"The many learned labours which have fince that time employed the attention and displayed the abilities of that great man, fo much to the advancement of literature and the benefit of the community, render him worthy of more distinguished honours in the republick of letters: and I persuade myself, that I fhall act agreeably to the fentiments of the whole University, in defiring that it may be proposed in Convocation to confer on him the degree of Doctor in Civil Law by diploma, to which I readily give my confent; and am, "Mr. Vice-Chancellor and Gentlemen, "Downing-ftreet, March 23, 1775.” "Your affectionate friend and servant, "NORTH"," 1775 Etat. 66. DIPLOMA. "CANCELLARIUS, Magiftri, et Scholares Univerfitatis Oxonienfis, omnibus ad quos præfentes Literæ pervenerint, Salutem in Domino Sempiternam. "SCIATIS, virum illuftrem, SAMUELEM JOHNSON, in omni humaniorum literarum genere eruditum, omniumque fcientiarum comprehenfione feliciffimum, fcriptis fuis, ad popularium mores formandos fummâ verborum elegantiá ac fententiarum gravitate compofitis, ita olim inclaruiffe, ut dignus videretur cui ab Academia fua eximia quædam laudis præmia deferentur, quique venerabilem Magiftrorum Ordinem fummâ cum dignitate cooptaretur: "Cùm verò eundem clariffimum virum tot pofteà tantique labores, in patrid præfertim lingua ornanda et ftabilienda feliciter impenfi, ita infigniverint, ut in Literarum Republica PRINCEPS jam et PRIMARIUS jure habeatur ; Nos CANCELLARIUS, Magistri et Scholares Univerfitatis Oxonienfis, quò talis viri merita pari bonoris remuneratione exæquentur, et perpetuum fuæ fimul laudis, noftræque erga literas propenfiffimæ voluntatis extet monumentum, in folenni Convocatione Doctorum et Magiftrorum regentium et non regentium, prædictum SAMUELEM JOHNSON Doctorem in Jure Civili renunciavimus et conftituimus, eumque virtute præfentis Diplomatis fingulis juribus, privilegiis et bonoribus, ad iftum gradum quàquà pertinentibus, frui et gaudere juffimus. In cujus rei teftimonium commune Univerfitatis Oxonienfis figillum præfentibus apponi fecimus. "Datum in Domo noftræ Convocationis die tricefimo menfis Martii, Anno Domini Millefimo, feptingentefimo, feptuagefimo quinto"." Extracted from the Convocation Regifter, Oxford. 7 The original is in my poffeffion. « Viro 1775. Etat. 66. «Viro reverendo THOMA FOTHERGILL, S. T. P. Univerfitatis Oxonienfis "S. P. D. "SAM. JOHNSON. "MULTIS non eft opus, ut teftimonium quo, te præfide, Oxonienfes nomen meum pofteris commendârunt, quali animo acceperim compertum faciam. Nemo fibi placens non lætatur; nemo fibi non placet, qui vobis, literarum arbitris, placere potuit. Hoc tamen habet incommodi tantum beneficium, quod mihi nunquam pofthàc fine veftræ fame detrimento vel labi liceat vel ceffare; femperque fit timendum, ne quod mihi tam eximie laudi eft, vobis aliquando fiat opprobrio. Vale." He revised some sheets of Lord Hailes's "Annals of Scotland," and wrote a few notes on the margin with red ink, which he bade me tell his Lordship did not fink into the paper, and might be wiped off with a wet sponge, so that he did not spoil his manufcript. I told him there were very few of his friends fo accurate as that I could venture to put down in writing what they told me as his fayings. JOHNSON. "Why fhould you write down my sayings?" BOSWELL. "I write them when they are good." JOHNSON. "Nay, you may as well write down the sayings of any one else that are good." But where, I might with great propriety have added, can I find such? I vifited him by appointment in the evening, and we drank tea with Mrs. Williams. He told me that he had been in the company of a gentleman whose extraordinary travels had been much the subject of converfation. But I found that he had not listened to him with that full confidence, without which there is little fatisfaction in the fociety of travellers. I was curious to hear what opinion fo able a judge as Johnson had formed of his abilities, and I asked if he was not a man of fenfe. JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, he is not a diftinct relater; and I fhould fay, he is neither abounding nor deficient in sense. I did not perceive any fuperiority of understanding." BOSWELL." But will you not allow him a nobleness of refolution, in penetrating into distant regions?” "The original is in the hands of Dr. Fothergill, then Vice-Chancellor, who made this tranfcript. "T. WARTON." JOHNSON. JOHNSON. "That, Sir, is not to the present purpose: we are talking of his fenfe. A fighting cock has a noblenefs of refolution.' Next day, Sunday, April 2, I dined with him at Mr. Hoole's. We talked of Pope. JOHNSON. "He wrote his 'Dunciad' for fame. That was his primary motive. Had it not been for that, the dunces might have railed against him till they were weary, without his troubling himself about them. He delighted to vex them, no doubt; but he had more delight in seeing how well he could vex them." The "Odes to Obfcurity and Oblivion," in ridicule of "cool Mason and warm Gray," being mentioned, Johnson faid, "They are Colman's best things." Upon its being obferved that it was believed these Odes were made by Colman and Lloyd jointly ;-JOHNSON. "Nay, Sir, how can two people make an Ode? Perhaps one made one of them, and one the other." I obferved that two people had made a play, and quoted the anecdote of Beaumont and Fletcher, who were brought under fufpicion of treafon, because while concerting the plan of a tragedy when fitting together at a tavern, one of them was overheard faying to the other, I'll kill the King." JOHNSON.. "The first of these Odes is the beft: but they are both good. They exposed a very bad kind of writing." BosWELL. "Surely, Sir, Mr. Mafon's "Elfiida" is a fine poem: at leaft you will allow there. are fome good paffages in it." JOHNSON. "There are now and then fome good imitations of Milton s bad. manner." I often wondered at his low eftimation of the writings of Gray and Mason.. Of Gray's poetry I have, in a former part of this work, expreffed my high opinion; and for that of Mr. Mafon I have ever entertained a warm admiration. His "Elfrida" is exquifite, both in poetical description and moral fentiment; and his "Caractacus" is a noble drama. Nor can I omit paying. my tribute of praise to fome of his fmaller poems which I have read with pleafure, and which no criticifm. fhall perfuade me not to like. If I wondered at Johnson's not tafting the works of Mafon and Gray, ftill more have I wondered at their not tasting his works; that they should be infenfible to his energy of diction, to his fplendour of images, and comprehenfion of thought. Taftes may differ as to the violin, the flute, the hautboy, in fhort, all the leffer inftruments: but who can be infenfible to the powerful impreffions of the majestick organ? His "Taxation no Tyranny" being mentioned, he faid, "I think I have not been attacked enough for it. Attack is the re-action. I never think I 1775. Etat. 66. 