天天读书网（www.book.d78i.com）整理The Project Gutenberg EBook of Life Of Johnson, Volume 4 (of 6), by BoswellThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and withalmost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away orre-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License includedwith this eBook or online at tTitle: Life Of Johnson, Volume 4 (of 6)Author: BoswellRelease Date: December 1, 2003 [EBook #10357]Language: EnglishCharacter set encoding: ASCII*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE OF JOHNSON, VOLUME 4 (OF 6) ***Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Charlie Kirschner and the Online DistributedProofreading Team.BOSWELL'SLIFE OF JOHNSONINCLUDING BOSWELL'S JOURNAL OF A TOUR TO THE HEBRIDESAND JOHNSON'S DIARY OF A JOURNEY INTO NORTH WALESEDITED BYGEORGE BIRKBECK HILL, D.C.L.PEMBROKE COLLEGE, OXFORDIN SIX VOLUMESVOLUME IV.--LIFE (1780-1784)CONTENTS OF VOL. IV.LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D. (1780-DEC. 13, 1784)APPENDICES:A. ALTERCATION BETWEEN DR. JOHNSON AND DEAN BARNARD.B. JOHNSON AND PRIESTLEY.C. THE CLUB IN IVY-LANE.D. THE ESSEX HEAD CLUB.E. MISS BURNEY'S ACCOUNT OF JOHNSON'S LAST DAYS.F. NOTES ON JOHNSON'S WILL, ETC.G. NOTES ON BOSWELL'S NOTE.H. NOTES ON BOSWELL'S NOTE.I. PARR'S EPITAPH ON JOHNSON.FOOTNOTES._THE LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D._Being disappointed in my hopes of meeting Johnson this year, so that Icould hear none of his admirable sayings, I shall compensate for thiswant[1] by inserting a collection of them, for which I am indebted to myworthy friend Mr. Langton, whose kind communications have beenseparately interwoven in many parts of this work. Very few articles ofthis collection were committed to writing by himself, he not having thathabit; which he regrets, and which those who know the numerousopportunities he had of gathering the rich fruits of _Johnsonian_ witand wisdom, must ever regret. I however found, in conversations withhim, that a good store of _Johnsoniana_ treasured in his mind[2]; and Icompared it to Herculaneum, or some old Roman field, which when dug,fully rewards the labour employed. The authenticity of every article isunquestionable. For the expression, I, who wrote them down in hispresence, am partly answerable.'Theocritus is not deserving of very high respect as a writer; as to thepastoral part, Virgil is very evidently superiour. He wrote when therehad been a larger influx of knowledge into the world than whenTheocritus lived. Theocritus does not abound in description, thoughliving in a beautiful country: the manners painted are coarse and gross.Virgil has much more description, more sentiment, more of Nature, andmore of art. Some of the most excellent parts of Theocritus are, whereCastor and Pollux, going with the other Argonauts, land on the Bebryciancoast, and there fall into a dispute with Amycus, the King of thatcountry; which is as well conducted as Euripides could have done it; andthe battle is well related. Afterwards they carry off a woman, whose twobrothers come to recover her, and expostulate with Castor and Pollux ontheir injustice; but they pay no regard to the brothers, and a battleensues, where Castor and his brother are triumphant. Theocritus seemsnot to have seen that the brothers have the advantage in their argumentover his Argonaut heroes. _The Sicilian Gossips_ is a piece of merit.''Callimachus is a writer of little excellence. The chief thing to belearned from him is his account of Rites and Mythology; which, thoughdesirable to be known for the sake of understanding other parts ofancient authours, is the least pleasing or valuable part of theirwritings.''Mattaire's account of the Stephani[3] is a heavy book. He seems to havebeen a puzzle-headed man, with a large share of scholarship, but withlittle geometry or logick in his head, without method, and possessed oflittle genius. He wrote Latin verses from time to time, and published aset in his old age, which he called '_Senilia_;' in which he shews solittle learning or taste in writing, as to make _Carteret_ a dactyl[4].In matters of genealogy it is necessary to give the bare names as theyare; but in poetry, and in prose of any elegance in the writing, theyrequire to have inflection given to them. His book of the Dialects[5] isa sad heap of confusion; the only way to write on them is to tabulatethem with Notes, added at the bottom of the page, and references.''It may be questioned, whether there is not some mistake as to themethods of employing the poor, seemingly on a supposition that there isa certain portion of work left undone for want of persons to do it; butif that is otherwise, and all the materials we have are actually workedup, or all the manufactures we can use or dispose of are alreadyexecuted, then what is given to the poor, who are to be set at work,must be taken from some who now have