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elapse before there shall appear another man with a power ofversification equal to that of Pope.' That power must undoubtedly beallowed its due share in enhancing the value of his captivatingcomposition.Johnson, who had done liberal justice to Warburton in his edition of_Shakspeare_[165], which was published during the life of that powerfulwriter, with still greater liberality[166] took an opportunity, in theLife of Pope, of paying the tribute due to him when he was no longer in'high place,' but numbered with the dead[167].It seems strange, that two such men as Johnson and Warburton, who livedin the same age and country, should not only not have been in any degreeof intimacy, but been almost personally unacquainted. But suchinstances, though we must wonder at them, are not rare. If I am rightlyinformed, after a careful enquiry, they never met but once, which was atthe house of Mrs. French, in London, well known for her elegantassemblies, and bringing eminent characters together. The interviewproved to be mutually agreeable[168].I am well informed, that Warburton said of Johnson, 'I admire him, but Icannot bear his style:' and that Johnson being told of this, said, 'Thatis exactly my case as to him[169].' The manner in which he expressed hisadmiration of the fertility of Warburton's genius and of the variety ofhis materials was, 'The table is always full, Sir. He brings things fromthe north, and the south, and from every quarter. In his _DivineLegation_, you are always entertained. He carries you round and round,without carrying you forward to the point; but then you have no wish tobe carried forward.' He said to the Reverend Mr. Strahan, 'Warburton isperhaps the last man who has written with a mind full of reading andreflection[170].'It is remarkable, that in the Life of Broome[171], Johnson takes noticeof Dr. Warburton using a mode of expression which he himself used, andthat not seldom, to the great offence of those who did not know him.Having occasion to mention a note, stating the different parts whichwere executed by the associated translators of _The Odyssey_, he says,'Dr. Warburton told me, in his warm language, that he thought therelation given in the note _a lie_. The language is _warm_ indeed; and,I must own, cannot be justified in consistency with a decent regard tothe established forms of speech. Johnson had accustomed himself to usethe word _lie_[172], to express a mistake or an errour in relation; inshort, when the _thing was not so as told_, though the relator did not_mean_ to deceive. When he thought there was intentional falsehood inthe relator, his expression was, 'He _lies_, and he _knows_ he _lies_.'Speaking of Pope's not having been known to excel in conversation,Johnson observes, that 'traditional memory retains no sallies ofraillery, or[173] sentences of observation; nothing either pointed orsolid, wise or merry[174]; and that one apophthegm only isrecorded[175].' In this respect, Pope differed widely from Johnson,whose conversation was, perhaps, more admirable than even his writings,however excellent. Mr. Wilkes has, however, favoured me with onerepartee of Pope, of which Johnson was not informed. Johnson, afterjustly censuring him for having 'nursed in his mind a foolish dis-esteemof Kings,' tells us, 'yet a little regard shewn him by the Prince ofWales melted his obduracy; and he had not much to say when he was askedby his Royal Highness, _how he could love a Prince, while he dislikedKings_[176]?' The answer which Pope made, was, 'The young lion isharmless, and even playful; but when his claws are full grown he becomescruel, dreadful, and mischievous.'But although we have no collection of Pope's sayings, it is nottherefore to be concluded, that he was not agreeable in socialintercourse; for Johnson has been heard to say, that 'the happiestconversation is that of which nothing is distinctly remembered but ageneral effect of pleasing impression.' The late Lord Somerville[177],who saw much both of great and brilliant life, told me, that he haddined in company with Pope, and that after dinner the _little man_, ashe called him, drank his bottle of Burgundy, and was exceedingly gay andentertaining.I cannot withhold from my great friend a censure of at least culpableinattention, to a nobleman, who, it has been shewn[178], behaved to himwith uncommon politeness. He says, 'Except Lord Bathurst, none