very well proved that any pension was obtained for him'-I am afraid that he died of misery. We came to Birmingham, and I sent for Wheeler, whom I found well. Tuesday, Sept. 20.- We breakfasted with Wheeler, and visited the manufacture of Papier maché―The paper which they use is smooth whited brown; the varnish is polished with - Wheeler gave me a tea-boardWe then went to Boulton's, who, with great civility, led us through his shops- I could not distinctly see his enginery -Twelve dozen of buttons for three shillings-Spoons struck at rotten stone once. Wednesday, Sept. 21. Wheeler came to us again-We came easily to Woodstock. Thursday, Sept. 22.- We saw Blenheim and Woodstock park - The park contains two thousand five hundred acres; about four square miles-it has red deer. Mr. Bryant showed me the library with great civility3Durandi Rationale, 1459-Lascaris' Grammar, of the first edition, well printed, but much less than later editions · -The first Batrachomyomachia - The duke sent Mr. Thrale partridges and fruit-At night we came to Oxford. Friday, Sept. 23.-We visited Mr. Coulson The ladies wandered about the university. 9 Saturday, Sept. 24.-Ká0.—We dine with Mr. Coulson 8 -Vansittart told me his distemper Afterwards we were at Burke's [at Beaconsfield], where we heard of the dissolution of the parliament 10 - We went home. - 1 Lord Loughborough applied to Lord Bute, to procure Shenstone a pension; but that it was ever asked of the king is not certain. He was made to believe that the patent was actually made out, when his death rendered unnecessary any further concern of his friends for his future ease and tranquillity. Anderson. -WRIGHT. 2 Dr. Benjamin Wheeler; he was a native of Oxford, and originally on the foundation of Trinity College. He took his degree of A. M. Nov. 14. 1758, and D. D. July 6. 1770; and was a man of extensive learning. Dr. Johnson styles him "My learned friend, the man with whom I most delighted to converse." Letters.-DUPPA. 3 See antè, p. 370.-C. 4 This is a work written by William Durand, Bishop of Mende, and printed on vellum, in folio, by Fust and Schoeffer, in Mentz, 1459. It is the third book that is known to be printed with a date. An imperfect copy was sold at Dr. Askew's sale, 1775, to Elmsley, the bookseller, for 261 10s. DUPPA. 5 This was the first book ever printed in Greek, a copy was bought for the King's library, at Askew's sale, for £21 10s. The first book ever printed in English was the Historyes of Troye, 1471. A copy was sold by auction in 1812, and brought £1060 10s. - DUPPA. 6 1846. Sold at Askew's sale for £14 14s. — CROKER. 7 Of the dinner at University College I remember nothing, unless it was there that Mr. Vansittart, a flourishing sort of character, showed off his graceful form by fencing with Mr. Seward, who joined us at Oxford. We had a grand dinner at Queen's College, and Dr. Johnson made Miss Thrale and me observe the ceremony of the grace cup; but I have but a faint remembrance of it, and can in nowise tell who invited us, or how we came by our academical honour of hearing our healths drank in form, and I half believe in Latin. Piozzi MS. I suspect that writing after a lapse of forty years, Mrs. Piozzi mistook Queen's for University.CROKER. PARLIAMENT having been dissolved, and his friend Mr. Thrale, who was a steady supporter of government, having again to encounter the storm of a contested election, he wrote a short political pamphlet, entitled "The Patriot,"* addressed to the electors of Great Britain; a title which, to factious men who consider a patriot only as an opposer of the measures of government, will appear strangely misapplied. It was, however, written with energetic vivacity; and, except those passages in which it endeavours to vindicate the glaring outrage of the House of Commons in the case of the Middlesex election, and to justify the attempt to reduce our fellow-subjects in America to unconditional submission, it contained an admirable display of the properties of a real patriot, in the original and genuine sense;-a sincere, steady, rational, and unbiassed friend to the interests and prosperity of his king and country. It must be acknowledged, however, that 8 Mr. Coulson was a senior Fellow of University College, in habit and appearance something like Johnson himself, and was considered in his time an Oxford character. Lord Stowell informed me that he was very eccentric. He would on a fine day hang out of the college windows his various pieces of apparel to air, which used to be universally answered by the young men hanging out from all the other windows, quilts, carpets, rags, and every kind of trash, and this was called an illumination. His notions of the eminence and importance of his academic situation were so peculiar, that, when he afterwards accepted a college living, he expressed to Lord Stowell his doubts whether, after living so long in the great world, he might not grow weary of the comparative retirement of a country parish. I have already disproved Mrs. Piozzi's imagination that this, or, indeed, any Mr. Coulson was the Gelidus of the Rambler.