The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: Comprehending an Account of His Studies, and Numerous Works, in Chronological Order; a Series of His Epistolary Correspondence and Conversations with Many Eminent Persons; and Various Original Pieces of His Composition, Never Before Published; the Whole Exhibiting a View of Literature and Literary Men in Great Britain, for Near Half a Century During which He Flourished, Volume 4J. Richardson and Company, 1821 |
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Page 14
... Scotland . " His Lordship praised the very fine pas- sage upon landing at Icolmkill ; but his own style 1 When Dr. Blair published his " Lectures , " he was invidiously attacked for having omitted his censure on Johnson's style , and ...
... Scotland . " His Lordship praised the very fine pas- sage upon landing at Icolmkill ; but his own style 1 When Dr. Blair published his " Lectures , " he was invidiously attacked for having omitted his censure on Johnson's style , and ...
Page 18
... Scotland , as too narrow a sphere , and that I wished to make my chief residence in London , the great scene of ambi- tion , instruction , and amusement : a scene which was to me , comparatively speaking , a heaven upon earth . JOHNSON ...
... Scotland , as too narrow a sphere , and that I wished to make my chief residence in London , the great scene of ambi- tion , instruction , and amusement : a scene which was to me , comparatively speaking , a heaven upon earth . JOHNSON ...
Page 36
... Scotland soon , I had fixed on the next day for my setting out , and I felt a tender concern at the thought of parting with him . He had , at this time , frankly communicated to me many particulars , which are inserted in this work in ...
... Scotland soon , I had fixed on the next day for my setting out , and I felt a tender concern at the thought of parting with him . He had , at this time , frankly communicated to me many particulars , which are inserted in this work in ...
Page 41
... Scotland . He had always been very zealous against slavery in every form , in which I with all deference thought that he discovered 66 a zeal without knowledge . " Upon one occasion , when in company with some very grave men at Oxford ...
... Scotland . He had always been very zealous against slavery in every form , in which I with all deference thought that he discovered 66 a zeal without knowledge . " Upon one occasion , when in company with some very grave men at Oxford ...
Page 47
... out of my road to Scotland . The inn was then kept by a very jolly landlord , whose name , I think , was Malton . He happened to mention that " the celebrated Dr. Johnson had been in his house . " Etat . 68. ] 47 DR . JOHNSON .
... out of my road to Scotland . The inn was then kept by a very jolly landlord , whose name , I think , was Malton . He happened to mention that " the celebrated Dr. Johnson had been in his house . " Etat . 68. ] 47 DR . JOHNSON .
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acquaintance admirable affectionate afterwards appeared Ashbourne asked Auchinleck authour Beauclerk believe better Bishop Burke character consider conversation dear sir dined dinner eminent entertaining excellent expressed favour Garrick gentleman give happy hear heard Hebrides honour hope humble servant humour JAMES BOSWELL John kind KNOWLES lady Langton late learning liberty Lichfield literary lived London Lord Lord Bathurst Lord Bolingbroke Lord Macartney Lord Monboddo Lordship Lucy Porter madam manner Marchmont mentioned merit mind Miss never obliged observed occasion once opinion Percy perhaps pleased pleasure poem poetry Poets Pope praise publick racter recollect remark SAMUEL JOHNSON Scotland sermons Shakspeare shewed shewn Sir Joshua Reynolds Streatham suppose sure talked tell thing thought Thrale tion told truth verses Whig Wilkes wish wonderful words write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 14 - Whatever withdraws us from the power of our senses ; whatever makes the past, the distant, or the future predominate over the present, advances us in the dignity of thinking beings. Far from me and from my friends be such frigid philosophy, as may conduct us indifferent and unmoved over any ground which has been dignified by wisdom, bravery, or virtue. That man is little to be envied, whose patriotism would not gain force upon the plain of Marathon, or whose piety would not grow warmer among the...
Page 19 - Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life ; for there is in London all that life can afford.
Page 13 - WE were now treading that illustrious Island, which was once the luminary of the Caledonian regions, whence savage clans and roving barbarians derived the benefits of knowledge, and the blessings of religion. To abstract the mind from all local emotion would be impossible, if it were endeavoured, and would be foolish, if it were possible. Whatever withdraws us from the power of our senses, whatever makes the past, the distant, or the future, predominate over the present, advances us in the dignity...
Page 38 - I never experienced any where else. But, as Xerxes wept when he viewed his immense army, and considered that not one of that great multitude would be alive a hundred years afterwards, so it went to my heart to consider that there was not one in all that brilliant circle, that was not afraid to go home and think ; but that the thoughts of each individual there, would be distressing when alone.
Page 306 - Sir, a man has no more right to say an uncivil thing, than to act one ; no more right to say a rude thing to another than to knock him down.
Page 322 - The reason of this general perusal, Addison has attempted to [find in] derive from the delight which the mind feels in the investigation of secrets. " His best actions are but [convenient] inability of wickedness. " When once he had engaged himself in disputation [matter], thoughts flowed in on either side. " The abyss of an un-ideal [emptiness] vacancy.
Page 317 - Lost broke into open view with sufficient security of kind reception. Fancy can hardly forbear to conjecture with what temper Milton surveyed the silent progress of his work, and marked its reputation stealing its way in a kind of subterraneous current through fear and silence. I cannot but conceive him calm and confident, little disappointed, not at all dejected, relying on his own merit with steady consciousness, and waiting without impatience the vicissitudes of opinion, and the impartiality of...
Page 43 - To abolish a status, which in all ages GOD has sanctioned, and man has continued, would not only be robbery to an innumerable class of our fellow-subjects, but it would be extreme cruelty to the African savages, a portion of whom it saves from massacre, or intolerable bondage in 'their own country, and introduces into a much happier state of life; especially now when their passage to the West Indies, and their treatment there, is humanely regulated. To abolish this trade would be to ' " shut the...
Page 365 - Johnson appeared bustling about, with an ink-horn and pen in his buttonhole, like an exciseman; and on being asked what he really considered to be the value of the property, which was to be disposed of, answered, " We are not here to sell a parcel of boilers and vats, but the potentiality of growing rich beyond the dreams of avarice.
Page 7 - Depend upon it, Sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.