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guard which he endeavoured always to keep over himself.' Taylor's_Reynolds_, ii. 460. See _ante_, i. 94, 164, 201, and iv. 215.[1208] _Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides_, 3d ed. p. 209. [_Post_, v.211.] On the same subject, in his Letter to Mrs. Thrale, dated Nov. 29,1783, he makes the following just observation:--'Life, to be worthy of arational being, must be always in progression; we must always purpose todo more or better than in time past. The mind is enlarged and elevatedby mere purposes, though they end as they began [in the original,_begin_], by airy contemplation. We compare and judge, though we do notpractise.' BOSWELL.[1209] _Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides_, p. 374. [_Post_, v. 359.]BOSWELL.[1210] _Psalm_ xix. 13.[1211] _Pr. and Med._ p.47. BOSWELL.[1212] _Ib._ p. 68 BOSWELL[1213] _Ib._ p. 84 BOSWELL[1214] _Ib._ p. 120. BOSWELL.[1215] Pr. and Med. p. 130. BOSWELL.[1216] Dr. Johnson related, with very earnest approbation, a story of agentleman, who, in an impulse of passion, overcame the virtue of a youngwoman. When she said to him, 'I am afraid we have done wrong!' heanswered, 'Yes, we have done wrong;--for I would not _debauch hermind_.' BOSWELL.[1217] _St. John_, viii. 7.[1218] _Pr. and Med._ p. 192. BOSWELL.[1219] See _ante_, iii. 155.[1220] Boswell, on Feb. 10, 1791, describing to Malone the progress ofhis book, says:--'I have now before me p. 488 [of vol. ii.] in print;and 923 pages of the copy [MS.] only is exhausted, and there remains 80,besides the _death_; as to which I shall be concise, though solemn. Prayhow shall I wind up? Shall I give the _character_ from my _Tour_somewhat enlarged?' Croker's _Boswell_, p. 829. Mr. Croker is clearly inerror in saying (_ib._ p. 800) that 'Mr. Boswell's absence and thejealousy between him and some of Johnson's other friends prevented hisbeing able to give the particulars which he (Mr. Croker) has supplied inthe Appendix.' In this Appendix is Mr. Hoole's narrative which Boswellhad seen and used (_post_, p. 406).[1221] _Psalm_ lxxxii. 7.[1222] See Appendix E.[1223] 'On being asked in his last illness what physician he had sentfor, "Dr. Heberden," replied he, "_ultimus Romanorum_, the last of thelearned physicians."' Seward's _Biographiana_, p. 601.[1224] Mr. Green related that when some of Johnson's friends desiredthat Dr. Warren should be called in, he said they might call in whomthey pleased; and when Warren was called, at his going away Johnsonsaid, 'You have come in at the eleventh hour, but you shall be paid thesame with your fellow-labourers. Francis, put into Dr. Warren's coach acopy of the _English Poets_.' CROKER. Dr. Warren ten years laterattended Boswell in his last illness. _Letters of Boswell_, p. 355. Hewas the great-grandfather of Col. Sir Charles Warren, G.C.M.G., F.R.S.,Chief Commissioner of Police.[1225] This bold experiment, Sir John Hawkins has related in such amanner as to suggest a charge against Johnson of intentionally hasteninghis end; a charge so very inconsistent with his character in everyrespect, that it is injurious even to refute it, as Sir John has thoughtit necessary to do. It is evident, that what Johnson did in hopes ofrelief, indicated an extraordinary eagerness to retard his dissolution.BOSWELL. Murphy (_Life_, p. 122) says that 'for many years, when Johnsonwas not disposed to enter into the conversation going forward, whoeversat near his chair might hear him repeating from Shakespeare [_Measurefor Measure_, act iii. sc. i]:--"Ay, but to die and go we know not where;To lie in cold obstruction and to rot;This sensible warm motion to becomeA kneaded clot; and the delighted spiritTo bathe in fiery floods."And from Milton [_Paradise Lost_, ii. 146]:--"Who would loseThough full of pain this intellectual being?"'Johnson, the year before, at a time when he thought that he must submitto the surgeon's knife (_ante_, p. 240), wrote to Mrs. Thrale:--'Youwould not have me for fear of pain perish in putrescence. I shall, Ihope, with