Page images
PDF
EPUB

you confider whether the publication will really do any good; next, whether by printing and distributing a very small number, you may not attain all that you propofe; and, what perhaps I fhould have faid firft, whether the letter, which I do not now perfectly remember, be fit to be printed.

"If you can confult Dr. Robertfon, to whom I am a little known, I shall be fatisfied about the propriety of whatever he fhall direct. If he thinks that it fhould be printed, I entreat him to revife it; there may, perhaps, be fome negligent lines written, and whatever is amifs, he knows very well how to rectify.

"Be pleased to let me know, from time to time, how this excellent defign goes forward.

"Make my compliments to young Mr. Drummond, whom I hope you will live to fee fuch as you defire him.

"I have not lately feen Mr. Elphinston, but believe him to be profperous. I fhall be glad to hear the fame of you, for I am, Sir, "Your affectionate humble fervant,

1766.

Etat. 57.

"Johnfon's-court, Fleet-ftreet,

April 21, 1767.

To the fame.

SAM. JOHNSON."

"SIR,

"I RETURNED this week from the country, after an absence of near fix months, and found your letter, with many others, which I fhould have anfwered fooner, if I had fooner feen them.

"Dr. Robertfon's opinion was furely right. Men fhould not be told of the faults which they have mended. I am glad the old language is taught, and honour the translator as a man whom God has diftinguished by the high office of propagating his word.

“I must take the liberty of engaging you in an office of charity. Mrs. Heely, the wife of Mr. Heely, who had lately fome office in your theatre, is my near relation, and now in great distress. They wrote me word of their fituation fome time ago, to which I returned them an answer which raised hopes of more than it is proper for me to give them. Their representation of their affairs I have discovered to be fuch as cannot be trusted; and at this distance, though their cafe requires hatte, I know not how to act. She, or her daughters, may be heard of at Canongate Head. I muft beg, Sir, that you will enquire

3 This paragraph fhews Johnson's real eftimation of the character and abilities of the celebrated Scottish Hiftorian, however lightly, in a moment of caprice, he may have spoken of his works. after

PP

1766.

Etat. 57.

after them, and let me know what is to be done. I am willing to go to ten pounds, and will tranfmit you fuch a fum, if upon examination you find it likely to be of ufe. If they are in immediate want, advance them what you think proper. What I could do, I would do for the women, having no great reafon to pay much regard to Heely himself.

"I believe you may receive fome intelligence from Mrs. Baker, of the theatre, whofe letter I received at the fame time with yours, and to whom, you fee her, you will make my excufe for the feeming neglect of answering her.

if

"Whatever you advance within ten pounds fhall be immediately returned to you, or paid as you shall order. I trust wholly to your judgement. "I am, Sir, &c.

"London, Johnfon's-court, Fleet

ftreet, Oct. 24, 1767.

SAM. JOHNSON,"

Mr. Cuthbert Shaw 5, alike diftinguished by his genius, misfortunes, and mifconduct, published this year a poem, called "The Race, by Mercurius Spur, Efq." in which he whimsically made the living poets of England contend for pre-eminence of fame by running:

"Prove by their heels the prowefs of the head."

In this poem, there was the following portrait of Johnson:

"Here Johnson comes,-unbleft with outward grace,
"His rigid morals stamp'd upon his face.
"While strong conceptions struggle in his brain;
" (For even Wit is brought to-bed with pain):
"To view him, porters with their loads would rest,
"And babes cling frighted to the nurse's breast.
"With looks convuls'd, he roars in pompous ftrain,
"And, like an angry lion, shakes his mane.
"The Nine, with terror ftruck, who ne'er had seen,
Aught human with fo horrible a mien,
Debating whether they should stay or run,

"Virtue steps forth, and claims him for her fon.

→ This is the person concerning whom Sir John Hawkins has thrown out very unwarrantable

reflections both against Dr. Johnson and Mr. Francis Barber.

5 See an account of him in the European Magazine, January, 1786.

4

<< With

"With gentle speech fhe warns him now to yield,
"Nor stain his glories in the doubtful field;
"But wrapt in conscious worth, content fit down,
"Since Fame, refolv'd his various pleas to crown,
"Though forc'd his prefent claim to disavow,
"Had long referv'd a chaplet for his brow.
"He bows, obeys; for Time fhall first expire,
"Ere Johnson stay, when Virtue bids retire."

The Honourable Thomas Hervey and his lady having unhappily difagreed,
and being about to feparate, Johnson interfered as their friend, and wrote
him a letter of expoftulation, which I have not been able to find; but the
fubftance of it is ascertained by a letter to Johnson, in anfwer to it, which Mr.
Hervey printed. The occafion of this correfpondence between Dr. Johnfon
and Mr. Hervey, was thus related to me by Mr. Beauclerk.
"Tom Hervey
had a great liking for Johnson, and in his will had left him a legacy of fifty
pounds. One day he faid to me, Johnfon may want this money now, more
than afterwards. I have a mind to give it him directly. Will you be fo good
as to carry a fifty pound note from me to him?' This I pofitively refused to
do, as he might, perhaps, have knocked me down for infulting him, and have
afterwards put the note in his pocket. But I faid, if Hervey would write him
a letter, and enclose a fifty pound note, I should take care to deliver it. He
accordingly did write him a letter, mentioning that he was only paying a
legacy a little fooner. To his letter he added, P. S. I am going to part
with my wife.' Johnson then wrote to him, faying nothing of the note, but
remonftrating with him against parting with his wife."

When I mentioned to Johnfon this ftory, in as delicate terms as I could, he told me that the fifty pound note was given to him by Mr. Hervey in confideration of his having written for him a pamphlet against Sir Charles Hanbury Williams, who, Mr. Harvey imagined, was the authour of an attack upon him; but that it was afterwards difcovered to be the work of a garretteer, who wrote "The Fool:" fo the pamphlet against Sir Charles was not printed.

