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 1G. Cowie, 1824 |
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Page 4
... probably be thought ridicu- lously ostentatious . Let me only observe , as a specimen of my trouble , that I have sometimes been obliged to run half over . London , in order to fix a date correctly ; which , when I had accomplished , I ...
... probably be thought ridicu- lously ostentatious . Let me only observe , as a specimen of my trouble , that I have sometimes been obliged to run half over . London , in order to fix a date correctly ; which , when I had accomplished , I ...
Page 19
... probably have had the most perfect example of biography that was ever exhibited . But although he at different times , in a desultory manner , committed to writing many particulars of the progress of his mind and fortunes , he never had ...
... probably have had the most perfect example of biography that was ever exhibited . But although he at different times , in a desultory manner , committed to writing many particulars of the progress of his mind and fortunes , he never had ...
Page 29
... the authority of Dr. Johnson ( see his Inscription for his mother's tomb ) ; but it is in Worcestershire , probably on the confines of the county of Warwick . | so that there was not one even in Birmingham DR . JOHNSON . 29.
... the authority of Dr. Johnson ( see his Inscription for his mother's tomb ) ; but it is in Worcestershire , probably on the confines of the county of Warwick . | so that there was not one even in Birmingham DR . JOHNSON . 29.
Page 51
... probably have produced something sublime upon the gunpowder - plot . To apologise for his neglect , he gave in a short copy of verses , entitled Somnium , containing a common thought ; " that the Muse had come to him in his sleep , and ...
... probably have produced something sublime upon the gunpowder - plot . To apologise for his neglect , he gave in a short copy of verses , entitled Somnium , containing a common thought ; " that the Muse had come to him in his sleep , and ...
Page 70
... probably got a little money from Mr. Warren ; and we are cer- tain , that he executed here one piece of literary labour , of which Mr. Hector has favoured me with a minute account . Having mentioned that he had read at Pem- broke ...
... probably got a little money from Mr. Warren ; and we are cer- tain , that he executed here one piece of literary labour , of which Mr. Hector has favoured me with a minute account . Having mentioned that he had read at Pem- broke ...
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acknowl acquainted admiration afterwards appears authour believe BENNET LANGTON Bishop bookseller Burney Cave character College conversation DEAR SIR death Dictionary Dodsley edition elegant eminent endeavour English Essay evid excellent favour Garrick gave genius Gentleman's Magazine give happy heard Hector honour hope house of Stuart humble servant Johnson Joseph Warton kind King labour lady Langton language Latin learned letter Lichfield literary lived London Lord Chesterfield Lucy Porter mankind manner master mentioned merit mind mother never obliged observed occasion opinion Oxford paper Pembroke College person pleased pleasure poem poet praise Preface publick published Rambler remarkable Reverend Richard Savage Robert Dodsley SAMUEL JOHNSON Savage Shakspeare shew Sir John Hawkins Sir Joshua Reynolds spirit suppose sure talk thing THOMAS WARTON thought Thrale tion told translation truth verses Warton William wish write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 223 - The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it. I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling that the public should consider me as owing that to a patron which Providence has enabled me to do for myself.
Page 370 - I believe, Sir, you have a great many. Norway, too, has noble wild prospects ; and Lapland is remarkable for prodigious noble wild prospects. But, Sir, let me tell you, the noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees, is the high road that leads him to England !' .This unexpected and pointed sally produced a~roar of applause.
Page 171 - Dictionary, he answered the stated calls of the press twice a week from the stores of his mind, during all that time ; having received no assistance, except four billets in No. 10, by Miss Mulso, now Mrs. Chapone ; No. 30, by Mrs.
Page 376 - Why, Sir, if the fellow does not think as he speaks, he is lying ; and I see not what honour he can propose to himself from having the character of a liar. But if he does really think that there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, Sir, when he leaves our houses let us count our spoons.
Page 171 - Somebody talked of happy moments for composition, and how a man can write at one time and not at another. "Nay," said Dr Johnson, "a man may write at any time if he will set himself doggedly to it.
Page 369 - King, though he should command, cannot force a Judge to condemn a man unjustly ; therefore it is the Judge whom we prosecute and punish. Political institutions are formed upon the consideration of what will most frequently tend to the good of the whole, although now and then exceptions may occur. Thus it is better in general that a nation should have a supreme legislative power, although it may at times be abused. And then, Sir, there is this consideration, that if the abuse be enormous, Nature will...
Page 410 - Here lies our good Edmund, whose genius was such, We scarcely can praise it, or blame it too much; Who, born for the universe, narrow'd his mind, And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.
Page 256 - I have protracted my work till most of those whom I wished to please have sunk into the grave, and success and miscarriage are empty sounds. I therefore dismiss it with frigid tranquillity, having little to fear or hope from censure or from praise.
Page 401 - Sir, a woman's preaching is like a dog's walking on his hind legs. It is not done well ; but you are surprised to find it done at all.
Page 256 - Ashbourne in 1777, he mentioned a still stronger instance of the predominance of his private feelings in the composition of this work than any now to be found in it. "You know, sir, Lord Gower forsook the old Jacobite interest. When I came to the word renegado, after telling that it meant 'one who deserts to the enemy, a revolter,' I added, 'Sometimes we say a Gower.' Thus it went to the press; but the printer had more wit than I, and struck it out.