1777. Ætat. 68. He was, I am afraid, long flattered with hopes of life; but I had no part in the dreadful delusion; for as soon as the King had signed his sentence, I obtained from Mr. Chamier an account of the disposition of the court towards him, with a declaration that there was no hope even of a respite. This letter immediately was laid before Dodd; but he believed those whom he wished to be right, as it is thi aght, till within three days of his end. He died with pious composure and resolution. I have just seen the Ordinary that attended him. His Address to his fellow-convicts offended the Methodists; but he had a Moravian with him much of his time. · His moral character is very bad: I hope all is not true that is charged upon him. Of his behaviour in prison an account will be published. “ I give you joy of your country-house, and your pretty garden; and hope some time to see you in your felicity. I was much pleased with your two letters that had been kept so long in store?; and rejoice at Miss Rafay's advancement, and with Sir Allan success. “ I hope 7 Since they have been so much honoured by Dr. Johnson I Mall here insert them : To Mr. SAMUEL JOHNSON. “ MY EVER DEAR AND MUCH-RESPECTED SIR, “ YOU know my folemn enthusiasın of mind. You love me for it, and I respect mye felf for it, because in fo far I refeinble Mr. Johnson. You will be agreeably furprized when you learn tlie reason of my writing this letter. I am at Wittemberg in Saxony. I am in the old church where the Reformation was first preached, and where some of the reformers lie interred. I cannot resist the serious pleasure of writing to Mr. Johnson from the Tomb of Melanchon. My paper rests upon the grave-stone of that great and good man, who was undoubtedly the worthiest of all the reformers. He wished to reform abufes which had been introduced into the Church; but had no private resentment to gratify. So mild was he, that when his aged mother consulted him with anxiety on the perplexing disputes of the times, he advised her to keep to the old religion.' At this tomb, then, my ever dear and respected friend! I vow to thee an eternal attachment. It shall be my study to do what I can to render your life happy; and, if you die before me, I shall endeavour to do honour to your memory; and, elevated by the remembrance of you, persist in ‘noble piety. May God, the Father of all beings, ever bless you! and may you continue to love “ Your most affectionate friend, and devoted servant, Sunday, Sept. 30, 1764. JAMES BOSWELL." To Dr. SAMUEL JOHNSON. • MY DEAR SIR, Wilton House, April 22, 1775, “ EVERY scene of my life confirms the truth of what you have told me there is no certain happiness in this state of being.'-I am here, amidst all that you know is at Lord Pembroke's ; and 1777 ~ I hope to meet you somewhere towards the north, but am loath to come quite to Carlisle. Can we not meet at Manchester? But we will settle it in Ærat. 68. some other letters. « Mr. Seward, a great favourite at Streatham, has been, I think, enkindled by our travels, with a curiosity to see the Highlands. I have given him letters to you and Beattie. He desires that a lodging may be taken for him at Edinburgh, against his arrival. He is just setting out. “ Langton has been exercising the militia. Mrs. Williams is, I fear, declining. Dr. Lawrence says he can do no more. She is gone to summer in the country, with as many conveniences about her as she can expect; but I have no great hope. We must all die: may we all be prepared ! “ I suppose Miss Boswell reads her book, and young Alexander takes to his learning. Let me hear about them; for every thing that belongs to you, belongs in a more remote degree, and not, I hope, very remote, to, dear Sir, « Yours affectionately, « June 28, 1777 SAM. JOHNSON.” To the fame. " DEAR SIR, " THIS gentleman is a great favourite at Streatham, and therefore you will easily believe that he has very valuable qualities. Our narrative has kindled him with a desire of visiting the Highlands, after having already seen a great part of Europe. You must receive him as a friend, and when a you have a and yet I am weary and glooiny. I am just setting out for the house of an old friend in Devon I shire, and shall not get back to London for a week yet. You said to me last Good-Friday, with a cordiality that warmed my heart, that if I came to settle in London, we 'hould have a day fixed every week, to meet by ourselves and talk freely. To be thought worthy of such a privilege cannot but exalt me. During my present absence from you, while, notwithstanding the gaiety which you allow me to possess, I am darkened hy temporary clouds, I beg to have a few lines from you ; a few lines merely of kindness, as a viaticum till I see you again. In your Vanity of human Wishes,' and in Parnell's Contentment,' I find the only sure means of enjoying happiness; or, at least, the hopes of happiness. I ever am, with reverence and affection, « Moft faithfully yours, JAMES BOSWELL." * William Seward, Esq. well known to a numerous and valuable acquaintance