- CROKER. 9 See antè, p. 117. and p. 244. The distemper was no doubt the occasional discomposure of mind referred to by Johnson in his letters to Mrs. Thrale, quoted in p. 244. n. 2.-CROKER. 10 They must have spent several days at Beaconsfield, as they there heard of the dissolution which took place on the 30th September. Mrs. Piozzi says, " Dr. Johnson had always a very great personal regard and particular affection for Mr. Burke; and when at this time the general election broke up the delightful society in which we had spent some time at Beaconsfield, Dr. Johnson shook the hospitable master of the house kindly by the hand, and said, “Farewell, my dear Sir, and remember that I wish you all the success which ought to be wished you, which can possibly be wished you, indeed, by an honest man." — Anecdotes. - CROKER. 11 These were two points on which it should be kept in, mind that Mr. Boswell, though professing himself a high Tory, had probably, through his cultivation of Wilkes's acquaintance, fallen into very whiggish feelings, which even his attachment to Dr. Johnson could not repress.- CROKER. both in this and his two former pamphlets, for an amiable young gentleman to whom he there was, amidst many powerful arguments, had been very much obliged in the Hebrides, not only a considerable portion of sophistry, I have inserted according to its date, though but a contemptuous ridicule of his opponents, before receiving it I had informed him of the which was very provoking. melancholy event that the young Laird of Col was unfortunately drowned. JOHNSON TO PERKINS.' 66 October 25 1774. "SIR, You may do me a very great favour. Mrs. Williams, a gentlewoman whom you may have seen at Mr. Thrale's, is a petitioner for Mr. Hetherington's charity; petitions are this day issued at Christ's hospital. "I am a bad manager of business in a crowd; and if I should send a mean man, he may be put away without his errand. I must, therefore, entreat that you will go, and ask for a petition for Anna Williams, whose paper of inquiries was de livered with answers at the counting-house of the hospital on Thursday the 20th. My servant will attend you thither, and bring the petition home when you have it. "The petition which they are to give us, is a form which they deliver to every petitioner, and which the petitioner is afterwards to fill up, and return to them again. This we must have, or we cannot proceed according to their directions. You need, I believe, only ask for a petition; if they inquire for whom you ask, you can tell them. "I beg pardon for giving you this trouble; but it is a matter of great importance. I am, Sir, your most humble servant, SAM. JOHNSON." JOHNSON TO BOSWELL. "London, Oct. 27, 1774. "DEAR SIR,- There has appeared lately in the papers an account of the boat overset between Mull and Ulva, in which many passengers were lost, and among them Maclean of Col. We, you know, were once drowned; I hope, therefore, that the story is either wantonly or erroneously told. Pray satisfy me by the next post. "I have printed 240 pages. I am able to do nothing much worth doing to dear Lord Hailes's book. I will, however, send back the sheets; and hope, by degrees, to answer all your reasonable ex pectations. “Mr. Thrale has happily surmounted a very violent and acrimonious opposition; but all joys have their abatement: Mrs. Thrale has fallen from her horse, and hurt herself very much. The rest of our friends, I believe, are well. My compliments to Mrs. Boswell. — I am, Sir, your most affectionate servant, SAM. JOHNSON." This letter, which shows his tender concern 1 Mr. Perkins was for a number of years the worthy superintendent of Mr. Thrale's great brewery, and after his death became one of the proprietors of it; and now resides in Mr. Thrale's house in Southwark, which was the scene of so many literary meetings, and in which he continues the liberal hospitality for which it was eminent. Dr. Johnson esteemed him much. He hung up in the counting-house a fine proof of the admirable mezzotinto of Dr. Johnson, by Doughty; and when Mrs. Thrale asked him, somewhat flippantly, "Why do you put him up in the countinghouse?" he answered," Because, Madam, I wish to have one wise man there." "Sir," said Johnson, "I thank you. JOHNSON TO BOSWELL. "Nov. 26. 