as models. Most schoolboys are familiar with the Orations against Catiline, and Demosthenes' Oration on the Crown is universally admitted to be the greatest speech ever delivered. P. 25, 1. 3. A humble stage in Goodman's Fields. A theatre not far from the Tower of London, built in 1729. Garrick made the success of the house in 1741. 5. Drury Lane Theatre. First opened under Killegrew's patent in 1663, and rebuilt several times since. P. 26, 1. 18. The versification of "Irene." Compare the following lines from Johnson's tragedy with the extracts from his satires given above: 66 Arrayed in purer light, look down on me "Can brave Leontius call for airy wonders, "Through hissing ages, a proverbial coward, Read Macaulay's Addison (paragraphs 22-25) for a good description of this sort of verse. 19. Benefit nights. The author of a play had the profits of every third night. P. 27, 1. 1. The Tatler was a periodical published three times a week, begun by Richard Steele (1672–1729) in 1709. In this work he was joined by his friend, Joseph Addison (16721719), who aided him still more effectively in the Spectator, a daily literary journal of higher tone and character, continued through 635 numbers. Read Macaulay's Essay on Addison, and also Thackeray's novel Henry Esmond, for descriptions of these celebrated authors. 16. Richardson, Samuel (1689-1761). The first great English novelist. He was a bookseller, who after his fiftieth year wrote the novels Pamela, Clarissa Harlowe, and Sir Charles Grandison. These are noted for their minute analysis of character. They enjoyed great popularity in their day, but now, on account of their extreme length, are rarely read. 18. Young, Edward (1684 ?-1765). A nóted writer in his time, but now almost forgotten. His best work is a solemn poem entitled Night Thoughts. 18. Hartley, David (1705-1757). A celebrated mental philosopher of the eighteenth century. His chief work is Observations on Man. 20. Dodington. George Bubb Dodington, afterward Lord Melcombe, controlled six seats in Parliament, and consequently had to be reckoned with in the politics of the time. He changed sides several times merely to further his own interests. However, he was a man of taste and reading and is accounted the last of the "patrons of literature." For some time he exercised a great influence over Prince Frederic, perhaps for the following reason. Walpole reports that the prince said to him: "Dodington is reckoned a clever man, and yet I have got £5,000 from him which he will never see again." 24. Prince Frederic was the eldest son of George II., and the father of George III. He was bitterly opposed to his father, who returned his dislike. The king is reported to have said: "My dear first born is the greatest ass, and the greatest liar, and the greatest canaille, and the greatest beast in the whole world, and I heartily wish he was out of it." Frederic's place in history was summed up by the following epigram current soon after his death : usually squandered in a week of debauchery. He is re membered now only for his connection with Johnson. Of this intimacy Carlyle writes: "Neither, though Johnson is obscure and poor, need the highest enjoyment of existence, that of heart freely communing with heart, be denied him. Savage and he wander homeless through the streets; without bed, yet not without friendly converse; such another conversation not, it is like, producible in the proudest drawing-room of London. Nor, under the void Night, upon the hard pavement, are their own woes the only topic: nowise; they will stand by their country,' they there, the two Backwoodsmen of the Brick Desert!" Essay on Boswell's Johnson. 6 24. Covent Garden (properly Convent Garden) was originally the garden of Westminster Abbey. It is now a square celebrated for its great market of fruit, vegetables, and flowers. In the seventeenth century it was a fashionable quarter of the city. P. 21, 1. 21. Grub Street. "The name of a street in London much inhabited by writers of small histories, dictionaries, and temporary poems; whence any mean production is called Grub Street." Johnson's Dictionary. P. 22, 1. 10. Warburton, William, Bishop of Gloucester (16981779). One of the most noted English theologians and philosophical writers. 21. Earl of Chesterfield (1694-1773). His famous Letters to his Son, which are still widely read, give an excellent picture of the manners and morals of the English aristocracy of the eighteenth century. The character of Sir John Chester in Dickens's Barnaby Rudge is founded on Lord Chesterfield. P. 23, 1. 3. Johnson's homage. The following passage from Johnson's Prospectus is interesting as a contrast to the famous Letter (see note, p. 31, l. 15) written some years later. "And I may hope, my Lord, that since you, whose authority in our language is so generally acknowledged, have commissioned me to declare my own opinion, I shall be considered as exercising a kind of vicarious jurisdiction; and that the power which might have been denied to my own claim, will be readily allowed me as the delegate of your Lordship." 12. Ate like a cormorant. The following passage from the Letters is considered to be Chesterfield's description of Johnson: ".. A respectable Hottentot, who throws his meat anywhere but down his throat. This absurd person was not only uncouth in manners and warm in dispute, but behaves in exactly the same way to superiours, equals, and inferiours; and therefore, by a necessary consequence, absurdly to two of them." 16. Inhospitable door. Johnson in his Dictionary defined "patron" as "commonly a wretch who supports with insolence and is paid with flattery." In later years he said that "Lord Chesterfield was dignified but he was insolent," and that "his manner was exquisitely elegant." And again: "This man I thought had been a lord among wits; but I find he is only, a wit among Lords." Johnson always maintained that the "respectable Hottentot" was not meant for him. "Sir," said he, "Lord Chesterfield never saw me eat in his life." But the opinion of Boswell was otherwise. P. 24, 1. 4. Wolsey, Thomas (1471-1530). The great English cardinal and prime minister of Henry VIII. He was disgraced on account of his counsel and conduct in the matter of the divorce of Henry's first wife, Catherine of Aragon. See Shakespeare's Henry VIII., and Green's History, Ch. VI., Sec. V. "Here lies Fred Who was alive and is dead. P. 28, 1. 21. The purity of the English tongue. "Some said that the hard words in the Rambler were used by the author to render his Dictionary indispensably necessary." — Burney. P. 29, 1. 7. Sir Roger, etc. Spectator. 15. Squire Bluster, etc. Rambler. ness. Characters or papers in the Characters or papers in the P. 30, 1. 2. Which she accepted with but little gratitude. The following, which Johnson wrote of his wife shortly after her death, tells another tale. He describes her as a woman "whom none who were capable of distinguishing either moral or intellectual excellence, could know without esteem or tenderShe was extensively charitable in her judgments and opinions, grateful for every kindness she received, and willing to impart assistance of every kind to all whom her little power enabled her to benefit. She passed through many months of languour, weakness, and decay, without a single murmur of impatience, and often expressed her adoration of that mercy which granted her so long a time for recollection and penitence.". Johnson's Works, Vol. IX., p. 523. 5. The Gunnings. Maria and Elizabeth, the two beautiful daughters of a poor Irish gentleman. When they were presented to the lord lieutenant in Dublin, they wore dresses borrowed from Peg Woffington, the celebrated actress. They went to London in 1751 and created a great sensation. Crowds followed them whenever they appeared in public, and |