it; as time must be taken forlearning, according to Sir William Petty's observation, a certain partof those very materials that, as it is, are properly worked up, must bespoiled by the unskilfulness of novices. We may apply to well-meaning,but misjudging persons in particulars of this nature, what Giannone[6]said to a monk, who wanted what he called to _convert_ him: _"Tu seisanto, ma tu non sei filosofo"_--It is an unhappy circumstance that onemight give away five hundred pounds in a year to those that importune inthe streets, and not do any good[7].''There is nothing more likely to betray a man into absurdity than_condescension_; when he seems to suppose his understanding too powerfulfor his company[8].''Having asked Mr. Langton if his father and mother had sat for theirpictures, which he thought it right for each generation of a family todo, and being told they had opposed it, he said, "Sir, among theanfractuosities[9] of the human mind, I know not if it may not be one,that there is a superstitious reluctance to sit for a picture."''John Gilbert Cooper[10] related, that soon after the publication of his_Dictionary_, Garrick being asked by Johnson what people said of it,told him, that among other animadversions, it was objected that he citedauthorities which were beneath the dignity of such a work, and mentionedRichardson. "Nay, (said Johnson,) I have done worse than that: I havecited _thee_, David[11]."''Talking of expence, he observed, with what munificence a great merchantwill spend his money, both from his having it at command, and from hisenlarged views by calculation of a good effect upon the whole. "Whereas(said he) you will hardly ever find a country gentleman who is not agood deal disconcerted at an unexpected occasion for his being obligedto lay out ten pounds[12]."''When in good humour he would talk of his own writings with a wonderfulfrankness and candour, and would even criticise them with the closestseverity. One day, having read over one of his Ramblers, Mr. Langtonasked him, how he liked that paper; he shook his head, and answered,"too wordy." At another time, when one was reading his tragedy of_Irene_ to a company at a house in the country, he left the room; andsomebody having asked him the reason of this, he replied, Sir, I thoughtit had been better[13].''Talking of a point of delicate scrupulosity[14] of moral conduct, hesaid to Mr. Langton, "Men of harder minds than ours will do many thingsfrom which you and I would shrink; yet, Sir, they will perhaps do moregood in life than we. But let us try to help one another. If there be awrong twist it may be set right. It is not probable that two people canbe wrong the same way."''Of the Preface to Capel's _Shakspeare_, he said, "If the man would havecome to me, I would have endeavoured to endow his purposes with words;for as it is, he doth gabble monstrously[15]."''He related, that he had once in a dream a contest of wit with someother person, and that he was very much mortified by imagining that hisopponent had the better of him. "Now, (said he,) one may mark here theeffect of sleep in weakening the power of reflection; for had not myjudgement failed me, I should have seen, that the wit of this supposedantagonist, by whose superiority I felt myself depressed, was as muchfurnished by me, as that which I thought I had been uttering in my owncharacter."''One evening in company, an ingenious and learned gentleman read to hima letter of compliment which he had received from one of the Professorsof a foreign University. Johnson, in an irritable fit, thinking therewas too much ostentation, said, "I never receive any of these tributesof applause from abroad. One instance I recollect of a foreignpublication, in which mention is made of _l'illustre Lockman_[16]."''Of Sir Joshua Reynolds, he said, "Sir, I know no man who has passedthrough life with more observation than Reynolds."''He repeated to Mr. Langton, with great energy, in the Greek, ourSAVIOUR'S gracious expression concerning the forgiveness of MaryMagdalen, "[Greek: Ae pistis sou sesoke se poreuou eis eiraeuaeu.] Thyfaith hath saved thee; go in peace[17]." He said, "the manner of thisdismission is exceedingly affecting."''He thus defined the difference between physical and moral truth;"Physical truth, is, when you tell a thing as it actually is. Moraltruth, is, when you tell a thing sincerely and precisely as it appearsto you. I say such a one walked across the street; if he really did so,I told a physical truth. If I thought so, though I should have beenmistaken, I told a moral truth."''Huggins, the translator of Ariosto, and Mr. Thomas Warton, in the earlypart of his literary life, had a dispute concerning that poet, of whomMr. Warton in his _Observations on Spenser's Fairy Queen_, gave someaccount, which Huggins attempted to answer with violence, and said, "Iwill _militate_ no longer against his _nescience_." Huggins was masterof the subject, but wanted expression. Mr. Warton's knowledge of it wasthen imperfect, but his manner lively and elegant[18]. Johnson said, "Itappears to me, that Huggins has ball without powder, and Warton powderwithout ball."''Talking of the Farce of _High Life below Stairs_[19], he said, "Here isa Farce, which is really very diverting when you see it acted; and yetone may read it, and not know that one has been reading any thingat all."''He used at one time to go occasionally to the green room of Drury-laneTheatre[20], where he was much regarded by the players, and was veryeasy and facetious with them. He had a very high opinion of Mrs. Clive'scomick powers, and conversed more with her than with any of them. Hesaid, "Clive, Sir, is a good thing to sit by; she always understandswhat you say[21]." And she said of him, "I love to sit by Dr. Johnson;he always entertains me." One night, when _The Recruiting Officer_ wasacted, he said to Mr. Holland[22], who had been expressing anapprehension that Dr. Johnson would disdain the works of Farquhar; "No,Sir, I think Farquhar a man whose writings have considerable merit."''His friend Garrick was so busy in conducting the drama, that they couldnot have so much intercourse as Mr. Garrick used to profess an anxiouswish that there should be[23]. There might, indeed, be something in thecontemptuous severity as to the merit of acting, which his old preceptornourished in himself, that would mortify Garrick after the greatapplause which he received from the audience. For though Johnson said ofhim, "Sir, a man who has a nation to admire him every night, may well beexpected to be somewhat elated[24];" yet he would treat theatricalmatters with a ludicrous slight. He mentioned one evening, "I met Davidcoming off the stage, drest in a woman's riding-hood, when he acted in_The Wonder_[25]; I came full upon him, and I believe he was notpleased."''Once he asked Tom Davies, whom he saw drest in a fine suit of clothes,"And what art thou to-night?" Tom answered, "The Thane of Ross[26];"(which it will be recollected is a very inconsiderable character.) "Obrave!" said Johnson.''Of Mr. Longley, at Rochester, a gentleman of very considerablelearning, whom Dr. Johnson met there, he said, "My heart warms towardshim. I was surprised to find in him such a nice acquaintance with themetre in the learned languages; though I was somewhat mortified that Ihad it not so much to myself, as I should have thought[27]."''Talking of the minuteness with which people will record the sayings ofeminent persons, a story was told, that when Pope was on a visit toSpence[28] at Oxford, as they looked from the window they saw aGentleman Commoner, who was just come in from riding, amusing himselfwith whipping at a post. Pope took occasion to say, "That younggentleman seems to have little to do." Mr. Beauclerk observed, "Then, tobe sure, Spence turned round and wrote that down;" and went on to say toDr. Johnson, "Pope, Sir, would have said the same of you, if he had seenyou distilling[29]." JOHNSON. "Sir, if Pope had told me of mydistilling, I would have told him of his grotto[30]."''He would allow no settled indulgence of idleness upon principle, andalways repelled every attempt to urge excuses for it, A friend one daysuggested, that it was not wholesome to study soon after dinner.JOHNSON. "Ah, Sir, don't give way to such a fancy. At one time of mylife I had taken it into my head that it was not wholesome to studybetween breakfast and dinner[31]."''Mr. Beauclerk one day repeated to Dr. Johnson Pope's lines,"Let modest Foster, if he will, excelTen metropolitans in preaching well:" [32]Then asked the Doctor, "Why did Pope say this?" JOHNSON. 'Sir, he hopedit would vex somebody.''Dr. Goldsmith, upon occasion of Mrs. Lennox's bringing out a play[33],said to Dr. Johnson at the CLUB, that a person had advised him to go andhiss it, because she had attacked Shakspeare in her book called_Shakspeare Illustrated_[34]. JOHNSON. "And did not you tell him he wasa rascal[35]?" GOLDSMITH. "No, Sir, I did not. Perhaps he might not meanwhat he said." JOHNSON. "Nay, Sir, if he lied, it is a different thing."Colman slily said, (but it is believed Dr. Johnson did not hear him,)"Then the proper expression should have been,--Sir, if you don't lie,you're a rascal."''His affection for Topham Beauclerk was so great, that when Beauclerkwas labouring under that severe illness which at last occasioned hisdeath, Johnson said, (with a voice faultering with emotion,) "Sir, Iwould walk to the extent of the diameter of the earth to saveBeauclerk[36]."''One night at the CLUB he produced a translation of an Epitaph whichLord Elibank had written in English, for his Lady, and requested ofJohnson to turn into Latin for him. Having read _Domina de North etGray_, he said to Dyer, "You see, Sir, what barbarisms we are compelledto make