of Pope'snoble friends were such as that a good man would wish to have hisintimacy with them known to posterity[179].' This will not apply to LordMansfield, who was not ennobled in Pope's life-time; but Johnson shouldhave recollected, that Lord Marchmont was one of those noble friends. Heincludes his Lordship along with Lord Bolingbroke, in a charge ofneglect of the papers which Pope left by his will; when, in truth, as Imyself pointed out to him, before he wrote that poet's life, the paperswere 'committed to _the sole care and judgement_ of Lord Bolingbroke,unless he (Lord Bolingbroke) shall not survive me;' so that LordMarchmont had no concern whatever with them[180]. After the firstedition of the _Lives_, Mr. Malone, whose love of justice is equal tohis accuracy, made, in my hearing, the same remark to Johnson; yet heomitted to correct the erroneous statement[181]. These particulars Imention, in the belief that there was only forgetfulness in my friend;but I owe this much to the Earl of Marchmont's reputation, who, werethere no other memorials, will be immortalised by that line of Pope, inthe verses on his Grotto:'And the bright flame was shot through Marchmont's soul.'_Various Readings in the Life of POPE._'[Somewhat free] _sufficiently bold_ in his criticism.'All the gay [niceties] _varieties_ of diction.'Strikes the imagination with far [more] _greater_ force.'It is [probably] _certainly_ the noblest version of poetry which theworld has ever seen.'Every sheet enabled him to write the next with [less trouble] _morefacility_.'No man sympathizes with [vanity, depressed] _the sorrows of vanity_.'It had been [criminal] _less easily excused_.'When he [threatened to lay down] _talked of laying down_ his pen.'Society [is so named emphatically in opposition to] _politicallyregulated, is a state contra-distinguished from_ a state of nature.'A fictitious life of an [absurd] _infatuated_ scholar.'A foolish [contempt, disregard,] _disesteem_ of Kings.'His hopes and fears, his joys and sorrows [were like those of othermortals] _acted strongly upon his mind_.'Eager to pursue knowledge and attentive to [accumulate] _retain it_.'A mind [excursive] _active_, ambitious, and adventurous.'In its [noblest] _widest_ researches still longing to go forward.'He wrote in such a manner as might expose him to few [neglects]_hazards_.'The [reasonableness] _justice_ of my determination.'A [favourite] _delicious_ employment of the poets.'More terrifick and more powerful [beings] _phantoms_ perform on thestormy ocean.'The inventor of [those] _this_ petty [beings] _nation_.'The [mind] _heart_ naturally loves truth.'In the Life of ADDISON we find an unpleasing account of his having lentSteele a hundred pounds, and 'reclaimed his loan by an execution[182].'In the new edition of the _Biographia Britannica_, the authenticity ofthis anecdote is denied. But Mr. Malone has obliged me with thefollowing note concerning it:--'Many persons having doubts concerning this fact, I applied to Dr.Johnson to learn on what authority he asserted it. He told me, he had itfrom Savage, who lived in intimacy with Steele, and who mentioned, thatSteele told him the story with tears in his eyes.--Ben Victor[183], Dr.Johnson said, likewise informed him of this remarkable transaction, fromthe relation of Mr. Wilkes[184] the comedian, who was also an intimateof Steele's.--Some in defence of Addison, have said, that "the act wasdone with the good natured view of rousing Steele, and correcting thatprofusion which always made him necessitous."--"If that were the case,(said Johnson,) and that he only wanted to alarm Steele, he wouldafterwards have _returned_ the money to his friend, which it is notpretended he did."--"This too, (he added,) might be retorted by anadvocate for Steele, who might alledge, that he did not repay the loan_intentionally_, merely to see whether Addison would be mean andungenerous enough to make use of legal process to recover it. But ofsuch speculations there is no end: we cannot dive into the hearts ofmen; but their actions are open to observation[185]."'I then mentioned to him that some people thought that Mr. Addison'scharacter was so pure, that the fact, _though true_, ought to have beensuppressed[186]. He saw no reason for this[187]. "If nothing but thebright side of characters should be shewn, we should sit down indespondency, and think it utterly impossible to imitate them in _anything_. The sacred writers (he observed) related the vicious as well asthe virtuous actions of men; which had this moral effect, that it keptmankind from _despair_, into which otherwise they would naturally fall,were they not supported by the recollection that others had offendedlike themselves, and by penitence and amendment of life had beenrestored to the favour of Heaven."'E.M.''March 15, 1782.'The last paragraph of this note is of great importance; and I requestthat my readers may consider it with particular attention. It will beafterwards referred to in this work[188]._Various Readings in the Life of_ ADDISON.'