1774. "DEAR SIR, Last night I corrected the last page of our Journey to the Hebrides.' The printer has detained it all this time, for I had, before I went into Wales, written all except two sheets. The Patriot' was called or by my political friends on Friday, was written on Saturday, and I have heard little of it. So vague are conjectures at a distance. As soon as I can, I will take care that copies [of the Journal] be sent to you, for I would wish that they might be given before they are bought: but I am afraid that Mr. Strahan will send to you and to the booksellers at the same time. Trade is as diligent as courtesy. I have mentioned all that you recommended. Pray make my compliments to Mrs. Boswell and the younglings. The club has, I think, not yet met. Tell me, and tell me honestly, what you think and what others say of our travels. Shall we touch the continent? I am, dear Sir, your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." In his manuscript diary of this year, there is the following entry?— Nov. 27. Advent Sunday. I considered that this day, being the beginning of the ecclesiastical year, was a proper time for a new course of life. I began to read the Greek Testament regularly at one hundred and sixty verses every Sunday. I read Virgil's Pastorals. This day I began the Acts. In this week I learned to repeat the Pollio and Gallus. I read carelessly the first Georgic." Such evidences of his unceasing ardour, both for "divine and human lore," when advanced into his sixty-fifth year, and notwithstanding his many disturbances from disease, must make us at once honour his spirit, and lament that it should be so grievously clogged by its material tegument. It is remarkable that he was very fond of the precision which calculation produces. Thus we find in one of his manuscript diaries, "12 pages in 4to. Gr. Test. and 30 pages in Beza's folio, comprise the whole in 40 days." It is a very handsome compliment, and I believe you speak sincerely."-BOSWELL. 9 In the newspapers. - BOSWELL. 3 Alluding to a passage in a letter of mine, where, speaking of his Journey to the Hebrides, I say, "But has not The Patriot been an interruption, by the time taken to write it, and the time luxuriously spent in listening to its applauses?" BOSWELL. 4 We had projected a voyage together up the Baltic, and talked of visiting some of the more northern regions. BOSWELL. [JOHNSON TO MR. HOLLYER, of Coventry.1 "Dec. 6. 1774. SIR,I take the liberty of writing to you, with whom I have no acquaintance, and whom I have therefore very little right to trouble; but as it is about a man equally or almost equally related to both of us, I hope you will excuse it. have been read with approbation, perhaps above their merits, but of no great advantage to the writer. She hopes, therefore, that she shall not be considered as too indulgent to vanity, or too studious of interest, if from that labour which has hitherto been chiefly gainful to others, she endeavours to obtain at last some profits to herself and her children. She cannot decently enforce her claim by the praise of her own performances: nor can she suppose, that, by the most artful and laboured address, any additional notice could be procured to a publication, of which her Majesty has condescended to be the patroness." He this year also wrote the Preface to Baretti's "Easy Lessons in Italian and EnWasglish." t "I have lately received a letter from our cousin Thomas Johnson, complaining of great distress, His distress, I suppose, is real; but how can it be prevented? In 1772, about Christinas, I sent him thirty pounds, because he thought he could do something in a shop: many have lived who began with less. In the summer 1773 I sent him ten pounds more, as I had promised him. What was the event? In the spring 1774 he wrote me, and that he was in debt for rent, and in want of clothes. That is, he had in about sixteen months consumed forty pounds, and then writes for more, without any mention of either misconduct or misfortune. This seems to me very strange, and I shall be obliged to you if you can inform me, or make him inform me, how the money was spent ; and give your advice what can be done for him with prudence and efficacy. "He is, I am afraid, not over sensible of the impropriety of his management, for he came to visit me in the summer. I was in the country, which, perhaps, was well for us both: I might have used him harshly, and then have repented. "I have sent a bill for five pounds, which you will be so kind to get discounted for him, and see the money properly applied, and give me your advice what can be done. I am, Sir, your humble servant, SAM. JOHNSON."] -MS. JOHNSON TO MR. HOOLE. "December 19. 1774. "DEAR SIR, - I have returned your play, which you will find underscored with red, where there was a word which I did not like. The red will be washed off with a little water. The plot is so well framed, the intricacy so artful, and the disentanglement so easy, the suspense so affecting, and the passionate parts so properly interposed, that I have no doubt of its success. I am, Sir, your most humble servant, JOHNSON TO BOSWELL. "DEAR SIR, friends. "Jan. 14. 