbourne, July, 20, 1770. "I came hither on Wednesday, having staid one night at a lodge in the forest of Nedewood. Dr. Taylor's is a very pleasant house, with a lawn and a lake, and twenty deer and five fawns upon the lawn. Whether I shall by any light see Matlock I do not yet know. "That Baretti's book would please you all I made no doubt. I know not whether the world has ever seen such travels before. Those whose lot it is to ramble can seldom write, and those who know how to write very seldom ramble. If Sidney had gone, as he desired, the great voyage with Drake, there would probably have been such a narrative as would have equally satisfied the poet and the philosopher." "Ashbourne, July 28, 1770. "I have seen the great bull, and very great he is. I have seen likewise his heir apparent, who promises to inherit all the bulk and all the virtues of his sire. I have seen the man who offered an hundred guineas for the young bull, while he was yet little better than a calf. Matlock, I am afraid, I shall not see, but I purpose to see Dovedale; and, after all this seeing, I hope to see you." LETTER 125. TO THE REV. DR. JOSEPH WARTON. "Sept. 21, 1770. "DEAR SIR,-I am revising my edition of Shakspeare, and remember that I formerly misrepresented your opinion of Lear. Be pleased to write the paragraph as you would have it, and send it. If you have any remarks of your own upon that or any other play, I shall gladly receive them. Make my compliments to Mrs. Warton. I sometimes think of wandering a few days to Winchester, but am apt to delay. I am, Sir, your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." LETTER 126. TO MR. FRANCIS BARBER, "London, Sept. 25, 1770. "DEAR FRANCIS,—I am at last sat down to write to you, and should very much blame myself for having neglected you so long, if I did not impute that and many other failings to want of health. I hope not to be so long silent again. I am very well satisfied with your progress, if you can really perform the exercises which you are set; and I hope Mr. Ellis does not suffer you to impose on him, or on yourself. Make my compliments to Mr. Ellis and to Mrs. Clapp, and Mr. Smith. "Let me know what English books you read for your entertainment. You can never be wise unless you love reading. Do not imagine that I shall forget or forsake you; for if, when I examine you, I find that you have not lost your time, you shall want no encouragement from yours affectionately, "SAM. JOHNSON." LETTER 127. TO THE SAME. "December 7, 1770. "DEAR FRANCIS,-I hope you mind your business. I design you shall stay with Mrs. Clapp these holidays. If you are irvited out you may go, if Mr. Ellis gives leave. I have ordered you some othes, which you will receive, I believe, next week. My compliments to Mrs. Clapp, and to Mr. Ellis, and Mr. Smith, &c.—I am your affectionate, "SAM JOHNSON.". |