约翰逊4-6-35

bookseller went to solicit preference as the publisher, and was toldthat the parcel had not been yet inspected; and, whatever was thereason, the world has been disappointed of what was "reserved for thenext age."' _Ib_. p. 306. As Bolingbroke outlived Pope by more thanseven years, it is clear, from what Johnson states, that he alone hadthe care of the papers, and that he gave the answer to Dodsley.Marchmont, however, knew the contents of the papers. _Ib_. p. 319.[181] This neglect did not arise from any ill-will towards LordMarchmont, but from inattention; just as he neglected to correct hisstatement concerning the family of Thomson the poet, after it had beenshewn to be erroneous (_ante_, in. 359). MALONE.[182] _Works, vii. 420._[183] Benjamin Victor published in 1722, a _Letter to Steele_, and in1776, _Letters, Dramatic Pieces, and Poems_ Brit. Mus. Catalogue.[184] Mr. _Wilks_. See _ante_, i. 167, note 1.[185] See _post_, p. 91 and Macaulay's _Essay on Addison_ (ed. 1974, iv.207).[186] 'A better and more Christian man scarcely ever breathed thanJoseph Addison. If he had not that little weakness for wine--why wecould scarcely have found a fault with him, and could not have liked himas we do.' Thackery's _English Humourists_, ed. 1858, p. 94.[187] See _ante_, i. 30, and iii. 155.[188] See _post_, under Dec. 2, 1784.[189] Parnell 'drank to excess.' _Ante_, iii. 155.[190] I should have thought that Johnson, who had felt the severeaffliction from which Parnell never recovered, would have preserved thispassage. BOSWELL.[191] Mrs. Thrale wrote to Johnson in May, 1780:-'Blackmore will berescued from the old wits who worried him much to your disliking; so, alittle for love of his Christianity, a little for love of his physic, alittle for love of his courage--and a little for love of contradiction,you will save him from his malevolent critics, and perhaps do him thehonour to devour him yourself.' _Piozzi Letters_, ii. 122. See_ante_, ii. 107.[192] 'This is a tribute which a painter owes to an architect whocomposed like a painter; and was defrauded of the due reward of hismerit by the wits of his time, who did not understand the principles ofcomposition in poetry better than he did; and who knew little, ornothing, of what he understood perfectly, the general ruling principlesof architecture and painting.' Reynolds's _Thirteenth Discourse_.[193] Johnson had not wished to write _Lyttelton's Life_. He wrote toLord Westcote, Lyttelton's brother, 'My desire is to avoid offence, andbe totally out of danger. I take the liberty of proposing to yourlordship, that the historical account should be written under yourdirection by any friend you may be willing to employ, and I will onlytake upon myself to examine the poetry.'--Croker's _Boswell_, p.650.[194] It was not _Molly Aston_ (_ante_ i. 83) but Miss Hill Boothby(_ib_.) of whom Mrs. Thrale wrote. She says (_Anec_. p.160):--'Such wasthe purity of her mind, Johnson said, and such the graces of her manner,that Lord Lyttelton and he used to strive for her preference with anemulation that occasioned hourly disgust, and ended in lastinganimosity.' There is surely much exaggeration in this account.[195] Let not my readers smile to think of Johnson's being a candidatefor female favour; Mr. Peter Garrick assured me, that he was told by alady, that in her opinion Johnson was 'a very _seducing man_.'Disadvantages of person and manner may be forgotten, where intellectualpleasure is communicated to a susceptible mind; and that Johnson wascapable of feeling the most delicate and disinterested attachment,appears from the following letter, which is published by Mrs. Thrale[_Piozzi Letters_, ii. 391], with some others to the same person, ofwhich the excellence is not so apparent:--'TO MISS BOOTHBY. January, 1755.DEAREST MADAM,Though I am afraid your illness leaves you little leisure for thereception of airy civilities, yet I cannot forbear to pay you mycongratulations on the new year; and to declare my wishes that youryears to come may be many and happy. In this wish, indeed, I includemyself, who have none but you on whom my heart reposes; yet surely Iwish your good, even though your situation were such as should permityou to communicate no gratifications to, dearest, dearest Madam, Your,&c. SAM JOHNSON.' (BOSWELL.)[196] Horace, _Odes_, iv. 3.2, quoted also _ante_, i.352, note.[197] The passage which Boswell quotes in part is as follows:--'Whenthey were first published they were kindly commended by the _CriticalReviewers_; [i.e. the writers in the _Critical Review_. In some of thelater editions of Boswell these words have been printed, _criticalreviewers_; so as to include all the reviewers who criticised the work];and poor Lyttelton, with humble gratitude, returned, in a note which Ihave read, acknowledgements which can never be proper, since they mustbe paid either for flattery or for justice.' _Works_, viii.491. Boswellforgets that what may be proper in one is improper in another.Lyttelton, when he wrote this note, had long been a man of highposition. He had 'stood in the first rank of opposition,' he had beenChancellor of the Exchequer, and when he lost his post, he had been'recompensed with a peerage.' See _ante_, ii. 126.