present a set in my name to Mr. Ruddiman ‡, of whom I hear, that his learning is not his highest excellence. I have transcribed the mottos, and returned them, I hope not too late, of which I think many very happily performed. Mr. Cave has put the last in the Magazine §, in which I think he did well. I beg of you to write foon, and to write often, and to write long letters; which I hope in time to repay you, but you must be a patient creditor. I have, however, this of gratitude, that I think of you with regard, when I do not perhaps give the proofs which I ought of piety. SIR, Your moft obliged, and moft humble fervant, SAM. JOHNSON. LETTER XV. To THE REV. DR. TAYLOR. DEAR SIR, LET me have your company and your inftruction. Do not live away from me; my diftrefs is great. Pray defire Mrs. Taylor to inform me what mourning I fhould buy for my mother and Mifs Porter, and bring a note in writing with you. Remember me in your prayers; for vain is the help I am, dear SIR, &c. of man. March 18, 1752. SAM. JOHNSON. A very learned writer, author of feveral historical and philolo gical works. He died January 1757. See Gent. Mag. Oct. 1752, p. 468. LET To DR. HUDDESFORD. Reverendo admodum viro G. HUDDESFORD, S.T.P. Oxonienfis academiæ Vice Cancellario digniffimo. INGRATUS plane et tibi et mihi videar, nifi quanto me gaudio affecerent, quos nuper mihi honores, te credo auctore, decrevit fenatus academicus, literarum, quo tamen nihil levius, officio fignificem: ingratus etiam, nifi comitatem, qua vir eximius mihi vestri teftimonium amoris in manus tradidit, agnofcam et laudem. Siquid eft, unde rei tam gratæ accedat gratia, hoc ipfo magis mihi placet, quod eo tempore in ordines academicos denuo cooptatus fim, quo tuam imminuere auctoritatem, famamque Oxoniæ lædere, omnibus modis conantur homines vafri nec tamen acuti: quibus ego, prout viro umbratico licuit, femper reftiti, femper reftiturus. Qui enim, inter has rerum procellas, vel tibi vel academiæ defuerit, illum virtuti, et literis, fibique, et pofteris defuturum exiftimo. Į WROTE to you some weeks ago, but I believe did not direct accurately, and therefore know not whe Dr. King, of St. Mary Hall, who delivered the Diploma to Johnfon in London. ther ther you had my letter. I would likewife write to your brother, but know not where to find him. I now begin to see land, after having wandered, according to Mr. Warburton's phrase, in this vast sea of words. What reception I fhall meet with upon the fhore, I know not; whether the found of bells, and acclamations of the people, which Ariofto talks of in his last Canto, or a general murmur of dislike, I know not; whether I fhall find, upon the coaft, a Calypfo that will court, or a Polypheme that will refift. But if Polypheme comes to me, have at his eyes. I hope, however, the criticks will let me be at peace: for though I do not much fear their skill or strength, I am a little afraid of myself; and would not willingly feel fo much ill-will in my bofom as literary quarrels are apt to excite. I am in great want of Crefcimbeni, which you may have again when you please. There is nothing confiderable done or doing among us here we are not perhaps as innocent as villagers, but moft of us as idle. I hope, however, you are bufy; and should be glad to know what you are doing. I am, dear SIR, your's, &c. SAM. JOHNSON. nefs, almost the only cafualty that could have diftreffed her; I beg leave to trouble you, among my other friends, with fome of her tickets. Your benevolence is well known, and was, I believe, never exerted on a more laudable occafion. BEING, as you will find by the propofal, engaged in a work which requires the concurrence of my friends * to make it of much benefit to me, I have taken the liberty of recommending fix receipts to your care, and do not doubt of your endeavour to difpofe of them. I have likewife a further favour to beg. I know you have been long a curious collector of books. If, therefore, you have any of the contemporaries or ancestors of Shakespeare, it will be of great ufe to lend me them for a short time; my stock of those authors is yet but curta fupellex. I am, SIR, SIR, LETTE_R_XX*, To MR. BARETT I. YOU reproach me very often with parfimony of writing: but you may difcover by the extent of my paper, that I defign to recompenfe rarity by length. A short letter to a diftant friend is, in my opinion, an infult like that of a flight bow or curfory falutation;-a proof of unwillingness to do much, even where there is a neceffity of doing fomething. Yet it must be remembered, that he who continues the fame course of life in the fame place, will have little to tell. One week and one year are very like another. The filent changes made by time are not always perceived; and if they are not perceived, cannot be recounted. I have rifen and lain down, talked and mused, while you have roved over a confiderable part of Europe: yet I have not envied my Baretti any of his pleafures, though perhaps I have envied others his company; and I am glad to have other nations made acquainted with the character of the English, by a traveller who has fo nicely inspected our manners, and fo fuccefsfully ftudied our literature. I received your kind letter from Falmouth, in which you gave me notice of your departure for Lifbon; and another from Lisbon, in which you told me, that you were to leave Portugal in a few days. To either of thefe how could any answer be returned? I have had a third from Turin, complaining that I have not anfwered the former. Your * Firft printed in "The European Magazine for June 1787." English |