any other, that of seeing your presence gives great pleasure to a friend; for such I most sincerely am to you, "H. BOOTHBYR "DEAR SIR,—I have company, from whom I run just to say I have often rejoiced to see your hand, but never so much as now. Come and see me as soon as you can; and I shall forgive an absence which has indeed given me no small disturbance. I am, dear sir, your affectionate friend, "H. BOOTHBY.' LETTER XIX. 9700 * Toni Two alegr "DEAR SIR,-Perhaps you are the only author in England who could make a play a very acceptable present to me. But you have; and I assure you I shall leave your Irene behind me when I go hence in my little repository of valuable things. Miss Fitzherbert is much delighted, and desires her best thanks. The author's company would have more enhanced the value of the present; but th that we will hope for soon. I am much obliged to you for the good accoun of the Lawrences, and for many things which increase and confirm me in being, dear sir, your affectionate friend, 1 LETTER XX. 66 HT my regard, 09 120 lo H. BOOTH BY. fod 13.92 1J07T oberied to "15th May, 1755A "MY GOOD FRIEND,-I hoped to have seen you here last night, as the doctor told me he had informed you I was in town again. It is hard to be suspected of coldness and indifference at the very time when one is, and with reason, most strongly sensible of the contrary. From your own kind conduct to me in particular lately, you who are accustomed to make just inferences and conclusions, might have easily made the true ones, and have discovered there was too much to be expressed 3. To a less penetrating person this might occasion a surprise of neglect; but I could not have imagined you would or could have been so deceived. My friendship is a poor acquisition; 1 *** [This undated note seems to imply that there had been an interruption of their intercourse, occasioned either by some misunderstanding or by illness; if by the latter, the date was probably in the winter of 1755.-ED.] 2 [Miss Boothby probably left town before Christmas, 1755, and did not return till about May, 1756-ED.] 3 [These expressions, it must be owned, seem the age n to partake of the tender-but and circumstances of the parties, and the context of other letters, induce the editor to attribute these and certain similar expressions which he will soon observe in Dr. Johnson's answers, to the enthusiastic style in which Miss Boothby and her friends indulged. See particularly the next letters of the lady, in which it appears that she was endeavouring to proselyte Johnson to her peculiar views of some religious subjects.-ED.] but you see it is so far valuable that it is firm and constant. Then you will say it is not a poor acquisition. Well, be it what it will, be assured you have as far as it can ever extend either to please or serve you. But do not suspect me. I have an opportunity just now to send this therefore no more till I see you; except that I am, indeed with much esteem, gratitude, and affection, dear sir, your friend, "H. BOOTHBY. good way. She has the "I hope I am better, and Miss F. in a good way. 956 measles." 00 * "Tissington, 15th June, 1755. "DEAR SIR,—That we arrived safe here, and had every thing to make our journey easy and pleasant, is most of what I have time to say, except that amidst the smiles of the country, a country I love, my native one, and the smiles of my children, whom I love much more, am sensible you are a hundred and forty miles distant. This is not like forgetting you. At present I am the worse for the fatigue of travelling; which, contrary to custom, was a great one to me: but I hope this pure, sweet air, will have a great influence upon my health when I have recovered my fatigue. Your little friend is I think the better for her four days' exercise. You were the subject of our conversation many times on the road, and will often be so. I hope I shall soon find you think of us. I can never forget the hours you generously bestowed on one who has no claim or merit, but that of being, dear sir, with much esteem, your grateful and affectionate friend, "H. BOOTH BY. "Miss Fitzherbert's love to you; no small treasure, I assure you." LETTER XXII. 1 "Tissington, 4th July, 1755. "Two letters from Mr. Johnson! Why did I not reply to the first kind greeting before he answered my letter? I don't love to be outdone in kindness; and I was both angry and pleased when I saw your second letter, my good friend. But the truth is I have been lazy. It had been long since I had known what quiet was; and I found in myself, both inwardly and outwardly, a strong inclination to enjoy it. I read your letters over and over; but till now I could "not sit down to write to you. It is true I am abstracted from com mon life, as you say. What is common life but a repetition of the same things over and over? And is it made up of such things as a thinking, reflecting being can bear the repetition of over and over long without weariness? I have found not; and therefore my view is turned to the things of that life which must be begun here, is ever 1 9780 new and increasing, and will be continued eternally hereafter. Yet, mistake me not, I am so far from excluding social duties from this life that I am sure they are a part of it, and can only be duly and truly exerted in it. Common life I call not social life; but in general that dissipation and wandering which leads from the duties of it. While I was in town I did not feel myself as a part of that multitude around me. The objects I saw at dinners, &c. except yourself, when they had any of my attention, drew it only to pity their want of attention to what chiefly concerned their happiness; and oftener they were as passing straws on the surface of a Dovedale' stream", and went as lightly and as quick over the surface of my mind. My importance here I wish was greater, if it might please God to grant me another wish, that of making one soul better and happier. I think reputation and dignity have no value, but as far as they may be made means of influencing and leading into virtue and piety. Mankind of all degrees are naturally the same: manners differ from different causes, but not men. A miner in Derbyshire, under the appearance of simplicity and honesty, has perhaps more art than the most accomplished statesman. We are all alike bad, my dear friend, depend upon it, till a change is wrought upon us, not by our own reasoning, but by the same Divine Power who first created and pronounced all he had made very good. From this happy state we all