[198] See _post_, June 12 and 15, 1784.[199] He adopted it from indolence. Writing on Aug. 1, 1780, aftermentioning the failure of his application to Lord Westcote, hecontinues:--'There is an ingenious scheme to save a day's work, or partof a day, utterly defeated. Then what avails it to be wise? The plainand the artful man must both do their own work.--But I think I have gota life of Dr. Young.' _Piozzi Letters_, ii. 173.[200] _Gent. Mag._ vol. lv. p. 10. BOSWELL.[201] By a letter to Johnson from Croft, published in the later editionsof the _Lives_, it seems that Johnson only expunged one passage. Croftsays:--'Though I could not prevail on you to make any alteration, youinsisted on striking out one passage, because it said, that, if I didnot wish you to live long for your sake, I did for the sake of myselfand the world.' _Works_ viii.458.[202] The Late Mr. Burke. MALONE.[203] See_post_, June 2, 1781.[204] Johnson's _Works_, viii 440.[205] _Ib._ p.436[206] 'Eheu! fugaces, Postume, Postume, Labuntur anni.' 'How swiftlyglide our flying years!' FRANCIS. Horace, _Odes_, ii.14. i.[207] The late Mr. James Ralph told Lord Macartney, that he passed anevening with Dr. Young at Lord Melcombe's (then Mr. Dodington) atHammersmith. The Doctor happening to go out into the garden, Mr.Dodington observed to him, on his return, that it was a dreadful night,as in truth it was, there being a violent storm of rain and wind. 'No,Sir, (replied the Doctor) it is a very fine night. The LORD isabroad.' BOSWELL.[208] See _ante_, ii.96, and iii.251; and Boswell's _Hebrides_, Sept.30.[209] 'An ardent judge, who zealous in his trust, With warmth givessentence, yet is always just.' Pope's _Essay on Criticism_, l.677.[210] _Works_, viii.459. Though the _Life of Young_ is by Croft, yet thecritical remarks are by Johnson.[211] _Ib._ p.460.[212] Johnson refers to Chambers's _Dissertation on Oriental Gardening_,which was ridiculed in the _Heroic Epistle_. See _post_, under May 8,1781, and Boswell's _Hebrides_, Sept. 13.[213] Boswell refers to the death of Narcissa in the third of the _NightThoughts_. While he was writing the _Life of Johnson_ Mrs. Boswell wasdying of consumption in (to quote Young's words)The rigid north,Her native bed, on which bleakBoreas blew.'She died nearly two years before _The Life_ was published.[214] _Proverbs_, xviii.14.[215] See Boswell's _Hebrides_, Aug. 16.[216] See vol. i. page 133. BOSWELL.[217] 'In his economy Swift practised a peculiar and offensiveparsimony, without disguise or apology. The practice of saving beingonce necessary, became habitual, and grew first ridiculous, and at lastdetestable. But his avarice, though it might exclude pleasure, was neversuffered to encroach upon his virtue. He was frugal by inclination, butliberal by principle; and if the purpose to which he destined his littleaccumulations be remembered, with his distribution of occasionalcharity, it will perhaps appear, that he only liked one mode of expensebetter than another, and saved merely that he might have something togive.' _Works_, viii.222.[218] _Ib_. p.225.[219] Mr. Chalmers here records a curious literary anecdote--that when anew and enlarged edition of the _Lives of the Poets_ was published in1783, Mr. Nichols, in justice to the purchasers of the precedingeditions, printed the additions in a separate pamphlet, and advertisedthat it might be had _gratis_. Not ten copies were called for. CROKER.[220] See _ante_, p.9, and Boswell's _Hebrides_, Oct. 15.[221] _Works_, vii. Preface.[222] From this disreputable class, I except an ingenious though notsatisfactory defence of HAMMOND, which I did not see till lately, by thefavour of its authour, my amiable friend, the Reverend Mr. Bevill, whopublished it without his name. It is a juvenile performance, butelegantly written, with classical enthusiasm of sentiment, and yet witha becoming modesty, and great respect for Dr. Johnson. BOSWELL.[223] Before the _Life of Lyttelton_ was published there was, it seems,some coolness between Mrs. Montagu and Johnson. Miss Burney records thefollowing conversation in September 1778. 'Mark now,' said Dr. Johnson,'if I contradict Mrs. Montagu to-morrow. I am determined, let her saywhat she will, that I will not contradict her.' MRS. THRALE. 'Why to besure, Sir, you did put her a little out of countenance last time shecame.'...DR. JOHNSON. 