pushing a face; and so, if you please, you may tell her. "When I called the other day at Burney's, I found only the young ones at home; at last came the doctor and madam, from a dinner in the country, to tell how they had been robbed as they returned. The doctor saved his purse, but gave them three guineas and some silver, of which they returned him three-and-sixpence, unasked, to pay the turnpike. "I have sat twice to Sir Joshua, and he seems to like his own performance. He has projected another, in which I am to be busy; but we can think on it at leisure." "Mrs. Williams is come home better, and the habitation is all concord and harmony; only Mr. Levett harbours discontent. With Dr. Lawrence's consent, I have for the two last nights taken musk; the first night was a worse night than common, the second, a better; but not so much better as that I dare ascribe any virtue to the medicine. I took a scruple each time." We surely cannot but admire the benevolent exertions of this great and good man, especially when we consider how grievously he was afflicted with bad health, and how uncomfortable his home was made by the perpetual jarring of those whom he charitably accommodated under his roof. He has sometimes suffered me to talk jocularly of his group of females, and call them his Seraglio. He thus mentions them, together with honest Levett, in one of his letters to Mrs. Thrale: "Williams hates every body; Levett hates Desmoulins, and does not love Williams; Desmoulins hates them both; Poll 2 loves none of them." I suppose the first is the Thrale picture-now Sir Robert Peel's; the second was probably either that in which he is reading, or the other in which he holds a pen-neither of them at all comparable to the former - - perhaps Sir Joshua's very finest head. - CROKER, 1847. 2 Miss Carmichael. - BOSWELL. I have not learned how this lady was connected with Dr. Johnson. It would seem from Madam D'Arblay's account that she was invited to enliven the gloom of Bolt Court, but did not in that respect answer Johnson's expectations. It was no doubt his domestic experience which prompted his complimentary exclamation to Hannah More and her four sisters, "What! five women live happily together!! - More's Life, v. i. p. 67. Hawkins draws, as is his wont, a very gloomy picture of this society. "His inmates were enemies to his peace, and occasioned him greatdisquiet: the jealousy that subsisted among them rendered his dwelling irksome to him, and he seldom approached it, after an evening's conversation abroad, but with the dread of finding it a scene of discord, and of having his ears filled with the complaints of Mrs. Williams, of Frank's neglect of his duty, and inattention to the interests of his master, and of Frank against Mrs. Williams, for the authority she assumed over him, and exercised with an unwarrantable severity. Even those Intruders who had taken shelter under his roof, and who, in his absence from home, brought thither their children, found cause to murmur; "their provision of food was scanty, or their dinners ill dressed;" all which he chose to endure, rather than put an end to their clamours by ridding his home of such thankless and troublesome guests. Nay, so insensible was he of the ingratitude of those whom he suffered thus to hang upon him, and among whom he may be said to have "DEAR SIR, -When I recollect how long ago I was received with so much kindness at Warley Common, I am ashamed that I have not made some inquiries after my friends. 46 Pray how many sheep-stealers did you convict? and how did you punish them? When are you to be cantoned in better habitations? The air grows cold, and the ground damp. Longer stay in the camp cannot be without much danger to the health of the common men, if even the officers can escape. "You see that Dr. Percy is now dean of Carlisle; above five hundred a year, with a power of presenting himself to some good living. He is provided for. The session of the Club is to commence with that of the parliament. Mr. Banks desires to be admitted; he will be a very honour able accession. "Did the king please you? The Coxheath men, I think, have some reason to complain.* Reynolds says your camp is better than theirs. I hope you find yourself able to encounter this weather. Take care of your own health; and, as compliments to all the gentlemen whose notice I you can, of your men. Be pleased to make my have had, and whose kindness I have experienced. I am, dear Sir, &c., SAM. JOHNSON."| I wrote to him on the 18th of August, the 18th of September, and the 6th of November; informing him of my having had another son born, whom I had called James 7; that I had passed some time at Auchinleck; that the Countess of Loudoun, now in her ninety-ninth year, was as fresh as when he saw her, and reremembered him with respect; and that his mother by adoption, the Countess of Eglintoune, had said to me, "Tell Mr. Johnson, I love him exceedingly;" that I had again sufferred much from bad spirits; and that as it divided an income which was little more than sufficient for his own support, that he would submit to reproach and per sonal affront from some of them; even Levett would sometimes insult him, and Mrs. Williams, in her paroxysmi of rage, has been known to drive him from her presence." And Johnson himself writes to Mrs. Thrale, Oct. 16. 