1781. noble friends were fuch as that a good man would wish to have his inti- , “ And the bright Aame was shot through Marchmont's soul." Various readings in the Life of POPE. « Strikes the imagination with far [more] greater force. “ It is [probably] certainly the noblest version of poetry which the world has ever feen. Every sheet enabled him to write the next with (less trouble] more “ No man sympathizes with (vanity depressed] the sorrows of vanity. “ Society [is so named emphatically in opposition to] politically regulated, “ A fi&titious life of an [absurd] infatuated scholar. “ His 1781, “ His hopes and fears, his joys and forrows (were like those of other Atat. 72. mortals] asted strongly upon his mind. Eager to pursue knowledge and attentive to [accumulate] retain it. “ He wrote in such a manner as might expose him to few [neglects) “ The [reasonableness) justice of my determination. “ More terrifick and more powerful [beings] phantoms perform on the « The inventor of [those] this petty [beings] nation. In the Life of Addison we find an unpleasing account of his having lent Steele a hundred pounds, and “ reclaimed his loan by an execution.” In the new edition of the Biographia Britannica, the authenticity of this anecdote is denied. But Mr. Malone has obliged me with the following note concerning it : “ Many persons having doubts concerning this fact, I applied to Dr. Johnson to learn on what authority he asserted it. He told me, he had it from Savage, who lived in intimacy with Steele, and who informed him, that Steele told him the story with tears in his eyes.-Ben Victor, Dr. Johnson said, likewise informed him of this remarkable transa&tion, from the relation of Mr. Wilkes the comedian, who was also an intimate of Steele's. Some, in defence of Addison, have said, that the act was done with the good-natured view of rousing Steele, and correcting that profufion which always made him necessitous.'-—If that were the case, (said Johnson,) and that he only wanted to alarm Steele, he would afterwards have returned the money to his friend, which it is not pretended he did.'— This, too, (he added,) might be retorted by an advocate for Steele, who might alledge, that he did not repay the loan intentionally, merely to see whether Addison would be mean and ungenerous enough to make use of legal process to recover it. But of such speculations there is no end: we cannot dive into the hearts of men ; but their actions are open to observation.' « I then “ I then mentioned to him that some people thought that Mr. Addison's 1781. character was so pure, that the fact, though true, ought to have been suppressed. Ærat. 72. , E. M.” Various readings in the Life of ADDISON. “ And [overlook] despise their masters. “ His instructions were such as the [state] character of his [own time] readers made [necessary] proper. “ His purpose was to [diffuse) infuse literary curiosity by gentle and “ Framed rather for those that (wish] are learning to write. In his Life of Parnell, I wonder that Johnson omitted to insert an “ Hic requiescit THOMAS PARNELL, S. T. P. Qui facerdos pariter et Poeta, Various Verious rcadings in the Life of PARNEL ... “ About three years [after] afterwards. [Did not much want] was in no great need of improvement. " But his prosperity did not last long (was clouded by that which took away all his powers of enjoying either protic or pleasure, the death of his wise, whom he is said to have lamented with such forrow, as haltened his end'.] His end, whatever was the cause, was now approaching. “ In the Hermit, the [composition] narratite, as it is less airy, is less pleasing." In the Life of BLACKMORE, we find that writer's reputation generously cleared by Johnson, from the cloud of prejudice which the malignity of contemporary wits had raised around it. In this spirited exertion of justice, he has been imitated by Sir Joshua Reynolds, in his praise of the architecture of Vanburgh. We trace Johnson's own character in his observation on Blackmore's magnanimity as an authour.”_" The incessant attacks of his enemies, whether serious or merry, are never discovered to have disturbed his quiet, or to have lessened his confidence in himself.” Johnson, I recollect, once told me, laughing heartily, that he understood it had been said of him, “ He appears not to feel; but, when he is alone, depend upon it, he suffers fadly.” I am as certain as I can be of any man's real sentiments, that he enjoyed the perpetual shower of little hostile arrows, as evidences of his fame. Various readings in the Life of BLACKMORE. [Kindness] benevolence was ashamed to favour. “ There is scarcely any distemper of dreadful name [of] which he has not [thewn] taught his reader how [it.is] to (be opposed] Oppose. . ' I Mould have thought that Johnson, who had felt the severe afiliation from which Parnell never recovered, would have preferved this passage. 6 6 of 1781. Ætat. 72• “ Of this [contemptuous] indecent arrogance. “ Faults which many tongues [were desirous] would have made basie to « But though he [had not] could not boast of much critical knowledge. “ Or had ever elevated his [mind] views to that ideal perfection which “ The [first great] fundamental principle of wisdom and of virtue." Various readings in the Life of PHILIPS. « His dreaded [rival] antagonist Pope. “ In his translations from Pindar, he [will not be denied to have reached] Various readings in the Life of CONGREVE. “ It apparently [requires] pre-fufposes a familiar knowledge of ma Reciprocation of [fimilies] conceits. “ Love for Love; a comedy [more drawn from life] of nearer alliance to “ The general character of his miscellanies is, that they shew little wit and [no] little virtue. [Perhaps] certainly he had not the fire requisite for the higher species of lyrick poetry.” Various |