use of, when modern titles are to be specifically mentioned inLatin inscriptions." When he had read it once aloud, and there had beena general approbation expressed by the company, he addressed himself toMr. Dyer in particular, and said, "Sir, I beg to have your judgement,for I know your nicety[37]." Dyer then very properly desired to read itover again; which having done, he pointed out an incongruity in one ofthe sentences. Johnson immediately assented to the observation, andsaid, "Sir, this is owing to an alteration of a part of the sentence,from the form in which I had first written it; and I believe, Sir, youmay have remarked, that the making a partial change, without a dueregard to the general structure of the sentence, is a very frequentcause of errour in composition."''Johnson was well acquainted with Mr. Dossie, authour of a treatise onAgriculture[38]; and said of him, "Sir, of the objects which the Societyof Arts have chiefly in view, the chymical effects of bodies operatingupon other bodies, he knows more than almost any man." Johnson, in orderto give Mr. Dossie his vote to be a member of this Society, paid up anarrear which had run on for two years. On this occasion he mentioned acircumstance as characteristick of the Scotch. One of that nation, (saidhe,) who had been a candidate, against whom I had voted, came up to mewith a civil salutation. Now, Sir, this is their way. An Englishmanwould have stomached it, and been sulky, and never have taken furthernotice of you; but a Scotchman, Sir, though you vote nineteen timesagainst him, will accost you with equal complaisance after each time,and the twentieth time, Sir, he will get your vote.''Talking on the subject of toleration, one day when some friends werewith him in his study, he made his usual remark, that the State has aright to regulate the religion of the people, who are the children ofthe State[39]. A clergyman having readily acquiesced in this, Johnson,who loved discussion, observed, "But, Sir, you must go round to otherStates than our own. You do not know what a Bramin has to say forhimself[40]. In short, Sir, I have got no further than this: Every manhas a right to utter what he thinks truth, and every other man has aright to knock him down for it. Martyrdom is the test[41]."''A man, he observed, should begin to write soon; for, if he waits tillhis judgement is matured, his inability, through want of practice toexpress his conceptions, will make the disproportion so great betweenwhat he sees, and what he can attain, that he will probably bediscouraged from writing at all[42]. As a proof of the justness of thisremark, we may instance what is related of the great Lord Granville[43];that after he had written his letter, giving an account of the battle ofDettingen, he said, "Here is a letter, expressed in terms not goodenough for a tallow-chandler to have used.'"'Talking of a Court-martial that was sitting upon a very momentouspublick occasion, he expressed much doubt of an enlightened decision;and said, that perhaps there was not a member of it, who in the wholecourse of his life, had ever spent an hour by himself in balancingprobabilities[44].''Goldsmith one day brought to the CLUB a printed Ode, which he, withothers, had been hearing read by its authour in a publick room at therate of five shillings each for admission[45]. One of the company havingread it aloud, Dr. Johnson said, "Bolder words and more timorousmeaning, I think never were brought together."''Talking of Gray's _Odes_, he said, "They are forced plants raised in ahot-bed[46]; and they are poor plants; they are but cucumbers afterall." A gentleman present, who had been running down Ode-writing ingeneral, as a bad species of poetry, unluckily said, "Had they beenliterally cucumbers, they had been better things than Odes."--"Yes, Sir,(said Johnson,) for a _hog_."''His distinction of the different degrees of attainment of learning wasthus marked upon two occasions. Of Queen Elizabeth he said, "She hadlearning enough to have given dignity to a bishop;" and of Mr. ThomasDavies he said, "Sir, Davies has learning enough to give credit to aclergyman[47]."''He used to quote, with great warmth, the saying of Aristotle recordedby Diogenes Laertius[48]; that there was the same difference between onelearned and unlearned, as between the living and the dead.''It is very remarkable, that he retained in his memory very slight andtrivial, as well as important things[49]. As an instance of this, itseems that an inferiour domestick of the Duke of Leeds had attempted tocelebrate his Grace's marriage in such homely rhimes as he could make;and this curious composition having been sung to Dr. Johnson he got itby heart, and used to repeat it in a very pleasant manner. Two of thestanzas were these:--"When the Duke of Leeds shall married beTo a fine young lady of high quality,How happy will that gentlewoman be