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APPENDIX.

I.

VARIOUS LETTERS,

CHIEFLY FROM DR. JOHNSON TO DIFFERENT PERSONS,

From June 25th, 1781, to October 13th, 1784; published by Mr. Croker in the first and subsequent editions of his Boswell's "Life of Johnson."

"DEAR MADAM,

TO MISS REYNOLDS.

"June 25, 1781.

"You may give the book to Miss Horneck, and I will give you another for yourself.

"I am afraid there is no hope of Mrs. Thrale's custom for your pictures; but, if you please, I will mention it. She cannot make a pension out of her jointure.

"I will bring the papers myself. I am, Madam, your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON."

Reynolds MSS.

TO MISS REYNOLDS.

"Bolt Court, July 21, 1781.

"DEAREST MADAM,

"There is in these [papers?] such force of comprehension, such nicety of observation, as Locke or Pascal might be

proud of. This I say with an intention to have you think I speak my opinion. They cannot, however, be printed in their present state. Many of your notions seem not very clear in your own mind; many are not sufficiently developed and expanded for the common reader: the expression almost every where wants to be made clearer and smoother. You may, by revisal and improvement, make it a very elegant work. I am, my dearest dear, your most humble servant, 66 SAM. JOHNSON." Reynolds MSS.

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"It is so long since we passed any time together, that you may be allowed to have forgotten some part of my character; and I know not upon what other supposition I can pass without censure or complaint the ceremony of your address. Let me not trifle time in words, to which while we speak or write them we assign little meaning. Whenever you favour me with a letter, treat me as one that is glad of your kindness and proud of your esteem.

"The papers which have been sent for my perusal I am ready to inspect, if you judge my inspection necessary or useful: but indeed, I do not; for what advantage can arise from it? A dictionary consists of independent parts, and therefore one page is not much a specimen of the rest. It does not occur to me that I can give any assistance to the author, and for my own interest I resign it into your hands, and do not suppose that I shall ever see my name with regret where you shall think it proper to be put.

"I think it, however, my duty to inform a writer who intends me so great an honour, that in my opinion he would have consulted his interest by dedicating his work to some powerful and popular neighbour, who can give him more than a name. will the world do but look on and laugh when one scholar dedicates to another?

What

"If I had been consulted about this Lexicon of Antiquities while it was yet only a design, I should have recommended rather a division of Hebrew, Greek, and Roman particulars into three volumes, than a combination in one. The Hebrew part, at least, I would have wished to separate, as it might be a very popular

book, of which the use might be extended from men of learning down to the English reader, and which might become a concomitant to the Family Bible.

"When works of a multifarious and extensive kind are undertaken in the country, the necessary books are not always known. I remember a very learned and ingenious clergyman, of whom, when he had published notes upon the Psalms, I inquired what was his opinion of Hammond's Commentary, and was answered, that he had never heard of it. As this gentleman has the opportunity of consulting you, it needs not to be supposed that he has not heard of all the proper books; but unless he is near some library, I know not how he could peruse them; and if he is conscious that his supellex is nimis angusta, it would be prudent to delay his publication till his deficiencies may be supplied.

"It seems not very candid to hint any suspicions of imperfection in a work which I have not seen, yet what I have said ought to be excused, since I cannot but wish well to a learned man, who has elected me for the honour of a dedication, and to whom I am indebted for a correspondence so valuable as yours. And I beg that I may not lose any part of his kindness, which I consider with respectful gratitude. Of you, dear Sir, I entreat that you will never again forget for so long a time your most humble servant, 66 SAM. JOHNSON." I

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"I am weary enough of the country to think of Bolt Court, and purpose to leave Ashbourne, where I now am, in a day or two,

1 Dr. Thomas Patten had been a Fellow of Corpus Christi College, A.M. 1736, D.D. 1754. He was afterwards Rector of Childry, Berks, where he died in 1790. The letter in the text relates to Mr. Wilson's Archæological Dictionary, which was ultimately dedicated to Johnson.— Croker.

2 Communicated to me by Mr. P. Cunningham: who found also in a pocket-book of Allen's, memoranda of Johnson's departure and return. October 15, 1781, Dr. Johnson set out about 9 a.m. to Oxford, Lichfield, and Ashbourne." "December 11, 1781, Dr. Johnson returned from Derbyshire."-Croker.

and to make my way through Lichfield, Birmingham, and Oxford, with what expedition I decently can, and then we will have a row and a dinner, and now and then a dish of tea together.

"I doubt not but you have been so kind as to send the oysters to Lichfield, and I now beg that you will let Mrs. Desmoulins have a guinea on my account.

66

My health has been but indifferent, much of the time I have been out, and my journey has not supplied much entertain

ment.

"I shall be at Lichfield, I suppose, long enough to receive a letter, and I desire Mrs. Desmoulins to write immediately what she knows. I wish to be told about Frank's wife and child. I am, dear Sir, your most humble servant,

MS.

"SAM. JOHNSON."

66

TO MR. BEATNIFFE,

Recorder of Hull.

"Bolt Court, Fleet Street, February 14, 1782.

“SIR, Robert Levett, with whom I have been connected by a friendship of many years, died lately at my house. His death was sudden, and no will has yet been found; I therefore gave notice of his death in the papers, that an heir, if he has any, may appear. He has left very little; but of that little his brother is doubtless heir, and your friend may be perhaps his brother. I have had another application from one who calls himself his brother; and I suppose it is fit that the claimant should give some proofs of his relation. I would gladly know, from the gentleman that thinks himself R. Levett's brother,

"In what year, and in what parish, R. Levett was born? "Where or how was he educated?

"What was his early course of life?

"What were the marks of his person; his stature; the colour of his eyes?

"Was he marked by the small-pox?

"Had he any impediment in his speech?

"What relations had he, and how many are now living?

"His answer to these questions will show whether he knew him; and he may then proceed to show that he is his brother.

"He may be sure, that nothing shall be hastily wasted or removed. I have not looked into his boxes, but transferred that business to a gentleman in the neighbourhood, of character above suspicion. "SAM. JOHNSON."

Harwood MSS.

TO MRS. GASTRELL AND MRS. ASTON.

"DEAREST LADIES,

"Bolt Court, March 30, 1782.

"The tenderness expressed in your kind letter makes me think it necessary to tell you that they who are pleased to wish me well, need not be any longer particularly solicitous about me. I prevailed on my physician to bleed me very copiously, almost against his inclination. However, he kept his finger on the pulse of the other hand, and, finding that I bore it well, let the vein run From that time I have mended, and hope I am now well. I went yesterday to church without inconvenience, and hope to go

on.

to-morrow.

"Here are great changes in the great world; but I cannot tell you more than you will find in the papers. The men have got in whom I have endeavoured to keep out; but I hope they will do better than their predecessors; it will not be easy to do worse. "Spring seems now to approach, and I feel its benefit, which I hope will extend to dear Mrs. Aston.

"When Dr. Falconer saw me, I was at home only by accident, for I lived much with Mrs. Thrale, and had all the care from her that she could take or could be taken. But I have never been ill enough to want attendance; my disorder has been rather tedious than violent; rather irksome than painful. He needed not have made such a tragical representation.

"I am now well enough to flatter myself with some hope of pleasure from the summer. How happy would it be if we could

see one another, and be all tolerably well! Let us pray for one another. I am, &c., "SAM. JOHNSON."

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