ADVERTISEMENT TO THE THIRD EDITION. ANIMATED by the very favourable reception which two large impressions of this work have had', it has been my study to make it as perfect as I could in this edition, by correcting some inaccuracies which I discovered myself, and some which the kindness of friends or the scrutiny of adversaries pointed out. A few notes are added, of which the principal object is, to refute misrepresentation and calumny. To the animadversions in the periodical Journals of criticism, and in the numerous publications to which my book has given rise, I have made no answer. Every work must stand or fall by its own merit. I cannot, however, omit this opportunity of returning thanks to a gentleman who published a Defence of my Journal, and has added to the favour by communicating his name to me in a very obliging letter. It would be an idle waste of time to take any particular notice of the futile remarks, to many of which, a petty national resentment, unworthy of my countrymen, has probably · Boswell in the ‘Advertisement' to the second edition, dated Dec. 20, 1785, says that the whole of the first impression has been sold in a few weeks.' Three editions were published within a year, but the fourth was not issued till 1807. A German translation was published in Lübeck in 1787. I believe that in no language has a translation been published of the Life of Johnson. Johnson was indeed, as Boswell often calls him, a trueborn Englishman'-s0 English that foreigners could neither understand him nor relish his Life. V.-I given 4 Advertisement to the Third Edition. given rise; remarks which have been industriously circulated in the publick prints by shallow or envious cavillers, who have endeavoured to persuade the world that Dr. Johnson's character has been lessened by recording such various instances of his lively wit and acute judgment, on every topick that was presented to his mind. In the opinion of every person of taste and knowledge that I have conversed with, it has been greatly heightened; and I will venture to predict, that this specimen of the colloquial talents and extemporaneous effusions of my illustrious fellow-traveller will become still more valuable, when, by the lapse of time, he shall have become an ancient; when all those who can now bear testimony to the transcendent powers of his mind, shall have passed away; and no other memorial of this great and good man shall remain but the following Journal, the other anecdotes and letters preserved by his friends, and those incomparable works, which have for many years been in the highest estimation, and will be read and admired as long as the English language shall be spoken or understood. J. B. LONDON, 15th Aug. 1786. CONTENTS. DEDICATION. land. tion. Dr. Beattie and Mr. Hume. Dr. Robertson. Mr. dian. surveyed. Character of Swift's works. Evil spirits and witch- craft. Lord Monboddo and the Ouran-Outang. necessity refuted. Lord Hailes's criticism on The Vanity of Scotland on literary property. character. Trade of Glasgow. Suicide. Inchkeith. Par- ours. Arrive at St. Andrews. conversation compared. Change of manners. The Union. Dr. Johnson's method. Uncertainty of memory. Shaw. Transubstantiation. Literary property. Mr. Tyers's remark on Dr. Johnson. Arrive at Montrose. Decrease Decrease of learning. Causes of it. Promotion of Bishops. Warburton. Lowth. Value of politeness. Dr. Johnson's sentiments concerning Lord Monboddo. Arrive at Aber- August 22. Professor Thomas Gordon. Publick and private edu- cation. Sir Alexander Gordon. Trade of Aberdeen. Pre- Satisfaction of Christ. Importance of old friendships. at Sir Alexander Gordon's. Warburton's powers of invective. His Doctrine of Grace. Lock's verses. Fingal. of children. Buller of Buchan. Entails. Consequence of Peers. Sir Joshua Reynolds. Earl of Errol. Nabobs. Feudal state of subordination. Dinner at Strichen. Life of country gentlemen. The LITERARY CLUB. Elgin. Macbeth's heath. Fores. August 27. Leonidas. Paul Whitehead. Derrick. Origin of Evil. Calder-manse. Reasonableness of ecclesiastical sub- August 28. Fort George. Fort George. Sir Adolphus Oughton. Contest be- rick, Mrs. Cibber, Mrs. Pritchard, Mrs. Clive. Inverness. els. Coinage of new words. Dr. Johnson's Dictionary. August 30. Dr. Johnson on horse-back. A Highland hut. Fort August 31. Anoch. Emigration. Goldsmith. Poets and sol- diers compared. Life of a sailor. Landlord's daughter at September 1. Glensheal. The Macraas. Dr. Johnson's anger at being left for a little while by the authour on a wild plain. September 2. Dr. Johnson relents. Isle of Sky. Armidale. September 3. Colonel Montgomery, now Earl of Eglintoune. September 4. Ancient Highland Enthusiasm. September 5. Sir James Macdonald's epitaph and last letters to his mother. Dr. Johnson's Latin ode on the Isle of Sky. September 6. Corrichatachin. Corrichatachin. Highland hospitality and mirth. September 7. Uneasy state of dependence on the weather. State of those who live in the country. Dr. M.Pherson's Disserta- September 8. Rev. Mr. Donald M‘Queen. Mr. Malcolm M'Cleod. Sail to Rasay. Fingal. Homer. Elegant and gay enter- September 9. Antiquity of the family of Rasay. Cure of infidelity. Hooke. Duchess of Marlborough. September 11. Heritable jurisdictions. Insular life. The Laird September 12. Sail to Portree. Dr. Johnson's discourse on death. Letters from Lord Elibank to Dr. Johnson and the authour. Dr. Johnson's answer. Ride to Kingsburgh. Flora M‘Donald. September 13. Distresses and escape of the grandson of King James September 14. Importance of the chastity of women. Dr. Cado- gan. Whether the practice of authours is necessary to enforce their Doctrines. Good humour acquirable. September 15. Sir George M.Kenzie. Mr. Burke's wit, knowledge September 16. Dr. Johnson's hereditary melancholy. His minute knowledge in various arts. Apology for the authour's ardour in his pursuits. Dr. Johnson's imaginary seraglio. Polygamy. be wicked. Temple of the Goddess Anaitis. Family por- Records not consulted by old English historians. the pedigree of nations. Laird of the Isle of Muck. Lady Grange in St. Kilda. Poetry of savages. French Lit- erati. Prize-fighting. French and English soldiers. Duelling. September 20. Change of London manners. Laziness censured. a |
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