1756. Etat. 47. "The bounds of knowledge marks, and points the way 8 This year Mr. William Payne, brother of the refpectable bookfeller of that name, published "An Introduction to the Game of Draughts," to which Johnson contributed a Dedication to the Earl of Rochford,* and a Preface,* both of which are admirably adapted to the treatise to which they are prefixed. Johnson, I believe, did not play at draughts after leaving College, by which he suffered, for it would have afforded him an innocent foothing relief from the melancholy which distressed him so often. I have heard him regret that he had not learnt to play at cards; and the game of draughts we know is peculiarly calculated to fix the attention without straining it. There is a composure and gravity in draughts which infenfibly tranquillifes the mind; and, accordingly, the Dutch are fond of it, as they are of fmoaking, of the fedative Some time after Dr. Johnson's death there apppeared in the newspapers and magazines an illiberal and petulant attack upon him, in the form of an Epitaph, under the name of Mr. Soame Jennings, very unworthy of that gentleman, who had quietly submitted to the critical lafh while Johnson lived. It affumed, as characteristicks of him, all the vulgar circumftances of abuse which had circulated amongst the ignorant. It was an unbecoming indulgence of puny refentment, at a time when he himself was at a very advanced age, and had a near profpect of defcending to the grave. I was truly forry for it; for he was then become an avowed, and (as my Lord Bishop of London, who had a serious converfation with him on the subject, affures me) a fincere Christian. He could not expect that Johnson's numerous friends would patiently bear to have the memory of their master stigmatized by no mean pen, but that at least one would be found to retort, Accordingly, this unjuft and farcaftick Epitaph was met in the fame publick field by an answer, in terms by no means foft, and fuch as wanton provocation only could justify: 1756. influence of which, though he himself never smoaked, he had a high opinion. As one of the little occafional advantages which he did not difdain to take by his pen, as a man whose profeffion was literature, he this year accepted of a guinea from Mr. Robert Dodfley, for writing the introduction to "The London Chronicle," an evening newspaper; and even in fo flight a performance exhibited peculiar talents. This Chronicle still subsists, and from what I obferved, when I was abroad, has a more extensive circulation upon the Continent than any of the English newspapers. It was conftantly read by Johnson himself, and it is but just to observe, that it has all along been diftinguished for good sense, accuracy, moderation, and delicacy. Another instance of the fame nature has been communicated to me by the Reverend Dr. Thomas Campbell, who has done himself confiderable credit by his own writings. Sitting with Dr. Johnfon one morning alone, he asked me if I had known Dr. Madden, who was authour of the premium-scheme in Ireland. On my anfwering in the affirmative, and alfo that I had for fome years lived in his neighbourhood, &c. he begged of me that when I returned to Ireland, I would endeavour to procure for him a poem of Dr. Madden's, called Boulter's Monument.' The reason (said he) why I wish for it, is this: when Dr. Madden came to London, he fubmitted that work to my caftigation; and I remember I blotted a great many lines, and might have blotted many more, without making the poem the worse. However, the Doctor was very thankful, and very generous, for he gave me ten guineas, which was to me at that time a great fum." notes. He this year refumed his fcheme of giving an edition of Shakspeare with He iffued Propofals of confiderable length, in which he fhewed that he perfectly well knew what a variety of research such an undertaking required; but his indolence prevented him from pursuing it with that diligence which alone can collect those scattered facts that genius, however acute, penetrating, and luminous, cannot discover by its own force. It is remarkable, that at 9 Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3d edit. p. 48.. this time his fancied activity was for the moment fo vigorous, that he promised his work fhould be published before Chriftmas, 1757. Yet nine years elapfed before it faw the light. His throes in bringing it forth had been severe and remittent, and at last we may almost conclude that the Cæfarian. operation was performed by the knife of Churchill, whofe upbraiding fatire, I dare fay, made Johnfon's friends urge him to dispatch. "He for fubfcribers bates his hook, "And takes your cash; but where's the book? "Forbids the robbing of a foe; "But what, to ferve our private ends, "Forbids the cheating of our friends?" About this period he was offered a living of confiderable value in Lincolnfhire, if he were inclined to enter into holy orders. It was a rectory in the gift of Mr. Langton, the father of his much valued friend. But he did not accept of it; partly I believe from a confcientious motive, being perfuaded that his temper