1775. have hit hard, unless it rebounds." BOSWELL. "I don't know, Sir, what you Atat. 66. would be at. Five or fix fhots of fmall arms in every newspaper, and repeated cannonading in pamphlets, might, I think fatisfy you. But, Sir, you'll never make out this match, of which we have talked, with a certain political lady, fince you are fo fevere against her principles." JOHNSON. "Nay, Sir, I have the better chance for that. She is like the Amazons of old; fhe must be courted by the sword. But I have not been severe upon her." BOSWELL have mad. Yes, Sir, you have made her ridiculous." JOHNSON. "That was already To endeavour to make her ridiculous, is like blacking the of compleatly Garricks chimney." I put him in mind that the landlord at Ellon in Scotland faid, that he "The force of Nature could no farther go. Lady Miller's collection of verses by fashionable people, which were put into her Vafe at Batheafton villa, near Bath, in competition for honorary prizes, being mentioned, he held them very cheap: "Bouts rimés (faid he,) is a mere conceit, and an old conceit now; I wonder how people were perfuaded to write in that manner for this lady." I named a gentleman of his acquaintance, who wrote for the Vafe. JOHNSON. "He was a blockhead for his pains." BOSWELL. "The Duchefs of Northumberland wrote." JOHNSON. "Sir, the Duchefs of Northumberland may do what she pleases: nobody will fay any thing to a lady of her high rank. But I fhould be apt to throw ******'s verfes in his face." I talked of the cheerfulness of Fleet-ftreet, owing to the conftant quick fucceffion of people which we perceive paffing through it. JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, Fleet-street has a very animated appearance; but I think the full tide of human existence is at Charing-crofs." He made the common remark on the unhappiness which men who have led a busy life experience, when they retire in expectation of enjoying themfelves at eafe, and that they generally languifh for want of their habitual occupation, and wish to return to it. He mentioned as strong an instance of this as can well be imagined. "An eminent tallow-chandler in London, who had acquired a confiderable fortune, gave up the trade in favour of his foreman, and went to live at a country-house near town. He foon grew weary, and paid frequent vifits to his old fhop, where he defired they might let him know 1775. their melting-days, and he would come and affist them; which he accordingly did. Here, Sir, was a man, to whom the most disgusting circumstance in Etat. 66. the business to which he had been used, was a relief from idlenefs." On Wednesday, April 5, I dined with him at Meffieurs Dillys, with Mr. John Scott of Amwell, the Quaker, Mr. Langton, Mr. Miller, (now Sir John,) and Dr. Thomas Campbell, an Irish clergyman, whom I took the liberty of inviting to Messieurs Dillys' table, having seen him at Mr. Thrale's, and been told that he had come to England chiefly with a view to fee Dr. Johnson, for whom he entertained the highest veneration. He has fince published "A philofophical Survey of the South of Ireland," a very entertaining book, which has, however, one fault ;-that it affumes the fictitious character of an Englishman. We talked of publick speaking.-JOHNSON. "We must not estimate a man's powers by his being able or not able to deliver his fentiments in publick. Ifaac Hawkins Browne, one of the first wits of this country, got into parliament, and never opened his mouth. For my own part, I think it is more disgraceful never to try to speak, than to try it and fail; as it is more difgraceful not to fight, than to fight and be beaten." This argument appeared to me fallacious; for if a man has not spoken, it may be said that he would have done very well if he had tried; whereas, if he has tried and failed, there is nothing to be faid for him. "Why then, (I asked,) is it thought difgraceful for a man not to fight, and not disgraceful not to speak in publick?" JOHNSON. "Because there may be other reasons for a man's not speaking in publick than want of refolution he may have nothing to fay, (laughing). Whereas, Sir, you know courage is reckoned the greatest of all virtues; because, unless a man has that virtue, he has no fecurity for preserving any other." He observed, that "the statutes against bribery were intended to prevent upftarts with money from getting into parliament;" adding, that "if he were a gentleman of landed property, he would turn out all his tenants who did not vote for the candidate whom he fupported." LANGTON. "Would not that, Sir, be checking the freedom of election?" JOHNSON. "Sir, the law does not mean that the privilege of voting should be independent of old family interest ; of the permanent property of the country.” On Thursday, April 6, I dined with him at Mr. Thomas Davies's, with Mr. Hicky the painter, and my old acquaintance Mr. Moody the player. Dr. Johnson, as ufual, fpoke contemptuously of Colley Cibber. "It is wonderful that a man, who for forty years had lived with the great and the witty, fhould have acquired fo ill the talents of converfation: and he had but half to furnish; PPP |