The Life of 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, Volume 3J. Richardson and Company, 1821 |
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Page 23
... language ; and that he hoped , after this fair offer , you would not be so uncandid as to assert that he had refused reasonable proof . That you paid no regard to his message , but published your strong attack upon him ; and then he ...
... language ; and that he hoped , after this fair offer , you would not be so uncandid as to assert that he had refused reasonable proof . That you paid no regard to his message , but published your strong attack upon him ; and then he ...
Page 25
... language was never written till very lately for the purposes of religion . A nation that cannot write , or a language that was never written , has no manuscripts . 1 My friend has , in this letter , relied upon my testimony , with a ...
... language was never written till very lately for the purposes of religion . A nation that cannot write , or a language that was never written , has no manuscripts . 1 My friend has , in this letter , relied upon my testimony , with a ...
Page 26
... language of literary contest . Dr. Johnson's answer appeared in the news - papers of the day , and has since been frequently re - published ; but not with perfect accuracy . I give it as dictated to me by himself , written down in his ...
... language of literary contest . Dr. Johnson's answer appeared in the news - papers of the day , and has since been frequently re - published ; but not with perfect accuracy . I give it as dictated to me by himself , written down in his ...
Page 30
... language , which was reported to be preserved somewhere in those regions . But when there came forth an Epick Poem in six books , with all the common circum- stances of former compositions of that nature ; and when , upon an attentive ...
... language , which was reported to be preserved somewhere in those regions . But when there came forth an Epick Poem in six books , with all the common circum- stances of former compositions of that nature ; and when , upon an attentive ...
Page 31
... language , and the antiquity of their manu- scripts . I am quite convinced ; and I shall rank Ossian and his Fingals and Oscars , amongst the nursery tales , not the true history of our country , in all time to come . 66 Upon the whole ...
... language , and the antiquity of their manu- scripts . I am quite convinced ; and I shall rank Ossian and his Fingals and Oscars , amongst the nursery tales , not the true history of our country , in all time to come . 66 Upon the whole ...
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Common terms and phrases
66 DEAR SIR 66 TO JAMES acquaintance admiration affectionate afraid afterwards appeared Ashbourne authour Beauclerk Beggar's Opera believe booksellers BOSWELL TO DR censure character church Cibber compliments conversation Court of Session death dined dinner Doctor Doctor of Medicine Dodd Edinburgh edition eminent England English Erse father favour Garrick gentleman give happy heard Hebrides honour hope humble servant humour Inchkenneth JAMES BOSWELL John Journey Judges King lady Langton language learning letter Lichfield lived London Lord Bute Lord Hailes Lord Hailes's Lord Monboddo Lucy Porter madam manner mentioned mind never observed occasion opinion perhaps pleased pleasure poem Poets publick racter SAMUEL JOHNSON Scotch Scotland seemed shew Sir Joshua Streatham suppose sure talked tell thing thought Thrale tion told truth Whig Wilkes wish write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 50 - There are few ways in which a man can be more innocently employed than in getting money.
Page 87 - Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it.
Page 258 - And if Jack Wilkes should be there, what is that to me, Sir? My dear friend, let us have no more of this. I am sorry to be angry with you; but really it is treating me strangely to talk to me as if I could not meet any company whatever, occasionally.
Page 68 - Yes, Sir, when a man writes from his own mind, he writes very rapidly.' The greatest part of a writer's time is spent in reading, in order to write : a man will turn over half a library to make one book.
Page 173 - Whoe'er has travell'd life's dull round, Where'er his stages may have been, May sigh to think he still has found The warmest: welcome at an inn.
Page 181 - The vastness and the contrivance of some of the machinery would have "matched his mighty mind." I shall never forget Mr. Boulton's expression to me, " I sell here, sir, what all the world desires to have — POWER.
Page 264 - You will allow his Apology to be well done." JOHNSON: "Very well done, to be sure, Sir. That book is a striking proof of the justice of Pope's remark: "Each might his several province well command, Would all but stoop to what they understand.
Page 354 - Life, he must represent- it really as it was :" and when I objected to the danger of telling that Parnell drank to excess, he said, that " it would produce an instructive caution to avoid drinking, when it was seen, that even the learning and genius of Parnell could be debased by it.
Page 185 - we are a city of philosophers ; we work with our heads, and make the boobies of Birmingham work for us with their hands.
Page 307 - ... would amplify knowledge with new views and new objects. Set about it therefore, if you can: do what you can easily do without anxious exactness. Lay the foundation, and leave the superstructure to posterity. I am, Sir, 'Your most humble servant, 'SAM. JOHNSON.