1779: 1 "Mrs. Williams is not yet returned; but discord and discontent reign in my humble habitation as in the palaces of inonarchs. Mr. Levett and Mrs. Desmoulins have vowed eternal hate. Levett is the more insidious, and wants me to turn her out."- CROKER, 1831-47. 3 Dr. Johnson here addresses his worthy friend, Bennet Langton, Esq., by his title as Captain of Lincolnshire Militia, in which he has since been most deservedly raised to the rank of Major. - BoswELL. Afterwards the right honourable Sir Joseph Banks, K.B., so long president of the Royal Society. - CROKER. 5 His Majesty and the Queen visited Warley Camp on the 20th October. CROKER. 6 Of the king's not visiting that camp as well as Warley; which, however, he did, on the 3d November. - CROKER. 7 This was the gentleman who contributed a few notes to this work. He was of Brazennose College, and a Vinerian Fellow, and died in February 1822, at his chambers, in the Temple. Hall. I knew him, and tried once to persuade him to edit this work, but he died soon after, having just completed a new edition of Malone's Shakespeare. He was very convivial; and in other respects like his father — though altogether on a smaller scale. There is an account of him in the Edin. Ann. Reg. for 1822, written by our commen friend, Mr. Markland. - CROKER, 1831-47. "DEAR SIR, - Dr. Burney, who brings this paper, is engaged in a History of Music; and having been told by Dr. Markham of some MSS. relating to his subject, which are in the library of your college, is desirous to examine them. He is my friend; and therefore I take the liberty of entreating your favour and assistance in his inquiry; and can assure you, with great confidence, that if you knew him, he would not want any intervenient solicitation to obtain the kindness of one who loves learning and virtue as you love them. "I have been flattering myself all the summer with the hope of paying my annual visit to my friends; but something has obstructed me: I still hope not to be iong without seeing you. I should be glad of a little literary talk; and glad to show you, by the frequency of my visits, how eagerly I love it, when you talk it. I am, dear Sir, &c., "SAM. JOHNSON." JOHNSON TO DR. EDWARDS', Oxford. "London, Nov. 2. 1778. "SIR,The bearer, Dr. Burney, has had some account of a Welsh manuscript in the Bodleian library, from which he hopes to gain some materials for his History of Music; but, being ignorant of the language, is at a loss where to find assistance. I make no doubt but you, Sir, can help him through his difficulties, and therefore take the liberty of recommending him to your favour, as I am sure you will find him a man worthy of every civility that can be shown, and every benefit that can be conferred. JOHNSON TO BOSWELL. "DEAR SIR, "Nov. 21. 1778. It is indeed a long time since I wrote, and I think you have some reason to complain; however, you must not let small things disturb you, when you have such a fine addition to your happiness as a new boy, and I hope your lady's health restored by bringing him. It seems very probable that a little care will now restore her, if any remains of her complaints are left. "You seem, if I understand your letter, to be gaining ground at Auchinleck; an incident that would give me great delight. "When any fit of anxiety, or gloominess, or perversion of mind lays hold upon you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaints, but exert your whole care to hide it; by endeavouring to hide it, you will drive it away. Be always busy. "The Club is to meet with the parliament; we talk of electing Banks, the traveller; he will be a reputable member. Langton has been encamped with his company of militia on Warley Common; I spent five days amongst them; he signalised himself as a diligent officer, and has very high respect in the regiment. He presided when I was there at a court-martial; he is now quartered in Hertfordshire; his lady and little ones are in Scotland. Paoli came to the camp, and com mended the soldiers. JOHNSON TO HUSSEY. ་ "Dec. 29. 1778. "DEAR SIR, I have sent you the Grammar,' and have left you two books more, by which I hope to be remembered: write my name in them; we may, perhaps, see each other no more: you part with my good wishes, nor do I despair of seeing you return. Let no opportunities of vice corrupt you; let no bad example seduce you; let the blindness of Mahometans confirm you in Christianity. bless you. I am, dear Sir, your affectionate humble servant, SAM JOHNSON." Johnson this year expressed great satisfaction at the publication of the first volume of "Discourses to the Royal Academy," by Sir God 3 Dr. Edwards was preparing an edition of Xenophon's Memorabilia, which, however, he did not live to complete.CROKER. It was published in 1785, with a preface by Dr. Owen.