trust in eternal mercy lay hold of the possibility of lifewhich yet remains.' _Piozzi Letters_, ii. 312. Hawkins records (_Life_,p. 588) that one day Johnson said to his doctor:--'How many men in ayear die through the timidity of those whom they consult for health! Iwant length of life, and you fear giving me pain, which I care not for.'Another day, 'when Mr. Cruikshank scarified his leg, he cried out,"Deeper, deeper. I will abide the consequence; you are afraid of yourreputation, but that is nothing to me." To those about him, he said,"You all pretend to love me, but you do not love me so well as I myselfdo." '_Ib_. p. 592. Windham (_Diary_, p. 32) says that he reproachedHeberden with being _timidorum timidissimus_. Throughout he acted up towhat he had said:--'I will be conquered, I will not capitulate.'_Ante_, P. 374.[1226] Macbeth, act v. sc. 3.[1227] Satires, x. 356. Paraphrased by Johnson in The Vanity of HumanWishes, at the lines beginning:--'Pour forth thy fervours for a healthful mind,Obedient passions and a will resigned.'[1228] Johnson, three days after his stroke of palsy (ante, p. 230),wrote:--'When I waked, I found Dr. Brocklesby sitting by me. He fell torepeating Juvenal's ninth satire; but I let him see that the provincewas mine.' _Piozzi Letters_, ii. 274.[1229] Johnson, on his way to Scotland, 'changed horses,' he wrote, 'atDarlington, where Mr. Cornelius Harrison, a cousin-german of mine, wasperpetual curate. He was the only one of my relations who ever rose infortune above penury, or in character above neglect.' _Piozzi Letters_,i. 105. Malone, in a note to later editions, shews that Johnson shortlybefore his death was trying to discover some of his poor relations.[1230] Mr. Windham records (_Diary_, p. 28) that the day before Johnsonmade his will 'he recommended Frank to him as to one who had will andpower to protect him.' He continues, 'Having obtained my assent to this,he proposed that Frank should be called in; and desiring me to take himby the hand in token of the promise, repeated before him therecommendation he had just made of him, and the promise I had given toattend to it.[1231] Johnson wrote five years earlier to Mrs. Thrale about herhusband's will:--'Do not let those fears prevail which you know to beunreasonable; a will brings the end of life no nearer.' _PiozziLetters_, ii. 72.[1232] 'IN THE NAME OF GOD. AMEN. I, SAMUEL JOHNSON, being in fullpossession of my faculties, but fearing this night may put an end to mylife, do ordain this my last Will and Testament. I bequeath to GOD, asoul polluted with many sins, but I hope purified by JESUS CHRIST. Ileave seven hundred and fifty pounds in the hands of Bennet Langton,Esq.; three hundred pounds in the hands of Mr. Barclay and Mr. Perkins,brewers; one hundred and fifty pounds in the hands of Dr. Percy, Bishopof Dromore; one thousand pounds, three _per cent._ annuities, in thepublick funds; and one hundred pounds now lying by me in ready money:all these before-mentioned sums and property I leave, I say, to SirJoshua Reynolds, Sir John Hawkins, and Dr. William Scott, of DoctorsCommons, in trust for the following uses:--That is to say, to pay to therepresentatives of the late William Innys, bookseller, in St, Paul'sChurch-yard, the sum of two hundred pounds; to Mrs. White, my femaleservant, one hundred pounds stock in the three _per cent_. annuititesaforesaid. The rest of the aforesaid sums of money and property,together with my books, plate, and household furniture, I leave to thebefore-mentioned Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir John Hawkins, and Dr. WilliamScott, also in trust, to the use of Francis Barber, my man-servant, anegro, in such a manner as they shall judge most fit and available tohis benefit. And I appoint the aforesaid Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir JohnHawkins, and Dr. William Scott, sole executors of this my last will andtestament, hereby revoking all former wills and testaments whatever. Inwitness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name, and affix my seal, thiseighth