for his literature, love of the fine arts, and social virtues. I am indebted to him for several communications concerning Johnson. VOL. II. R directed 1777 directed him to the curiosities of Edinburgh, give him instructions and , Arat. 68. recommendations for the rest of his journey. I am, dear Sir, " Your most humble servant, June 24, 1777 SAM. JOHNSON.” Johnson's benevolence to the unfortunate was, I am confident, as steady and active as that of any of those who have been most eminently distinguished for that virtue. Innumerable proofs of it I have no doubt will be for ever concealed from mortal eyes. We may, however, form some judgement of it, from the many and very various instances which have been discovered. One which happened in the course of this summer is remarkable from the name and connection of the person who was the object of it. The circumstance to which I allude is ascertained by two letters, one to Mr. Langton, and another to the Reverend Dr. Vyse, rector of Lambeth, son of the respectable clergyman at Lichfield, who was contemporary with Johnson, and in whose father's family Johnson had the happiness of being kindly received in his early years. Dr. JOHNSON to BENNET LANGTON, Esq. " DEAR SIR, “ I have lately been much disordered by a difficulty of breathing, but am now better. I hope your house is well. “. You know we have been talking lately of St. Cross, at Winchester; I have an old acquaintance whose distress makes him very desirous of an hospital, and I am afraid I have not strength enough to get him into the Chartreux. He is a painter, who never rose higher than to get his immediate living, and from that, at eighty-three, he is disabled by a Night stroke of the palsy, such as does not make him at all helpless on common occasions, though his hand is not steady enough for his art. “ My request is, that you will try to obtain a pomise of the next vacancy, from the Bishop of Chester. It is not a great thing to ask, and I hope we shall obtain it. Dr. Warton has promised to favour him with his notice; and I hope he may end his days in peace. I am, Sir, “ Your most humble servant, June 29, 1777 SAM, JOHNSON.” “I DOUBT not but you will readily forgive me for taking the liberty of requesting your asistance in recommending an old friend to his Grace the Archbishop, as Governour of the Charter-house. “ His name is De Groot; he was born at Gloucester; I have known him many years. He has all the common claims to charity, being old, poor, and infirm, in a great degree. He has likewise another clain, to which no scholar can refuse attention; he is by several descents the nephew of Hugo Grotius; of him, from whom perhaps every man of learning has learned something. Let it not be said that in any lettered country a nephew of Grotius asked a charity and was refused. I am, reverend Sir, " Your most humble servant, « July 19, 1777 SAM. JOHNSON." Rev. Dr. VYSE, to Mr. BOSWELL. Lambeth, June 9, 1787. “ I have searched in vain for the letter which I spoke of, and which I wished, at your desire, to communicate to you. It was from Dr. Johnson, to return me thanks for my application to Archbishop Cornwallis in favour of poor De Groot. He rejoices at the success it met with, and is lavish in the praise he bestows upon his favourite, Hugo Grotius. I am really sorry that I cannot find this letter, as it is worthy of the writer. That which I send you enclosed' is at your service. It is very short, and will not perhaps be thought of any consequence; unless you should judge proper to consider it as a proof of the very humane part which Dr. Johnson took in behalf of a distressed and deserving person. I am, Sir, « Your most obedient humble servant, « W. Vyse." “ TO the collection of English Poets, I have recommended the volume of Dr. Watts to be added; his name has long been held by me in veneration, and I would not willingly be reduced to tell of him only that he 9 The preceding letter. 1777 was born and died. Yet of his life I know very little, and therefore must Ætat. 68. pass him in a manner very unworthy of his character, unless some of his friends will favour me with the necessary information; many of them must " Your humble servant, SAM. Johnson." To Dr. SAMUEL JOHNSON. " MY DEAR SIR, Edinburgh, July 15, 1777. “ I had sagacity enough to divine that you wrote his speech to the Recorder before sentence was pronounced. I am glad you have written so much for him ; and I hope to be favoured with an exact list of the several pieces when we meet. He is gone “ I received Mr. Seward as the friend of Mr. and Mrs. Thrale, and as a « Sir Allan Maclean has carried that branch of his cause of which we had Macquarry's estates, Staffa and all, were sold yesterday, and bought by a Campbell. I fear he will have little or nothing left out of the purchase money. “ I send you the case against the negro, by Mr. Cullen, son to Dr. Cullen, in opposition to Maclaurin's for liberty, of which you have approved. - Pray read this; and tell me what you think as a Politician, as well as a Poet, upon the subject. « Be |