plainly fell and to it can we only be restored by the second Adam, who wrought out a full and complete redemption and restoration for us. Is this enthusiasm? Indeed it is truth: and I trust you v will some time be sure it is so; and then, and not till then, will you be happy, as ardently wish you. I am much better. My cough is now nothing, and my voice almost clear. I am weak yet, too weak to attempt to see Dovedale. But keep your resolution, and come and see us; and I hope I shall be able to walk there with you. I give you leave to fear the loss of me, but doubt not in the least of my affection and friendship; this I cannot forgive. Miss Fitzherbert says she does not forget her promise. She is studying your Ramblers to form her style, and hopes soon to give you a specimen of good writing. She is very well, and flying about the fields every fair day, as the rest are. "Let me hear from you as soon as you can. I love your letters, and always rejoice to find myself in your thoughts. You are very frequently in mine; and seldom without a petition to heaven for you. Poor is that love which is bounded by the narrow space of this tem poral scene; mine extends to an eternity; and I cannot desire any thing less for you, for whom I have the sincerest regard, than end [Tissington is within a walk of Dovedale, one side of which belongs to the Fitzherberts.-ED.T less happiness; as a proof that I am truly, dear sir, friend, your affectionate "H. BOOTHBY. "The great Dictionary is placed in full view, on a desk in my own room. some disappointments have met Williams. I am sorry you ha next edition1. Best wishes to Miss the "Do not say you have heard from me at the good doctor's2. should write to him, but have laid out all my present stock of time on you, O chaises and such things are only transient disquiets. I have, on a fine still day, observed the water as smooth as glass, suddenly curled on the surface by a little gust of air, and presently still and smooth again. No more than this are my chaise troubles. Like Hamlet's Ghost, 'Tis here-'tis gone,' LETTER XXIII. “Tissington, 23d July, 1755., JUDEARTSIR,-To answer your questions-I can say that I love your letters, because it is very true that I do love them; and I do not know any one reason why I may not declare this truth; so much do I think it would be for my reputation, that I should choose to declare it, not only to you, but to all who know you. Ask yourself why I value your affection; for you cannot be so much a stranger to yourself as not to know many reasons why I ought highly to value it; and I hope you are not so much a stranger to me as not to know I would always do as I ought, though, perhaps, in this case the doing so has not the merit of volition for in truth I cannot help it. So much in reply to the two first sentences in your last letter. It is no unpleasing circumstance to me that the same messenger who has taken a letter to the post-house at Ashbourn from me to you, has twice brought back one from you to me. Possibly, while I am now replying to your last, you may be giving me a reply to mine again. Both ways I shall be pleased, whether I happen to be beforehand with you, or you again with me. } Suran 1 2D ; qudebnɔingg 1 “I am desirous that in the great and one thing necessary you should think as I do; and I am persuaded you some time will. I will not enter into a controversy with you. I am sure I never can this way convince you in any point wherein we may differ; nor can any mortal convince me, by human arguments, that there is not a divine evidence for divine truths. Such the apostle plainly defines faith to be, when he tells us it is the substance of things hoped for, the evim of bug19 90 [What these were do not appear. See ante, vol. ii p. 288. n.~ED.] 2 [Dr. Lawrence.-ED.] 3 [It must not be inferred from this that Dr. Johnson had in his letter maintained a contrary doctrine. He probably combated some of Miss Boothby's peculiar tenets, which she defends, as is common in such controversies, by assertions which her antagonist would not have thought of denying.-ED.] dence of things not seen.' Human testimony can go no farther than Divine and spiritual things are things seen and visible to the senses. far above; and what says St. Paul? things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the spirit of God. Do read the whole chapter; and, if you please, Mr. Romaine's Sermon, or Discourse, lately published, On the benefit which the Holy Spirit of God is of to man in his journey through life. I utterly disclaim all faith that does not work by love, love that Takes every creature in of every kind;” " "T B07 drid and believe from my soul that in every sect and denomination of Christians there are numbers, great numbers, who will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the promise you quote be gloriously fulfilled. I believe and rejoice in this assurance of happiness for ten thousand times ten thousand, thousand, &c. of every language and nation and people. I am convinced that many true Christians differ; and if such do differ, it can be only in words, with regard to which great caution should be used. J "I continue as well in health as I told I you was in last. Mr. Fitzherbert has put off his coming here till August. My dear Miss is very well. She bids me send you her love, and tell you she must consider some time about writing to you before she can execute properly. Po strod I "Do not treat me with so much deference. I have no claim to it; and, from a friend, it looks too like ceremony-a thing I am at this time more particularly embarrassed with. Perhaps you never knew a person less apt to take offence than myself; and if it was otherwise in general, I am sure you would not have cause to apprehend the giving it, but would always be a particular exception to my taking it. "See how far the pleasure of conversing with you has overcome my present dislike to writing; and let it be a farther proof to you of my being, dear sir, your affectionate friend, and obliged humble "H. BOOTHBY 1. How does Miss Williams and her father? My regards to her.' servant, LETTER XXIV. "Tissington, 29th July, 1755. “Dear sir,—As it happened your rebuke for my silence was so timed as to give me pleasure. Your complaints would have been very painful to me had I not been pretty certain that before I read them you would receive a letter which would take away all cause for them. I could not have borne them under the least conscious At the end of this letter Dr. Johnson wrote, answered. WRIGHT.SPA |