to have tried to soften the matter by awkwardly introducing a compliment in his "Corrections." "After 'me,' read 'I sat in a state of anxiety which even the charming society of Lady Di Beauclerk could not dissipate.'" So with the account of the lady of his acquaintance who maintained that "conjugal obligations were reciprocal." This strange conversation certainly points to the Honourable Mrs. Stuart, who must have recognised herself.

In his capital criticism on Garrick's "Archer," which embodies a true and valuable principle of acting, Johnson objects, "The gentleman should break through the footman ;" but originally it was, "should break out through the footman." "Harris is a sound, solid scholar," stood originally "a sound, sullen scholar," which seems Johnsonissimus, especially as it is supported by the phrase that follows, "he does not like interlopers."

In his first edition he describes Johnson saying of a gentleman, "Mr. **** 's character is very short-he fills a chair. . . . Now, there is You praised that man with such disproportion that I was incited to attack him." In his correction Boswell gives the names in full, Long and Pepys, with elaborate compliments, adding that the first, who "only filled a chair," had told him of a kind and flattering speech of Johnson's about himself. It is evident that he had given offence. Again he reports Dr. Scott as relating that Blackstone composed his "Commentaries " with a bottle of port before him. This was not a very serious charge to make, but Dr. Scott, afterwards Lord Stowell, found that it was twisted into an insinuation of inebriety, and, being well acquainted with the family, wrote them his excuses. Boswell must have come in for some reproof, for we find him inserting after Blackstone, "a sober man," and after "bottle of port before him," this flourish, "and found his mind invigorated and supported by a temperate use of it." But it will be seen, that though he qualifies, he will not suppress.

Having mentioned "an evening society for the purposes of conversation," of which "we were all members," and at which nothing was given to eat, Johnson declared it would not last. The following passage, for some reason, is suppressed :-"The event proved the justice of Johnson's opinion as to the impracticability of getting people to meet when they know there is absolutely nothing to touch the palate; for this society, though held at the house of a person deservedly much esteemed, and composed of very eminent men, could not be preserved from decay."

PREFACE.

xxxiii

Most characteristic are the Scotticisms plentifully scattered through the work. "I also learnt some from Dr. Laurence," altered to "learnt" simply; "My friend will no doubt startle," changed to "be surprised: and very commonly this form-"I suppose there is almost no language," changed to "we scarcely know of a language." Such, too, are phrases like the following: "Which, I should think," altered to "I believe;""So shall I use it, in time coming," altered to "hereafter;" "I had taken a hearty dinner," altered to eaten." One pleasant paragraph he re-shaped twice. Speaking of the Scotch trees, he had written, "There are not a great many, to be sure: but I could have shown him more than two at Balmuto, from whence my ancestor came. In the grotto we saw a wonderful large lobster claw." In the second edition, "to be sure" is omitted, and there is added to the word Balmuto, "which now belongs to a branch of my family." But the description of the lobster claw was amended into the more dignified shape, we saw a lobster claw wonderfully large." Somewhat elated by his ancestral feeling-for we can follow the workings of his transparent mind -it finally occurred to him, in the third edition, that there was a triviality in alluding to the "lobster claw" at all; it accordingly stands, "The grotto was ingeniously constructed." "We were a good deal drowsy," becomes "somewhat drowsy;" "We spoke none," "We had no conversation;" and "fowls were catched,'' altered to "caught; but "catch'd" still remains in many passages. A moor "in many places so wet," now becomes "soft; "much liker," "much more like; "Yes, sir, I believe you was;" "I awaked," for "I awoke." Boswell uses a curious word, "dawling," which subsequent editors have altered to "dawdling." "Nothing," he wrote, " is more uneasy to the mind," which he changed to "painful;" "Were much thought of," becomes were of considerable estimation;" "The presence of a stranger was no restraint," becomes "had" no restraint; and a curious testimony to his eagerness to be accurate is found in the alteration of "a gentleman we did not know," to "he" did not know. Many more specimens could

be added. But these will suffice.

с

THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF BOSWELL'S

"LIFE OF JOHNSON."

Ir is now nearly a century since the appearance of Boswell's great work, during which period about a score of editors may be counted who have devoted their labours to the illustration and elucidation of this favourite book. A steady sale has all the time been going on of the ordinary "trade editions." Mr. Tedder, the librarian of the Athenæum Club, is the first who has prepared a complete view of the successive editions: a task which entailed much labour and research. This useful conspectus he has kindly allowed me to transfer to these pages from "The Bookseller," where it originally appeared.

"In 1785, Boswell produced the 'Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides.' It met with great success, and three editions appeared in that and the following year. It was revised by Malone, who afterwards read the manuscript of the 'Life,' and saw it partly through the press. In 1791, Dilly, of the Poultry, published the first edition of 'The Life,' &c. It is in a couple of well-printed quarto volumes, with a fairly good index and a few notes. A portrait of Johnson, with a facsimile of his writing, is prefixed. Seventeen hundred copies were printed. It was pirated at Dublin in 1792 in 3 vols. 8vo. The second edition, revised and augmented,' was issued in 1793, 3 vols. 8vo, by the same publisher and with the same title as the first edition, which was used in all the editions down to the ninth. While the second edition was passing through the press, many additional anecdotes and letters were received and inserted in an introduction and appendix. The index was enlarged. The numerous improvements were printed separately in quarto form (42 pp.) and sold at half-a-crown, under the title of 'The Principal Corrections and Additions to the First Edition of Mr. Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson.'

"The third edition, revised and augmented,' came out in 1799, 4 vols. 8vo., with better type and paper. Boswell died 19th May, 1795, while revising his work. New matter had been distributed by him in its proper place. The editorship fell to Edmond Malone, who added many notes, but was unable himself to read the proof-sheets. This edition represents the last revision of the author, and is a desirable one for a Johnsonian enthusiast. The fourth edition, revised and augmented,' 1804, 4 vols. 8vo, was published by T. Cadell and W. Davies, in the Strand. In the preface, Malone states that four thousand copies of the 'Life' had been sold. There are new letters contributed by Dr. Vyse and notes from Dr. Kearney. Malone's notes are marked M. for the first time in this edition, which is of somewhat inferior appearance to the third. The fifth edition, revised and augmented,' 1807, 4 vols. 8vo, differs very little from the preceding one. Some trifling errors are corrected by Malone, and several notes and two of Johnson's letters added. A reprint was issued at Boston in 1807, 3 vols. 8vo. This is the first American edition. As many of the subsequent editions have been re-issued in the United States, no special reference to them has been thought necessary.

"The 'sixth edition, revised and augmented,' 1811, 4 vols. 8vo, is the best of the pre-Crokerian editions. It was published only a few months before the death of Malone, and was the last edited by him. He states in the preface, 'Great pains have been taken to make this sixth edition accurate ... the present impression will be found the most correct.' The proofs were read by the author's second son, James Boswell. The 'seventh edition,' 1811, 5 vols. 12mo, is said to be revised and augmented,' and edited by E. Malone, but it is merely a reprint of the previous edition. Even the misprints are uncorrected. It is the first edition of small format and type. The eighth edition, revised and augmented,' 1816, 4 vols. 8vo, is also a reprint of the sixth, without additions and without correction of the misprints. Cadell and Davies published all the editions from the fourth to the eighth. 'The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D., by James Boswell, a New Edition,' appeared in 1819, 4 vols. small 8vo, printed for the proprietors. It is merely a booksellers' reprint, without any alterations, and is the first which appears with an abbreviated title. Subsequent editions do not usually present Boswell's original long descriptive title page.

"T. Cadell and the associated publishers issued the ninth edition,