-WRIGHT. Joshua Reynolds, whom he always considered This year, Johnson gave the world a luminous proof that the vigour of his mind in all its faculties, whether memory, judgment, or imagination, was not in the least abated; for this year came out the first four volumes of his "Prefaces, biographical and critical, to the most eminent of the English Poets," published by the booksellers of London. The remaining volumes came out in the year 1780. The poets were selected by the several booksellers who had the honorary copyright, which is still preserved among them by mutual compact, notwithstanding the decision of the House of Lords against the perpetuity of literary property. We have his own authority', that by his recommendation the poems of Blackmore, Watts, Pomfret, and Yalden, were added to the collection. Of this work I shall speak more particularly hereafter. [JOHNSON TO MRS. ASTON. "Bolt Court, Fleet Street, Jan. 2. 1779. 66 SAM. JOHNSON," JOHNSON TO MRS. PORTER. "Bolt Court, Fleet Street, Jan. 2. 1779. to write, I will omit it no longer. I hope the new DEAREST LOVE,-Though I have so long omitted year finds you not worse than you have formerly been; and I wish that many years may pass over you without bringing either pain or discontent. For my part, I think my health, though not good, yet rather better than when I left you. "My purpose was to have paid you my annual visit in the summer, but it happened otherwise, not by any journey another way, for I have never been many miles from London, but by such hindrances as it is hard to bring to any account. "Do not follow my bad example, but write to have to tell; I hope it is all good. me soon again, and let me know of you what you "Please to make my compliments to Mrs. Cobb, Mrs. Adey, and Miss Adey, and all the ladies and gentlemen that frequent your mansion. "If you want any books, or any thing else that I can send you, let me know. I am, dear Madam, your most humble servant, SAM. JOHNSON."] Pearson MSS. On the 22d of January, I wrote to him on several topics, and mentioned, that as he had been so good as to permit me to have the proof sheets of his "Lives of the Poets," I had written to his servant, Francis, to take care of them for me. [BOSWELL TO JOHNSON. “DEAR MADAM,- Now the new year is come, of which I wish you and dear Mrs. Gastrell many Edinburgh, Feb 2. 1779. and many returus, it is fit that I give you some "MY DEAR SIR,- Garrick's death is a striking account of the year past. In the beginning of it I event; not that we should be surprised with the had a difficulty of breathing, and other illness, from death of any man who has lived sixty-two years'; which, however, I by degrees recovered, and from but because there was a vivacity in our late celewhich I am now tolerably free. In the spring brated friend, which drove away the thoughts of and summer I flattered myself that I should come death from any association with him. I am sure to Lichfield, and forebore to write till I could tell you will be tenderly affected with his departure; of my intentions with some certainty, and one thing and I would wish to hear from you upon the subject. or other making the journey always improper, as II was obliged to him in my days of effervescence did not come, I omitted to write, till at last I grew afraid of hearing ill news. But the other day Mr. Prujean called and left word, that you, dear Madam, are grown better; and I know not when I heard any thing that pleased me so much. I shall now long more and more to see Lichfield, and partake the happiness of your recovery. "Now you begin to mend, you have great encouragement to take care of yourself. Do not omit any thing that can conduce to your health, and when I come, I shall hope to enjoy with you, and dearest Mrs. Gastrell, many pleasing hours. Do not be angry at my long omission to write, but let me hear how you both do, for you will write to nobody, to whom your welfare will give more plea in London, when poor Derrick was my governor; and since that time I received many civilities from him. Do you remember how pleasing it was, when I received a letter from him at Inverary, upon our first return to civilised living after our Hebridean journey? I shall always remember him with affection as well as admiration. "On Saturday last, being the 30th of January, I drank coffee and old port, and had solemn conversation with the Reverend Mr. Falconer, a nonjuring bishop, a very learned and worthy man. He gave two toasts, which you will believe I drank with cordiality, Dr. Samuel Johnson and Flora Macdonald. I sat about four hours with him, and it was really as if I had been living in the last cen at Hereford, February 28. 1716-17, and died at his house to London, January 20. 