1775. You never did ask for a book by the post till now, servant, SAM. JOHNSON." BOSWELL TO JOHNSON. Edinburgh, Jan. 19. 1775. "Be pleased to accept of my best thanks for your Journey to the Hebrides,' which came to me by last night's post. I did really ask the favour twice; but you have been even with me by granting it so speedily. Bis dat qui cito dat. Though ill of a bad cold, you kept me up the greatest part of last night: for I did not stop till I had read every word of your book. I looked back to our first talking of a visit to the Hebrides, which was many years ago, when sitting by ourselves in the Mitre tavern in London, I think about witching time o' night; and then exulted in contemplating our scheme fulfilled, and a monumentum perenne of it erected by your superior abilities. I shall only say, that your book has afforded me a high gratification. I shall afterwards give you my thoughts on particular passages. In the mean time, I hasten to tell you of your having mistaken two names, which you will correct in London, as I shall do here, that the gentlemen who deserve the valuable compliments which you have paid them may enjoy their honours. In p. 106., for Gordon read Mur"Most of the pieces, as they appeared singly, chison; and in p. 357., for Maclean read Macleod.® SAM. JOHNSON." The first effort of his pen in 1775, was "Proposals for publishing the Works of Mrs. Charlotte Lennox," +5 in three volumes quarto. In his diary, January 2., I find this entry:"Wrote Charlotte's Proposals." But, indeed, the internal evidence would have been quite sufficient. Her claim to the favour of the public was thus enforced : 1 This letter was communicated by Mr. Hollyer's grand. son, the Rev. F. S. Statham, to Miss Langton, and by her, a few months since, to me. — CROKER, 1846. 2 Thomas Johnson seems to have been the sou of Andrew, Dr. Johnson's uncle (antè, p. 198.) Mr. Hollyer was the son of an aunt, one of the Fords. Thomas died at Coventry, in May, 1779, leaving a daughter, Mrs. Whiting, and a grand. daughter, who are remembered in Dr. Johnson's will.CROKER. 3 John Hoole, who from this time forward will be found much in Johnson's society, was the son of a watchmaker, born in Dec. 1727. He was a clerk in the India House, but devoted his leisure to literature. He published translations of Tasso's Jerusalem and Ariosto's Orlandu. He died in 1803.СROXER. 4 Cleonice. - BOSWELL. It was produced at Covent Garden, in March, 1775, but without success; in consequence of which Hoole returned to the publisher a part of the money he had received for the copyright.--WRIGHT. 5 See antė, p. 83. n. 4. — C. 6 These and several other errors which Boswell pointed out, Johnson neglected to correct, and they are, therefore, repeated in all editions of his work. Having obtained a copy "But I am now to apply to you for immediate aid in my profession, which you have never refused to grant when I requested it. I enclose you a petition for Dr. Memis, a physician at Aberdeen, in which Sir John Dalrymple has exerted his talents, and which I am to answer as counsel for the managers of the royal infirmary in that city. Mr. Jopp, the provost, who delivered to you your freedom, is one of my clients, and, as a citizen of Aberdeen, you will support him. "The fact is shortly this. In a translation of the charter of the infirmary from Latin into English, made under the authority of the managers, the same phrase in the original is in one place rendered physician, but when applied to Dr. Memis is rendered doctor of medicine. Dr. Memis complained of this before the translation was printed, but was not indulged with having it altered; and he has brought an action for damages, on account of a supposed injury, as if the designation given to him was an inferior one, tending to make it be supposed he is not a physician, and consequently to hurt his practice. My father has dismissed the action as groundless, and now he has appealed to the whole court." JOHNSON TO BOSWELL. "Jan. 21. 