day of December, 1784.'Sam Johnson, (L.S.)'Signed, scaled, published, declared,and delivered, by thesaid testator, as his last willand testament, in the presenceof us, the word two being firstinserted in the opposite page.'GEORGE STRAHAN'JOHN DESMOULINS'By way of Codicil to my last Will and Testament, I, SAMUEL JOHNSON,give, devise, and bequeath, my messuage or tenement situate atLitchfield, in the county of Stafford, with the appertenances, in thetenure or occupation of Mrs. Bond, of Lichfield aforesaid, or of Mr.Hinchman, her under-tenant, to my executors, in trust, to sell anddispose of the same; and the money arising from such sale I give andbequeath as follows, viz. to Thomas and Benjamin, the sons of FisherJohnson, late of Leicester, and ----- Whiting, daughter of ThomasJohnson [F-1], late of Coventry, and the grand-daughter of the saidThomas Johnson, one full and equal fourth part each; but in case thereshall be more grand-daughters than one of the said Thomas Johnson,living at the time of my decease, I give and bequeath the part or shareof that one to and equally between such grand-daughters. I give andbequeath to the Rev. Mr. Rogers, of Berkley, near Froom, in the countyof Somerset, the sum of one hundred pounds, requesting him to apply thesame towards the maintenance of Elizabeth Herne, a lunatick [F-2]. I alsogive and bequeath to my god-children, the son and daughter of MauritiusLowe [F-3], painter, each of them, one hundred pounds of my stock in thethree _per cent_, consolidated annuities, to be applied and disposed ofby and at the discretion of my Executors, in the education or settlementin the world of them my said legatees. Also I give and bequeath to SirJohn Hawkins, one of my Executors, the Annales Ecclesiastici ofBaronius, and Holinshed's and Stowe's Chronicles, and also an octavoCommon Prayer-Book. To Bennet Langton, Esq. I give and bequeath myPolyglot Bible. To Sir Joshua Reynolds, my great French Dictionary, byMartiniere, and my own copy of my folio English Dictionary, of the lastrevision. To Dr. William Scott, one of my Executors, the Dictionnaire deCommerce, and Lectius's edition of the Greek poets. To Mr. Windham [F-4],Poetae Graeci Heroici per Henricum Stephanum. To the Rev. Mr. Strahan,vicar of Islington, in Middlesex, Mill's Greek Testament, Beza's GreekTestament, by Stephens, all my Latin Bibles, and my Greek Bible, byWechelius. To Dr. Heberden, Dr. Brocklesby, Dr. Butter, and Mr.Cruikshank, the surgeon who attended me, Mr. Holder, my apothecary,Gerard Hamilton, Esq., Mrs. Gardiner [F-5], of Snow-hill, Mrs. FrancesReynolds, Mr. Hoole, and the Reverend Mr. Hoole, his son, each a book attheir election, to keep as a token of remembrance. I also give andbequeath to Mr. John Desmoulins [F-6], two hundred pounds consolidatedthree _per cent_, annuities: and to Mr. Sastres, the Italianmaster [F-7], the sum of five pounds, to be laid out in books of pietyfor his own use. And whereas the said Bennet Langton hath agreed, inconsideration of the sum of seven hundred and fifty pounds, mentioned inmy Will to be in his hands, to grant and secure an annuity of seventypounds payable during the life of me and my servant, Francis Barber, andthe life of the survivor of us, to Mr. George Stubbs, in trust for us;my mind and will is, that in case of my decease before the saidagreement shall be perfected, the said sum of seven hundred and fiftypounds, and the bond for securing the said sum, shall go to the saidFrancis Barber; and I hereby give and bequeath to him the same, in lieuof the bequest in his favour, contained in my said Will. And I herebyempower my Executors to deduct and retain all expences that shall or maybe incurred in the execution of my said Will, or of this Codicilthereto, out of such estate and effects as I shall die possessed of. Allthe rest, residue, and remainder, of my estate and effects, I give andbequeath to my said Executors, in trust for the said Francis Barber, hisExecutors and Administrators. Witness my hand and seal, this ninth dayof December, 1784.'SAM. JOHNSON, (L. S.)'Signed, sealed, published, declared,and