1779. The inaccuracy of lapidary scriptions is well known. - MALONE. The inscription as it now exists in Lichfield Cathedral has 63 years. - CROKER. tury. The episcopal church of Scotland, though faithful to the royal house of Stuart, has never accepted of any congé d'élire since the revolution; it is the only true episcopal church in Scotland, as it For as to the has its own succession of bishops. episcopal clergy, who take the oaths to the present government, they indeed follow the rites of the church of England, but, as Bishop Falconer observed, they are not episcopals; for they are under no bishop, as a bishop cannot have authority beyond his diocese.' This venerable gentleman did me the honour to dine with me yesterday, and he laid We his hands upon the heads of my little ones. had a good deal of curious literary conversation, particularly about Mr. Thomas Ruddiman, with whom he lived in great friendship. "Any fresh instance of the uncertainty of life makes one embrace more closely a valuable friend. My dear and much respected Sir, may God preserve you long in this world while I am in it. am ever, your much obliged, and affectionate hum ble servant, JAMES BOSWELL." JOHNSON TO MISS REYNOLDS. "Feb. 15. 1779. "DEAREST MADAM, I have never deserved to be treated as you treat me. When you employed me before, I undertook your affair1 and succeeded, but then I succeeded by choosing a proper time, and a proper time I will try to choose again. "I have about a week's work to do, and then I shall come to live in town, and will first wait on You are not to think that I you in Dover-street. neglect you, for your nieces will tell you how I will wait on you as rarely they have seen me. soon as I can, and yet you must resolve to talk things over without anger, and you must leave me to catch opportunities; and be assured, dearest dear, that I should have very little enjoyment of that day in which I had neglected any opportunity of doing good to you. Iam, dearest Madam, your SAM. JOHNSON."] humble servant, Reyn. MSS. [JOHNSON TO MRS. PORTER. I "Boit Court, Fleet Street, March 4. 1779. "MY DEAR LOVE,- Since I heard from you, sent you a little print, and two barrels of oysters, and I shall have some little books to send you soon. I have seen Mr. Pearson, and am pleased to find that he has got a living. I was hurried when he was with me, but had time to hear that my friends were all well. "Poor Mrs. Adey was, I think, a good woman, and therefore her death is less to be lamented; but it is not pleasant to think how uncertain it is, that, when friends part, they will ever meet again. My old complaint of flatulence, and tight and short breath, oppress me heavily. My nights are very restless. I think of consulting the doctor to [JOHNSON TO MRS. ASTON. "Bolt Court, Fleet Street, March 4. 1779. "DEAR MADAM,- Mrs. Gastrell and you are very often in my thoughts, though I do not write so often as might be expected from so much love and so much respect. I please myself with thinking that I shall see you again, and shall find you better. But futurity is uncertain: poor David [Garrick] had doubtless many futurities in his head, which death has intercepted—a death, I believe, totally unexpected: he did not in his last hour seem to think his life in danger. "My old complaints hang heavy on me, and my nights are very uncomfortable and unquiet; and sleepless nights make heavy days. I think to go to my physician, and try what can be done. For why should not I grow better as well as you? "Now you are better, pray, dearest Madam, take care of yourself. I hope to come this summer and watch you. It will be a very pleasant journey if I can find you and dear Mrs. Gastrell well. I sent you two barrels of oysters; if you would wish for more, please to send your commands to, Madam, your most humble servant, Pembroke MSS. "SAM. JOHNSON."] On the 23d of February I had written to him again, complaining of his silence, as I had heard earlier days happened to propose something that would be "Yes," replied the Prince, "worthy of a Whig Prince." who did not like the proposition, "but do you think that there will ever be a Whig King?"— CROKER, 1847. he was ill, and had written to Mr. Thrale for information concerning him: and I announced my intention of soon being again in London. JOHNSON TO BOSWELL. "March 13. 1779. made a very good translation." Here nothing whatever in favour of the performance was affirmed, and yet the writer was not shocked. A printed Ode to the Warlike Genius of Britain" came next in review. The bard' was a lank bony figure, with short black hair; he was writhing himself in agitation, while John"Dear Sir, — Why should you take such deson read, and, showing his teeth in a grin of light to make a bustle, to write to Mr. Thrale that earnestness, exclaimed in broken sentences, I am negligent, and to Francis to do what is so very unnecessary? Thrale, you may be sure, cared not and in a keen sharp tone, "Is that poetry, Sir? about it; and I shall spare Francis the trouble, by Is it Pindar?" JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, there ordering a set both of the Lives and Poets to dear is here a