1775. "DEAR SIR, I long to hear how you like the book; it is, I think, much liked here. But Mac pherson is very furious; can you give me any more intelligence about him, or his Fingal? Do what you can, and do it quickly. Is Lord Hailes on our side? Pray let me know what I owed you when I left you, that I may send it to you. "I am going to write about the Americans. If you have picked up any hints among your lawyers, who are great masters of the law of nations, or if your own mind suggests any thing, let me know. But mum, it is a secret. I will send your parcel of books as soon as I can; but I cannot do as I wish. However, you find every thing mentioned in the book, which you recommended. Langton is here; we are all that ever we were. He is a worthy fellow, without malice, though not without resentment. Poor Beauclerk is so ill that his life is thought to be in danger. Lady Di nurses him with very great assiduity. Reynolds has taken too much to strong liquor, and seems to delight in his new character. "This is all the news that I have; but as you love verses, I will send you a few which I made upon Inchkenneth; but remember the condition - you shall not show them, except to Lord Hailes, whom I love better than any man whom I know so little. If he asks you to transcribe them for him, you may do it, but I think he must promise not to let them be copied again, nor to show them as mine. "I have at last sent back Lord Hailes's sheets. I never think about returning them, because I alter nothing. You will see that I might as well have kept them. However, I am ashamed of my delay; and if I have the honour of receiving any more, promise punctually to return them by the next post. Make my compliments to dear Mrs. Boswell, and to Miss Veronica. I am, dear Sir, yours most faithfully, SAM. JOHNSON."6 BOSWELL TO JOHNSON. "Edinburgh, Jan. 27. 1775. "You rate our lawyers here too high, when you call them great masters of the law of nations... As for myself, I am ashamed to say I have read little and thought little on the subject of America. I will be much obliged to you, if you will direct me where I shall find the best information of what is to be said on both sides. It is a subject vast in its present extent and future consequences. The imperfect hints which now float in my mind tend rather to the formation of an opinion that our government has been precipitant and severe in the resolutions taken against the Bostonians. Well do you know that I have no kindness for that race. But nations, or bodies of men, should, as well as individuals, have a fair trial, and not be condemned on character alone. Have we not express contracts with our colonies, which afford a more certain foundation of judgment, than general political speculations on the mutual rights of states and their provinces or colonies? Pray let me know immediately what to read, and I shall diligently endeavour to gather for you any thing that I can find. Is Burke's speech on American taxation published by himself? Is it authentic? I remember to have heard you say, that you had never of Boswell's list of errata, I subjoin it in the Appendix. picture, Mary Queen of Scots, and afterwards favoured me CROKER, 1846. In the court of session of Scotland an action is first tried by one of the judges, who is called the Lord Ordinary; and if either party is dissatisfied, he may appeal to the whole court, consisting of fifteen, the Lord President and fourteen other judges, who have both in and out of court the title of Lords from the name of their estates; as, Lord Auchinleck, Lord Monboddo, &c. - BOSWELL. 2 The pamphlet of " Taxation no Tyranny.”. CROKER. 3 This refers to the coolness alluded to, antè, p. 265. and p. 292 CROKER. 4 It should be recollected that this fanciful description of his friend was given by Johnson after he himself had become a water-drinker. - BoswELL. Johnson had been a waterdrinker ever since 1766, and therefore, that could not be his motive for making, nine years later, an observation on Sir Joshua's "new character." Sir Joshua was always convivial, but in moderation, and this expression of Johnson's was either a mere pleasantry, or arose out of that fancy which he, as Boswell elsewhere tells us, entertained, that every one who drank wine, in any quantity whatsoever, was more or less drunk. CHOKER. with an English translation. Mr. Alderman Boydell, that eminent patron of the arts, has subjoined them to the engraving [by Legat] from my picture :— considered East Indian affairs; though, surely, they are of much importance to Great Britain. Under the recollection of this, I shelter myself from the reproach of ignorance about the Americans. If you write upon the subject, I shall certainly understand it. But, since you seem to expect that I should know something of it, without your instruction, and that my own mind should suggest something, I trust you will put me in the way. What does Becket mean by the Originals of Fingal and other poems of Ossian, which he advertises to have lain in his shop?" JOHNSON TO BOSWELL. "Jan. 28. 1775. "DEAR SIR, -You sent me a case to consider, in which I have no facts but what are against us, nor any principles on which to reason. It is vain to try to write thus without materials. The fact seems to be against you; at least I cannot know or say any thing to the contrary. I am glad that you like the book so well. I hear no more of Mac pherson. I shall long to know what Lord Hailes says of it. Lend it him privately. I shall send the parcel as soon as I can. Make my compliments to Mrs. Boswell. I am, Sir, &c., SAM. JOHNSON." BOSWELL TO JOHNSON. "Edinburgh, Feb. 2. 