[But he was our first great example] _He was, however, one of ourearliest examples_ of correctness.And [overlook] _despise_ their masters.His instructions were such as the [state] _character_ of his [own time]_readers_ made [necessary] _proper_.His purpose was to [diffuse] _infuse_ literary curiosity by gentle andunsuspected conveyance [among] _into_ the gay, the idle, andthe wealthy.Framed rather for those that [wish] _are learning_ to write.Domestick [manners] _scenes_.'In his Life of PARNELL, I wonder that Johnson omitted to insert anEpitaph which he had long before composed for that amiable man, withoutever writing it down, but which he was so good as, at my request, todictate to me, by which means it has been preserved.'_Hic requiescit_ THOMAS PARNELL, _S.T.P.Qui sacerdos pariter et poeta,Utrasque partes ita implevit,Ut neque sacerdoti suavitas poetae,Neo poetae sacerdotis sanctitas_[189], _deesset_.'_Various Readings in the Life of_ PARNELL.'About three years [after] _afterwards_.[Did not much want] _was in no great need of_ improvement.But his prosperity _did not last long_ [was clouded by that which tookaway all his powers of enjoying either profit or pleasure, the death ofhis wife, whom he is said to have lamented with such sorrow, as hastenedhis end[190].] His end, whatever was the cause, was now approaching.In the Hermit, the [composition] _narrative_, as it is less airy, isless pleasing.'In the Life of BLACKMORE, we find that writer's reputation generouslycleared by Johnson from the cloud of prejudice which the malignity ofcontemporary wits had raised around it[191]. In this spirited exertionof justice, he has been imitated by Sir Joshua Reynolds, in his praiseof the architecture of Vanburgh[192].We trace Johnson's own character in his observations on Blackmore's'magnanimity as an authour.' 'The incessant attacks of his enemies,whether serious or merry, are never discovered to have disturbed hisquiet, or to have lessened his confidence in himself.' Johnson, Irecollect, once told me, laughing heartily, that he understood it hadbeen said of him, 'He _appears_ not to feel; but when he is _alone_,depend upon it, he _suffers sadly_.' I am as certain as I can be of anyman's real sentiments, that he _enjoyed_ the perpetual shower of littlehostile arrows as evidences of his fame._Various Readings in the Life of_ BLACKMORE.To [set] _engage_ poetry [on the side] _in the cause_ of virtue.He likewise [established] _enforced_ the truth of Revelation.[Kindness] _benevolence_ was ashamed to favour.His practice, which was once [very extensive] _invidiously great_.There is scarcely any distemper of dreadful name [of] which he has not[shewn] _taught his reader_ how [it is to be opposed] _to oppose_.Of this [contemptuous] _indecent_ arrogance.[He wrote] _but produced_ likewise a work of a different kind.At least [written] _compiled_ with integrity.Faults which many tongues [were desirous] _would have made haste_ topublish.But though he [had not] _could not boast of_ much critical knowledge.He [used] _waited for_ no felicities of fancy.Or had ever elevated his [mind] _views_ to that ideal perfection whichevery [mind] _genius_ born to excel is condemned always to pursue andnever overtake.The [first great] _fundamental_ principle of wisdom and of virtue.'_Various Readings in the Life of_ PHILIPS.'His dreaded [rival] _antagonist_ Pope.They [have not often much] _are not loaded with_ thought.In his translations from Pindar, he [will not be denied to have reached]_found the art of reaching_ all the obscurity of the Theban bard.'_Various Readings in the Life of_ CONGREVE.'Congreve's conversation must surely have been _at least_ equallypleasing with his writings.It apparently [requires] _pre-supposes_ a familiar knowledge of manycharacters.Reciprocation of [similes] _conceits_.The dialogue is quick and [various] _sparkling_.Love for Love; a comedy [more drawn from life] _of nearer alliance tolife_.The general character of his miscellanies is, that they shew little witand [no] _little_ virtue.