'Why, Madam, I won't answer that I shan'tcontradict her again, if she provokes me as she did then; but a lessprovocation I will withstand. I believe I am not high in her good gracesalready; and I begin (added he, laughing heartily) to tremble for myadmission into her new house. I doubt I shall never see the inside ofit.' Yet when they met a few days later all seemed friendly. 'When Mrs.Montagu's new house was talked of, Dr. Johnson in a jocose manner,desired to know if he should be invited to see it. "Ay, sure," criedMrs. Montagu, looking well pleased, "or else I shan't like it."' Mme.D'Arblay's _Diary_, i.118, 126. 'Mrs. Montagu's dinners and assemblies,'writes Wraxall, 'were principally supported by, and they fell with, thegiant talents of Johnson, who formed the nucleus round which all thesubordinate members revolved.' Wraxall's _Memoirs_, ed. 1815, i.160.[224] Described by the author as 'a body of original essays.' 'Iconsider _The Observer,'_ he arrogantly continues, 'as fairly enrolledamongst the standard classics of our native language.' Cumberland's_Memoirs_, ii.199. In his account of this _Feast of Reason_ he quite asmuch satirises Mrs. Montagu as praises her. He introduces Johnson in it,annoyed by an impertinent fellow, and saying to him:--'Have I saidanything, good Sir, that you do not comprehend?' 'No, no,' replied he,'I perfectly well comprehend every word you have been saying.' 'Do youso, Sir?' said the philosopher, 'then I heartily ask pardon of thecompany for misemploying their time so egregiously.' _The Observer_,No. 25.[225] Miss Burney gives an account of an attack made by Johnson, at adinner at Streatham, in June 1781, on Mr. Pepys (_post_, p. 82), 'one ofMrs. Montagu's steadiest abettors.' 'Never before,' she writes, 'have Iseen Dr. Johnson speak with so much passion. "Mr. Pepys," he cried, in avoice the most enraged, "I understand you are offended by my _Life ofLord Lyttelton_. What is it you have to say against it? Come forth, man!Here am I, ready to answer any charge you can bring."' After the quarrelhad been carried even into the drawing-room, Mrs. Thrale, 'with greatspirit and dignity, said that she should be very glad to hear no more ofit. Everybody was silenced, and Dr. Johnson, after a pause,said:--"Well, Madam, you _shall_ hear no more of it; yet I will defendmyself in every part and in every atom."... Thursday morning, Dr.Johnson went to town for some days, but not before Mrs. Thrale read hima very serious lecture upon giving way to such violence; which he borewith a patience and quietness that even more than made his peace withme.' Mme. D'Arblay's _Diary_, ii. 45. Two months later the quarrel wasmade up. 'Mr. Pepys had desired this meeting by way of a reconciliation;and Dr. Johnson now made amends for his former violence, as he advancedto him, as soon as he came in, and holding out his hand to him receivedhim with a cordiality he had never shewn him before. Indeed he told mehimself that he thought the better of Mr. Pepys for all that hadpassed.' _Ib._ p. 82. Miss Burney, in Dec. 1783, described the quarrelto Mr. Cambridge:--'"I never saw Dr. Johnson really in a passion butthen; and dreadful indeed it was to see. I wished myself away a thousandtimes. It was a frightful scene. He so red, poor Mr. Pepys so pale." "Itwas behaving ill to Mrs. Thrale certainly to quarrel in her house.""Yes, but he never repeated it; though he wished of all things to havegone through just such another scene with Mrs. Montagu; and to refrainwas an act of heroic forbearance. She came to Streatham one morning, andI saw he was dying to attack her." "And how did Mrs. Montagu herselfbehave?" Very stately, indeed, at first. She turned from him verystiffly, and with a most distant air, and without even courtesying tohim, and with a firm intention to keep to what she had publiclydeclared--that she would never speak to him more. However, he went up toher himself, longing to begin, and very roughly said:--"Well, Madam,what's become of your fine new house? I hear no more of it." "But howdid she bear this?" "Why, she was obliged to answer him; and she soongrew so frightened--as everybody does--that she was as civil as ever."He laughed heartily at this account. But I told him Dr. Johnson was nowmuch softened. He had acquainted me, when I saw him last, that he hadwritten to her upon the death of Mrs. Williams [see _post_, Sept. 18,1783, note], because she had allowed her something yearly, which nowceased. "And I had a very kind answer from her," said he. "Well then,Sir," cried I, "I hope peace now will be again proclaimed." "Why, I amnow," said he, "come to that time when I wish all bitterness andanimosity to be at an end."' Mme. D'Arblay's _Diary_, ii. 290.[226] January, 1791. BOSWELL. Hastings's trial had been dragging on formore than three years when _The Life of Johnson_ was published. It beganin 1788, and ended in 1795.