and habits rendered him unfit for that affiduous and familiar inftruction of the vulgar and ignorant, which he held to be an effential duty in a clergyman; and partly because his love of a London life was fo ftrong, that he would have thought himself an exile in any other place, particularly if refiding in the country. Whoever would wish to fee his thoughts upon that fubject displayed in their full force, may peruse the Adventurer, No. 126. In 1757 it does not appear that he published any thing, except fome of those articles in the Literary Magazine, which have been mentioned. That magazine, after Johnson ceased to write in it, gradually declined, though the popular epithet of Antigallican was added to it; and in July 1758 it expired. He probably prepared a part of his Shakspeare this year, and he dictated a fpeech on the subject of an Address to the Throne, after the expedition to Rochfort, which was delivered by one of his friends, I know not in what publick meeting. It is printed in the Gentleman's Magazine for October 1785 as his, and bears fufficient marks of authenticity. By the favour of Mr. Walker, of the Treasury, Dublin, I have obtained a copy of the following letter from Johnfon to the venerable authour of "Differtations on the Hiftory of Ireland." To 1757. << SIR, To CHARLES O'CONOR, Efq. "I HAVE lately, by the favour of Mr. Faulkner, feen your account of Ireland, and cannot forbear to folicit a profecution of your defign. Sir William Temple complains that Ireland is lefs known than any other country, as to its ancient ftate. The natives have had little leifure, and little encouragement for enquiry; and strangers, not knowing the language, have had no ability. "I have long wished that the Irish literature were cultivated. Ireland is known by tradition to have been once the feat of piety and learning; and furely it would be very acceptable to all thofe who are curious either in the original of nations, or the affinities of Languages, to be further informed of the revolutions of a people fo ancient, and once fo illustrious. "What relation there is between the Welch and Irish languages, or between the language of Ireland and that of Biscay, deserves enquiry. Of these provincial and unextended tongues, it feldom happens that more than one are understood by any one man; and, therefore, it feldom happens that a fair comparison can be made. I hope you will continue to cultivate this kind of learning, which has lain too long neglected, and which, if it be suffered to remain in oblivion for another century, may, perhaps, never be retrieved. As I wish well to all useful undertakings, I would not forbear to let you know how much you deserve, in my opinion, from all lovers of study, and how much pleasure your work has given to, Sir, "Your most obliged "And most humble fervant, Etat. 48. London, Apr. 9, 1755. SAM. JOHNSON," To the Reverend Mr. THOMAS WARTON, "DEAR SIR, "DR. MARSELI of Padua, a learned gentleman, and good Latin poet, has a mind to fee Oxford. I have given him a letter to Dr. Huddesford'; and shall be glad if you will introduce him, and fhew him any thing in Oxford. 1757. Etat. 48. "I am printing my new edition of Shakspeare. You might But honores "I long to fee you all, but cannot conveniently come yet. write to me now and then, if you were good for any thing. Profeffors forget their friends. I fhall certainly complain to mutant mores. "Please to make my compliments to Mr. Wife." Mr. Burney having enclosed to him an extract from the review of his Dictionary in the Bibliotheque des Savans, and a lift of fubfcribers to his Shakspeare, which Mr. Burney had procured in Norfolk, he wrote the following "THAT I may fhow myfelf fenfible of your favours, and not commit the fame fault a fecond time, I make hafte to answer the letter which I received this morning. The truth is, the other likewife was received, and I wrote an answer; but being defirous to tranfmit you fome proposals and receipts, I waited till I could find a convenient conveyance, and day was paffed after day, till other things drove it from my thoughts, yet not fo, but that I remember with great pleasure your commendation of my Dictionary. Your praise was welcome, not only because I believe it was fincere, but because praise has been very fcarce. A man of your candour will be furprised when I tell you, that among all my acquaintance there were only two, who upon the publication of my book did not endeavour to deprefs me with threats of cenfure from the publick, or with objections learned from those who had learned them from my own Preface. Yours is the only letter of good-will that I 2 "Mr. Warton was elected Profeffor of Poetry at Oxford in the preceding year." 3 Mifs Jones lived at Oxford, and was often of our parties. She was a very ingenious poetefs, and published a volume of poems; and, on the whole, was a moft fenfible, agreeable, and amiable woman. She was fifter of the Reverend River Jones, Chanter of Christ Church cathedral at Oxford, and Johnson used to call her the Chantrefs. I have heard him often addrefs her in this paffage from IL PENSEROSO:' |