delivered, by thesaid Samuel Johnson, as, andfor a Codicil to his last Will andTestament, in the presence ofus, who, in his presence, and athis request, and also in thepresence of each other, havehereto subscribed our names aswitnesses.'JOHN COPLEY.'WILLIAM GIBSON.'HENRY COLE.'Upon these testamentary deeds it is proper to make a few observations.His express declaration with his dying breath as a Christian, as it hadbeen often practised in such solemn writings, was of real consequencefrom this great man; for the conviction of a mind equally acute andstrong, might well overbalance the doubts of others, who were hiscontemporaries. The expression _polluted_, may, to some, convey animpression of more than ordinary contamination; but that is notwarranted by its genuine meaning, as appears from _The Rambler_, No.42[F-8]. The same word is used in the will of Dr. Sanderson, Bishop ofLincoln [F-9], who was piety itself.His legacy of two hundred pounds to the representatives of Mr. Innys,bookseller, in St. Paul's Church-yard [F-10], proceeded from a veryworthy motive. He told Sir John Hawkins, that his father having become abankrupt, Mr. Innys had assisted him with money or credit to continuehis business. 'This, (said he,) I consider as an obligation on me to begrateful to his descendants [F-11].'The amount of his property proved to be considerably more than he hadsupposed it to be. Sir John Hawkins estimates the bequest to FrancisBarber at a sum little short of fifteen hundred pounds, including anannuity of seventy pounds to be paid to him by Mr. Langton, inconsideration of seven hundred and fifty pounds, which Johnson had lentto that gentleman. Sir John seems not a little angry at this bequest,and mutters 'a caveat against ostentatious bounty and favour tonegroes [F-12].' But surely when a man has money entirely of his ownacquisition, especially when he has no near relations, he may, withoutblame, dispose of it as he pleases, and with great propriety to afaithful servant. Mr. Barber, by the recommendation of his master,retired to Lichfield, where he might pass the rest of his daysin comfort.It has been objected that Johnson has omitted many of his best friends,when leaving books to several as tokens of his last remembrance. Thenames of Dr. Adams, Dr. Taylor [F-13], Dr. Burney, Mr. Hector, Mr.Murphy, the Authour of this Work, and others who were intimate with him,are not to be found in his Will. This may be accounted for byconsidering, that as he was very near his dissolution at the time, heprobably mentioned such as happened to occur to him; and that he mayhave recollected, that he had formerly shewn others such proofs of hisregard, that it was not necessary to crowd his Will with their names.Mrs. Lucy Porter was much displeased that nothing was left to her; butbesides what I have now stated, she should have considered, that she hadleft nothing to Johnson by her Will, which was made during hislife-time, as appeared at her decease.His enumerating several persons in one group, and leaving them 'each abook at their election,' might possibly have given occasion to a curiousquestion as to the order of choice, had they not luckily fixed ondifferent books. His library, though by no means handsome in itsappearance, was sold by Mr. Christie, for two hundred and forty-sevenpounds, nine shillings [F-14]; many people being desirous to have a bookwhich had belonged to Johnson. In many of them he had written littlenotes: sometimes tender memorials of his departed wife; as, 'This wasdear Tetty's book:' sometimes occasional remarks of different sorts. Mr.Lysons, of Clifford's Inn, has favoured me with the two following:In _Holy Rules and Helps to Devotion_, by Bryan Duppa, Lord Bishop ofWinton, '_Preces quidam (? quidem) videtur diligenter tractasse; speronon inauditus (? inauditas).'_In _The Rosicrucian infallible Axiomata_, by John Heydon, Gent.,prefixed to which are some verses addressed to the authour, signed Ambr.Waters, A.M. Coll. Ex. Oxon. '_These Latin verses were written to Hobbesby Bathurst, upon his Treatise on Human Nature, and have no relation tothe book.