1766. Ætat. 57.

In February, 1767, there happened one of the most remarkable incidents of Johnson's life, which gratified his monarchical enthusiasm, and which he loved to relate with all its circumstances, when requested by his friends. This was his being honoured by a private converfation with his Majefty, in the library at the Queen's houfe. He had frequently vifited those splendid rooms Pp 2 and

1767.

1767.

Etat. 58.

and noble collection of books", which he used to say was more numerous and curious than he fuppofed any perfon could have made in the time which the King had employed. Mr. Barnard, the librarian, took care that he should have every accommodation that could contribute to his ease and convenience, while indulging his literary tafte in that place; fo that he had here a very agreeable refource at leifure hours.

His Majefty having been informed of his occafional visits, was pleased to fignify a defire that he fhould be told when Dr. Johnfon came next to the library. Accordingly, the next time that Johnfon did come, as foon as he was fairly engaged with a book, on which, while he fat by the fire, he seemed quite intent, Mr. Barnard ftole round to the apartment where the King was, and, in obedience to his Majefty's commands, mentioned that Dr. Johnson was then in the library. His Majefty faid he was at leifure, and would go to him; upon which Mr. Barnard took one of the candles that stood on the King's table, and lighted his Majefty through a fuite of rooms, till they came to a private door into the library, of which his Majefty had the key. Being entered, Mr. Barnard ftepped forward haftily to Dr. Johnson, who was ftill in a profound study, and whispered him, "Sir, here is the King." Johnson started up, and stood ftill. His Majefty approached him, and at once was courteously eafy 7.

His Majefty began by observing, that he understood he came fometimes to the library; and then mentioning his having heard that the Doctor had been

• Dr. Johnfon had the honour of contributing his affiftance towards the formation of this library; for I have read a long letter from him to Mr. Barnard, giving the most masterly instructions on the fubject. I wished much to have gratified my readers with the perufal of this letter, and have reafon to think that his Majefty would have been gracioufly pleafed to permit its publication; but Mr. Barnard, to whom I applied, declined it" on his own account."

7 The particulars of this converfation I have been at great pains to collect with the utmost authenticity, from Dr. Johnfon's own detail to myfelf; from Mr. Langton, who was prefent when he gave an account of it to Dr. Jofeph Warton, and several other friends, at Sir Joshua Reynolds's; from Mr. Barnard; from the copy of a letter written by the late Mr. Strahan the printer, to Bishop Warburton; and from a minute, the original of which is among the papers of the late Sir James Caldwell, and a copy of which was most obligingly obtained for me from his fon Sir John Caldwell, by Sir Francis Lumm. To all these gentlemen I beg leave to make my grateful acknowledgements, and particularly to Sir Francis Lumm, who was pleafed to take a great deal of trouble, and even had the minute laid before the King by Lord Caermarthen, now Duke of Leeds, one of his Majefty's Principal Secretaries of State, who announced to Sir Francis the Royal pleasure concerning it by a letter, in these words: "I have the King's commands to affure you, Sir, how fenfible his Majefty is of your attention in communicating the minute of the converfation previous to its publication. As there appears no objection to your complying with Mr. Bofwell's wishes on the subject, you are at full liberty to deliver it to that gentleman, to make fuch ufe of in his Life of Dr. Johnfon, as he may think proper,"

lately

1767.

lately at Oxford, asked him if he was not fond of going thither. To which Johnson answered, that he was indeed fond of going to Oxford fometimes, Etat. 58. but was likewife glad to come back again. The King then asked him what they were doing at Oxford. Johnfon anfwered, he could not much commend their diligence, but that in some respects they were mended, for they had put their press under better regulations, and were at that time printing Polybius. He was then asked whether there were better libraries at Oxford or Cambridge. He answered, he believed the Bodleian was larger than any they had at Cambridge; at the fame time adding, "I hope, whether we have more books or not than they have at Cambridge, we fhall make as good use of them as they do." Being asked whether All-Souls or Chrift-Church library was the largest, he answered, "All-Souls library is the largeft we have, except the Bodleian." Aye, (faid the King,) that is the publick library."

[ocr errors]

His Majefty enquired if he was then writing any thing. He answered, he was not, for he had pretty well told the world what he knew, and must now read to acquire more knowledge. The King, as it fhould feem with a view to urge him to rely on his own ftores as an original writer, and to continue his labours, then faid, "I do not think you borrow much from any body.". Johnson faid, he thought he had already done his part as a writer. "I fhould have thought fo too, (faid the King,) if you had not written fo well."Johnson obferved to me, upon this, that "No man could have paid a handfomer compliment; and it was fit for a King to pay. It was decifive." When asked by another friend, at Sir Jofhua Reynolds's, whether he made any reply to this high compliment, he answered, "No, Sir. When the King had said it, it was to be fo. It was not for me to bandy civilities with my fovereign." Perhaps no man who had spent his whole life in courts could have fhewn a more nice and dignified sense of true politeness, than Johnson did in this inftance.

His Majesty having observed to him that he supposed he must have read a great deal; Johnfon anfwered, that he thought more than he read; that he had read a great deal in the early part of his life, but having fallen into ill health, he had not been able to read much, compared with others: for instance, he said he had not read much compared with Dr. Warburton. Upon which the King faid, that he heard Dr. Warburton was a man of fuch general knowledge, that you could scarce talk with him on any fubject on which he was not qualified to speak; and that his learning refembled Garrick's acting, in its univerfality. His Majefty then talked of the controverfy between Warburton and Lowth, which he seemed to have read, and asked Johnson what he thought of it. Johnfon anfwered, "Warburton has moft general,

moft

« PreviousContinue »