Garrick and Boswell were later additions. Johnson dined at the club for the last time on the 22nd June, 1784, at which date the place of meeting had been transferred to Prince's, in Sackville Street. His health was then failing, and he was much touched by the deferential kindness of his fellow members. Not many months before he had organised a new association at the Essex Head Tavern, No. 40 Essex Street, Strand. It was an unpretentious gathering, and though it had rules, informal. The landlord, Samuel Greaves, after whom it 66 was sometimes styled Sam's," was an old servant of Thrale, and the members met three times a week, the modest forfeit for nonattendance being a fine of twopence. The Essex Head survived until the autumn of 1890, when it was pulled down. Lastly, there was the Queen's Arms Club, in St. Paul's Churchyard,-the "City Club," where Boswell dined with Johnson in April, 1781, when it "had been lately formed." At the Queen's Arms also took place in 1783-4 those dinners of the survivors of the Ivy Lane Club, recorded by Hawkins and Mrs. Piozzi. Hic finis chartaque viaque. The reader has now before him an account of the haunts and dwelling-places of Johnson in London, with the sites or whereabouts of most. It is impossible that there should not be omissions. But the march of improvement is so rapid, that even an imperfect attempt at such a record is not without its value,-to say nothing of the fact that, as Boswell himself puts it in a by-no-means too highly-pitched justification, "there is something pleasingly interesting, to many, in tracing so great a man through all his different habitations." LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS NOTE. In the List of Portraits illustrating these volumes full particulars will be found of the original paintings, and engravings after such paintings, from which the present plates have been reproduced. It was hardly possible to give the same details with regard to the topographical illustrations in the text; a general description of the scheme followed is, however, necessary. Mr. Railton has drawn them from the buildings themselves, in such cases as they still retain the appearance familiar to Dr. Johnson. Many of course are now demolished and others altered out of recognition. Great pains have been taken to find contemporary prints or drawings of these; but although many of these originals are highly finished drawings, others are either very roughly executed, or mere architectural elevations. Mr Railton's skill and knowledge of architecture have, however, enabled him, whilst adhering closely to details, to produce a picturesque as well as accurate representation of those interesting buildings so closely associated with the life of Dr. Johnson. FRED. J. SIMMONS. PORTRAITS Dr. Johnson After the Portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds, painted in 1778, and now in the From the Engraving by F. Bartolozzi after Sir Joshua Reynolds. Frank Barber 230 368 From the Water-Colour Drawing by H. Edridge in the Print Room, British From the Engraving by Scriven after the Painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Topham Beauclerk (Photogravure) From the Engraving by Samuel Bellin after C. P. Harding. From the Engraving by W. Daniell after the Painting by G. Dance. ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT Stairway to Dr. Johnson's House, Gough Square Fanlight in Johnson's House, Gough Square Firegrate in Johnson's Room in Gough Square ix xiii xvii xxi XXV Part of the City of Lichfield, showing the House in which the late Grammar School, Lichfield Pembroke College, Oxford Edial Hall, near Lichfield Church Street, Greenwich, from the site of the "Golden Hart" St. John's Gate, Clerkenwell. Residence of Edward Cave PAGE 8 15 27 50 57 63 87 Stairway in Hogarth's House St. James' Square in 1760 Goodman's-fields Theatre. Tunbridge Wells. The Pantiles in 1748 "The Priory," Dr. Johnson's House at Hampstead Dr. Johnson's House, Gough Square Covent Garden from the Portico of St. Paul's Church in 1749 Kettel Hall, Oxford Residence of Rev. Dr. Wise at Ellsfield A Peep of Gough Square from Dr. Johnson's Attic Dr. Johnson's House in Inner Temple Lane. Resided here from 1760 to 1765 Door and Staircase to Dr. Johnson's Chambers, Inner Temple Lane. 117 122 137 158 169 173 175 196 House of the Cock-Lane Ghost, 1759 Crypt of St. John's, Clerkenwell, visited by Johnson in connection with the "Cock-Lane Ghost" fraud DEDICATION ΤΟ SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS MY DEAR SIR, EV VERY liberal motive that can actuate an Authour in the dedication of his labours, concurs in directing me to you, as the person to whom the following Work should be inscribed. If there be a pleasure in celebrating the distinguished merit of a contemporary, mixed with a certain degree of vanity not altogether inexcusable, in appearing fully sensible of it, where can I find one, in complimenting whom I can with more general approbation gratify those feelings? Your excellence not only in the Art over which you have long presided with unrivalled fame, but also in Philosophy and elegant Literature, is well known to the present, and will continue to be the admiration of future ages. Your equal and placid temper, your variety of conversation, your true politeness, by which you are so amiable in private society, and that enlarged hospitality which has long made your house a common centre of union for the great, the accomplished, the learned, and the ingenious; all these qualities I can, in perfect confidence of not being accused of flattery, ascribe to you. If a man may indulge an honest pride, in having it known to the world, that he has been thought worthy of particular attention by a person of the first eminence in the age in which he lived, whose company has been universally courted, I am justified in availing myself of the usual privilege of a Dedication, when I mention that there has been a long and uninterrupted friendship between us. If gratitude should be acknowledged for favours received, I have |