--An odd fraud_.'--BOSWELL. [Note: See Appendix F for notes onthis footnote.][1233] 'He burned,' writes Mrs. Piozzi, 'many letters in the last week,I am told, and those written by his mother drew from him a flood oftears. Mr. Sastres saw him cast a melancholy look upon their ashes,which he took up and examined to see if a word was stilllegible.'--_Piozzi Letters_, ii. 383.[1234] Boswell in his _Hebrides_ (_post_, v. 53) says that Johnson,starting northwards on his tour, left in a drawer in Boswell's house'one volume of a pretty full and curious _Diary of his Life_, of which Ihave,' he continues, 'a few fragments.' The other volume, we mayconjecture, Johnson took with him, for Boswell had seen both, andapparently seen them only once. He mentions (_ante_, i. 27) that these'few fragments' had been transferred to him by the residuary legatee(Francis Barber). One large fragment, which was published after Barber'sdeath, he could never have seen, for he never quotes from it (_ante_, i.35, note 1).[1235] One of these volumes, Sir John Hawkins informs us, he put intohis pocket; for which the excuse he states is, that he meant to preserveit from falling into the hands of a person whom he describes so as tomake it sufficiently clear who is meant; 'having strong reasons (saidhe,) to suspect that this man might find and make an ill use of thebook.' Why Sir John should suppose that the gentleman alluded to wouldact in this manner, he has not thought fit to explain. But what he didwas not approved of by Johnson; who, upon being acquainted of it withoutdelay by a friend, expressed great indignation, and warmly insisted onthe book being delivered up; and, afterwards, in the supposition of hismissing it, without knowing by whom it had been taken, he said, 'Sir, Ishould have gone out of the world distrusting half mankind.' Sir Johnnext day wrote a letter to Johnson, assigning reasons for his conduct;upon which Johnson observed to Mr. Langton, 'Bishop Sanderson could nothave dictated a better letter. I could almost say, _Melius est sicpenituisse quam non errasse_.' The agitation into which Johnson wasthrown by this incident, probably made him hastily burn those preciousrecords which must ever be regretted. BOSWELL. According to Mr. Croker,Steevens was the man whom Hawkins said that he suspected. Porson, in hiswitty _Panegyrical Epistle on Hawkins v. Johnson_ (_Gent. Mag._ 1787,pp. 751-3, and _Porson Tracts_, p. 341), says:--'I shall attempt atranslation [of _Melius est_, &c.] for the benefit of your mere Englishreaders:--_There is more joy over a sinner that repenteth than over ajust person that needeth no repentance_. And we know from an authoritynot to be disputed (Hawkins's _Life_, p. 406) that _Johnson was a greatlover of penitents_."God put it in the mind to take it hence,That thou might'st win the more thy [Johnson's] love,Pleading so wisely in excuse of it."[1236] _Henry IV_, act iv. sc. 5.[1237] 'Tibullus addressed Cynthia in this manner:--"_Te spectem, suprema, mihi cum venerit hora,Te teneam moriens deficiente mamu.Lib. i. El. I. 73.Before my closing eyes dear Cynthia stand,Held weakly by my fainting, trembling hand."'Johnson's Works, iv. 35.[1238] Windham was scarcely a statesman as yet, though for a few monthsof the year before he had been Chief Secretary for Ireland (_ante_, p200). He was in Parliament, but he had never spoken. His _Diary_ shewsthat he had no 'important occupations.' On Dec. 12, for instance, herecords (p. 30):--'Came down about ten; read reviews, wrote to Mrs.Siddons, and then went to the ice; came home only in time to dress andgo to my mother's to dinner.' See _ante_, p. 356, for his interestin balloons.[1239] 'My father,' writes Miss Burney, 'saw him once while I was away,and carried Mr. Burke with him, who was desirous of paying his respectsto him once more in person. He rallied a little while they were there;and Mr. Burke, when they left him, said to my father:--"His work isalmost done, and well has he done it."' Mme. D'Arblay's _Diary_, ii.