[227] _Gent. Mag_. for 1785, p. 412.[228] Afterwards Sir Robert Chambers, one of his Majesty's Judges inIndia. BOSWELL. See _ante_, i.274.[229] 'He conceived that the cultivation of Persian literature mightwith advantage be made a part of the liberal education of an Englishgentleman; and he drew up a plan with that view. It is said that theUniversity of Oxford, in which Oriental learning had never, since therevival of letters, been wholly neglected, was to be the seat of theinstitution which he contemplated.' Macaulay's _Essays_, ed. 1843,iii. 338.[230] Lord North's. Feeble though it was, it lasted eight years longer.[231] Jones's _Persian Grammar_. Boswell. It was published in 1771.[232] _Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland_. BOSWELL.[233] See _ante_, ii. 296.[234] Macaulay wrote of Hastings's answer to this letter:--'It is aremarkable circumstance that one of the letters of Hastings to Dr.Johnson bears date a very few hours after the death of Nuncomar. Whilethe whole settlement was in commotion, while a mighty and ancientpriesthood were weeping over the remains of their chief, the conquerorin that deadly grapple sat down, with characteristic self-possession, towrite about the _Tour to the Hebrides_, Jones's _Persian Grammar_, andthe history, traditions, arts, and natural productions of India.'Macaulay's _Essays_, ed. 1843, iii.376.[235] Johnson wrote the Dedication, _Ante_, i.383.[236] See _ante_, ii.82, note 2.[237] _Copy_ is _manuscript for printing_.[238] Published by Kearsley, with this well-chosen motto:--'From hiscradle He was a SCHOLAR, and a ripe and good one: And to add greaterhonours to his age Than man could give him, he died fearing Heaven.'SHAKSPEARE. BOSWELL. This quotation is a patched up one from _HenryVIII_, act iv. sc.2. The quotation in the text is found on p. 89 of this_Life of Johnson_.[239] Mr. Thrale had removed, that is to say, from his winter residencein the Borough. Mrs. Piozzi has written opposite this passage in hercopy of Boswell:--'Spiteful again! He went by direction of hisphysicians where they could easiest attend to him.' Hayward's _Piozzi_,i. 91. There was, perhaps, a good deal of truth in Boswell'ssupposition, for in 1779 Johnson had told her that he saw 'withindignation her despicable dread of living in the Borough.' _PiozziLetters_, ii.92. Johnson had a room in the new house. 'Think,' wroteHannah More, 'of Johnson's having apartments in Grosvenor-square! but hesays it is not half so convenient as Bolt-court.' H. More's_Memoirs_, i.2O7.[240] See _ante_, iii. 250.[241] Shakspeare makes Hamlet thus describe his father:--'See what a grace was seated on this brow:Hyperion's curls, the front of Jove himself,An eye like Mars, to threaten and command;A station like the herald, Mercury,New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill;A combination, and a form, indeed,Where every god did seem to set his seal,To give the world assurance of a man.![Act iii. sc. 4.]Milton thus pourtrays our first parent, Adam:--'His fair large front and eye sublime declar'dAbsolute rule; and hyacinthin locksRound from his parted forelock manly hungClus'tring, but not beneath his shoulders broad.'[_P.L._ iv. 300.] BOSWELL.[242] 'Grattan's Uncle, Dean Marlay [afterwards Bishop of Waterford],had a good deal of the humour of Swift. Once, when the footman was outof the way, he ordered the coachman to fetch some water from the well.To this the man objected, that _his_ business was to drive, not to runon errands. "Well, then," said Marlay, "bring out the coach and four,set the pitcher inside, and drive to the well;"--a service which wasseveral times repeated, to the great amusement of the village.' Rogers's_Table-Talk_, p.176.[243] See _ante_, ii. 241, for Johnson's contempt of puns.[244] 'He left not faction, but of that was left.' _Absalom andAchitophel_, l. 568.[245] Boswell wrote of Gibbon in 1779:--'He is an ugly, affected,disgusting fellow, and poisons our Literary Club to me.' _Letters ofBoswell_, p.242. See _ante_, ii.443, note 1.[246] _The schools_ in this sense means a University.[247] See _ante_, ii.224.[248] Up to the year 1770, controverted elections had been tried beforea Committee of the whole House. By the _Grenville Act_ which was passedin that year they were tried by a select committee. _Parl. Hist._ xvi.902. Johnson, in _The False Alarm_ (1770), describing the old method oftrial, says;--'These decisions have often been apparently partial, andsometimes tyrannically oppressive.' _Works, vi. 169._ _In The Patriot_(1774), he says:--'A disputed election is now tried with the samescrupulousness and solemnity as any other title.' _Ib._ p.223. SeeBoswell's _Hebrides_, Nov.10.[249] Miss Burney describes a dinner at Mr. Thrale's, about this time,at which she met Johnson, Boswell, and Dudley Long. Mme. D'Arblay's_Diary_, ii. 14.