great deal of what is called poetry." Mrs. Boswell', in acknowledgment of her marma- Then, turning to me, the poet cried, "My muse lade. Persuade her to accept them, and accept has not been long upon the town, and (pointthem kindly. If I thought she would receive them ing to the Ode) it trembles under the hand of scornfully, I would send them to Miss Boswell, the great critic." Johnson, in a tone of diswho, I hope, has yet none of her mamma's ill-will pleasure, asked him, "Why do you praise Anson ?" I did not trouble him by asking his reason for this question. He proceeded:feminine." "Here is an error, Sir: you have made Genius siast); I know it. But (in a lower tone) it Palpable, Sir (cried the enthu was to pay a compliment to the Duchess of Devonshire, with which her grace was pleased. She is walking across Coxheath in the military uniform, and I suppose her to be the Genius of Britain." JOHNSON. "Sir, you are giving a reason for it; but that will not make it right. You may have a reason why two and two should make five; but they will still make but four." to me. "I would send sets of Lives, four volumes, to some other friends, to Lord Hailes first. His second volume lies by my bed-side; a book surely of great labour, and to every just thinker of great delight. Write me word to whom I shall send besides. Would it please Lord Auchinleck? Mrs. Thrale waits in the coach. I am, dear Sir, &c., "SAM. JOHNSON." This letter crossed me on the road to London, where I arrived on Monday, March 15., and next morning, at a late hour, found Dr. Johnson sitting over his tea, attended by Mrs. Desmoulins, Mr. Levett, and a clergyman, who had come to submit some poetical pieces to his Although I was several times with him in revision. It is wonderful what a number and the course of the following days, such it seems variety of writers, some of them even unknown were my occupations, or such my negligence, to him, prevailed on his good-nature to look that I have preserved no memorial of his conover their works, and suggest corrections and versation till Friday, March 26., when I visited improvements. My arrival interrupted, for a him. He said he expected to be attacked on little while, the important business of this true account of his "Lives of the Poets." "Howrepresentative of Bayes; upon its being re- ever," said he, "I would rather be attacked sumed, I found that the subject under imme- than unnoticed. For the worst thing you can diate consideration was a translation, yet in do to an author is to be silent as to his works. manuscript, of the "Carmen Seculare' of An assault upon a town is a bad thing; but Horace, which had this year been set to music, starving it is still worse; an assault may be and performed as a public entertainment in unsuccessful, you may have more men killed London, for the joint benefit of Monsieur Phi- than you kill; but if you starve the town, you lidor and Signor Baretti. When Johnson are sure of victory." had done reading, the author asked him bluntly, "If upon the whole it was a good translation ?" Johnson, whose regard for truth was uncommonly strict, seemed to be puzzled for a moment what answer to make, as he certainly could not honestly commend the performance: with exquisite address he evaded the question thus: "Sir, I do not say that it may not be He sent a set elegantly bound and gilt, which was received as a very handsome present. BOSWELL. 2 Andrew Philidor, a musician and chess player of eminence. In 1777, he published "Analyse du Jeu des Echecs." 3 This was a Mr. Tasker. Mr. D'Israeli informed me that this portrait is so accurately drawn, that being, some years after the publication of this work, at a watering-place on the coast of Devon, he was visited by Mr. Tasker, whose name, however, he did not then know, but was so struck with his resemblance to Boswell's picture, that he asked him whether he had not had an interview with Dr. Johnson, and it appeared that he was indeed the author of "The Warlike Genius of Britain."- CROKER. 4 He disliked Lord Anson, first as a whig, and also perhaps from local politics, as the Ansons have had a strong Talking of a friend of ours associating with persons of very discordant principles and characters; I said he was a very universal man, quite a man of the world. JOHNSON. "Yes, Sir; but one may be so much a man of the world, as to be nothing in the world. Ire member a passage in Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield,' which he was afterwards fool party interest in Lichfield. "On one occasion," says Mrs. Piozzi," he visited Lord Anson's seat, and although, as br confessed, well received and kindly treated, he, with the true gratitude of a wit, ridiculed the master of the house before he had left it an hour." In the grounds there is a Temple of the Winds, on which he made the following epigram: "Gratum animum laudo ; Qui debuit omnia ventis, I praise the grateful mind which thus bestows 5 Probably Sir Joshua Reynolds. See ante, pp. 943. and 590. n. 4.- CROKER. |