1775. "As to Macpherson, I am anxious to have from yourself a full and pointed account of what has passed between you and him. It is confidently told here, that before your book came out he sent to you, to let you know that he understood you meant to deny the authenticity of Ossian's poems; that the originals were in his possession; that you might have inspection of them, and might take the evidence of people skilled in the Erse language; and that he hoped, after this fair offer, you would not be so uncandid as to assert that he had refused reasonable proof. That you paid no regard to his message, but published your strong attack upon him; and then he wrote a letter to you, in such terms as he thought suited to one who had not acted as a man of veracity. You may believe it gives me pain to hear your conduct represented as unfavourable, while I can only deny what is said, on the ground that your character refutes it, without having any information to oppose. Let me, I beg it of you, be furnished with a sufficient answer to any calumny upon this occasion. "Lord Hailes writes to me (for we correspond more than we talk together), As to Fingal, I see 1 His lordship, notwithstanding his resolution, did commit his sentiments to paper, and in one of his notes to his Collection of Old Scottish Poetry, says, "to doubt the authenticity of those poems is a refinement in scepticism indeed." -J. BOSWELL, Jun. 2 Meaning, perhaps, that this line would, if taken as a general principle, exclude the expediency of any form of prayer, or the necessity of the priesthood, and consequently impugn our liturgy and church establishment; but Dr. Johnson's verses referred to a special case, not of public but of domestic prayer; and the Church of England, though its liturgy affords admirable helps to private devotion, does not affect to regulate it by any form or rubric; it was, however, perhaps, this criticism which induced Mr. Langton (as I suppose) to substitute for this elegant line the obscure and awkward one, "Sint pro legitimis pura labella sacris." See antè, p. 378. — C. a controversy arising, and purpose to keep out of its way. There is no doubt that I might mention some circumstances; but I do not choose to commit them to paper.'1 What his opinion is I do not know. He says, I am singularly obliged to Dr. Johnson for his accurate and useful criticisms. Had he given some strictures on the general plan of the work, it would have added much to his favours.' He is charmed with your verses on Inchkenneth, says they are very elegant, but bids me tell you, he doubts whether "Legitimas faciunt pectora pura preces ' be according to the rubric, but that is your concern; for, you know, he is a Presbyterian." "Feb. 7. 1775. "MY DEAR BOSWELL, I am surprised that, knowing as you do the disposition of your countrymen to tell lies in favour of each other, you can be at all affected by any reports that circulate among them. Macpherson never in his life offered me a sight of any original, or of any evidence of any kind; but thought only of intimidating me by noise and threats, till my last answer that I would not be deterred from detecting what I thought a cheat, by the menaces of a ruffian· put an end to our correspondence. "Th state of the question is this. He, and Dr. Blair, whom I consider as deceived, say, that he copied the poem from old manuscripts. His copies, if he had them, and I believe him to have none, are nothing. Where are the manuscripts? They can be shown if they exist, but they were never shown. De non existentibus et non apparentibus, says our law, eadem est ratio. No man has a claim to credit upon his own word, when better evidence, if he had it, may be easily produced. But so far as we can find, the Erse language was never written till very lately for the purposes of religion. A nation that 3 The learned and worthy Dr. Lawrence, whom Dr. Johnson respected and loved, as his physician and friend. - Bos WELL. 4 My friend has, in this letter, relied upon my testimony, with a confidence, of which the ground has escaped my recollection. BOSWELL. This, and a subsequent phrase in this letter, must have left poor Boswell sorely perplexed between his desire to stand well with his countrymen, and his inability to deny Johnson's assertion. His evasion is awkward enough, for there are several passages in his own Journal of the Tour which justify Johnson's appeal to him; for instance, Boswell's observation, antè, 20th October p. 382., on the confident carelessness of the statements with which he and Dr. Johnson were so constantly deceived and provoked."-CROKER. |