[Perhaps] _certainly_ he had not the fire requisite for the higherspecies of lyrick poetry.'_Various Readings in the Life of_ TICKELL.'[Longed] _long wished_ to peruse it.At the [accession] _arrival_ of King George.Fiction [unnaturally] _unskilfully_ compounded of Grecian deities andGothick fairies.'_Various Readings in the Life of_ AKENSIDE.'For [another] _a different_ purpose.[A furious] _an unnecessary_ and outrageous zeal.[Something which] _what_ he called and thought liberty.A [favourer of innovation] _lover of contradiction_.Warburton's [censure] _objections_.His rage [for liberty] _of patriotism_.Mr. Dyson with [a zeal] _an ardour_ of friendship.'In the Life of LYTTELTON, Johnson seems to have been not favourablydisposed towards that nobleman[193]. Mrs. Thrale suggests that he wasoffended by _Molly Aston's_[194] preference of his Lordship to him[195].I can by no means join in the censure bestowed by Johnson on hisLordship, whom he calls 'poor Lyttelton,' for returning thanks to theCritical Reviewers for having 'kindly commended' his _Dialogues of theDead_. Such 'acknowledgements (says my friend) never can be proper,since they must be paid either for flattery or for justice.' In myopinion, the most upright man, who has been tried on a false accusation,may, when he is acquitted, make a bow to his jury. And when those whoare so much the arbiters of literary merit, as in a considerable degreeto influence the publick opinion, review an authour's work, _placidolumine_[196], when I am afraid mankind in general are better pleasedwith severity, he may surely express a grateful sense of theircivility[197]._Various Readings in the Life of_ LYTTELTON.'He solaced [himself] _his grief_ by writing a long poem to her memory.The production rather [of a mind that means well than thinks vigorously]_as it seems of leisure than of study, rather effusions thancompositions_.His last literary [work] _production_.[Found the way] _undertook_ to persuade.'As the introduction to his critical examination of the genius andwritings of YOUNG, he did Mr. Herbert Croft[198], then a Barrister ofLincoln's-inn, now a clergyman, the honour to adopt[199] a _Life ofYoung_ written by that gentleman, who was the friend of Dr. Young's son,and wished to vindicate him from some very erroneous remarks to hisprejudice. Mr. Croft's performance was subjected to the revision of Dr.Johnson, as appears from the following note to Mr. John Nichols[200]:--'This _Life of Dr. Young_ was written by a friend of his son. What iscrossed with black is expunged by the authour, what is crossed with redis expunged by me. If you find any thing more that can be well omitted,I shall not be sorry to see it yet shorter[201]'It has always appeared to me to have a considerable share of merit, andto display a pretty successful imitation of Johnson's style. When Imentioned this to a very eminent literary character[202], he opposed mevehemently, exclaiming, 'No, no, it is _not_ a good imitation ofJohnson; it has all his pomp without his force; it has all thenodosities of the oak without its strength.' This was an image so happy,that one might have thought he would have been satisfied with it; but hewas not. And setting his mind again to work, he added, with exquisitefelicity, 'It has all the contortions of the Sybil, without theinspiration.'Mr. Croft very properly guards us against supposing that Young was agloomy man[203]; and mentions, that 'his parish was indebted to thegood-humour of the authour of the _Night Thoughts_ for an Assembly and aBowling-Green[204].' A letter from a noble foreigner is quoted, in whichhe is said to have been 'very pleasant in conversation[205].'Mr. Langton, who frequently visited him, informs me, that there was anair of benevolence in his manner, but that he could obtain from him lessinformation than he had hoped to receive from one who had lived so muchin intercourse with the brightest men of what has been called theAugustan age of England; and that he shewed a degree of eager curiosityconcerning the common occurrences that were then passing, which appearedsomewhat remarkable in a man of such intellectual stores, of such anadvanced age, and who had retired from life with declared disappointment