The Life of Samuel Johnson

by James Boswell

  a The Rev. Mr. Strahan clearly recollects having been told by Johnson, that the King observed that Pope made Warburton a Bishop. ‘True, Sir, (said Johnson,) but Warburton did more for Pope; he made him a Christian:’ alluding, no doubt, to his ingenious Comments on the Essay on Man.

  a It is proper here to mention, that when I speak of his correspondence, I consider it independent of the voluminous collection of letters which, in the course of many years, he wrote to Mrs. Thrale, which forms a separate part of his works; and as a proof of the high estimation set on any thing which came from his pen, was sold by that lady for the sum of five hundred pounds.

  a Pr. and Med., pp. 77 and 78.

  b Ib., p. 73. On Aug. 17, he recorded: – ‘By abstinence from wine and suppers I obtained sudden and great relief, and had freedom of mind restored to me, which I have wanted for all this year, without being able to find any means of obtaining it.’ Ib. p. 74.

  c Ib., p. 81.

  a I should think it impossible not to wonder at the variety of Johnson’s reading, however desultory it may have been. Who could have imagined that the High Church of England-man would be so prompt in quoting Maupertuis, who, I am sorry to think, stands in the list of those unfortunate mistaken men, who call themselves esprits forts.252 I have, however, a high respect for that Philosopher whom the Great Frederick of Prussia loved and honoured, and addressed pathetically in one of his Poems, –

  ‘Maupertuis, cher Maupertuis,

  Que notre vie est peu de chose!’253

  There was in Maupertuis a vigour and yet a tenderness of sentiment, united with strong intellectual powers, and uncommon ardour of soul. Would he had been a Christian! I cannot help earnestly venturing to hope that he is one now.

  a My respectable friend, upon reading this passage, observed, that he probably must have said not simply, ‘strong facts,’ but ‘strong facts well arranged.’ His lordship, however, knows too well the value of written documents to insist on setting his recollection against my notes taken at the time. He does not attempt to traverse the record. The fact, perhaps, may have been, either that the additional words escaped me in the noise of a numerous company, or that Dr. Johnson, from his impetuosity, and eagerness to seize an opportunity to make a lively retort, did not allow Dr. Douglas to finish his sentence.

  a See the hard drawing of him in Churchill’s Rosciad.

  b In which place he has been succeeded by Bennet Langton, Esq. When that truly religious gentleman was elected to this honorary Professorship, at the same time that Edward Gibbon, Esq., noted for introducing a kind of sneering infidelity into his Historical Writings, was elected Professor in Ancient History, in the room of Dr. Goldsmith, I observed that it brought to my mind, ‘Wicked Will Whiston and good Mr. Ditton.’256 I am now also of that admirable institution as Secretary for Foreign Correspondence, by the favour of the Academicians, and the approbation of the Sovereign.

  a It has this inscription in a blank leaf: –‘Hunc librum D. D. Samuel Johnson, eo quod hic loci studiis interdum vacaret.’257 Of this library, which is an old Gothick room, he was very fond. On my observing to him that some of the modern libraries of the University were more commodious and pleasant for study, as being more spacious and airy, he replied, ‘Sir, if a man has a mind to prance, he must study at Christ-Church and All-Souls.’

  b During this visit he seldom or never dined out. He appeared to be deeply engaged in some literary work. Miss Williams was now with him at Oxford.

  c In the Preface to my Account of Corsica, published in 1768, I thus express myself:

  ‘He who publishes a book affecting not to be an authour, and professing an indifference for literary fame, may possibly impose upon many people such an idea of his consequence as he wishes may be received. For my part, I should be proud to be known as an authour, and I have an ardent ambition for literary fame; for, of all possessions, I should imagine literary fame to be the most valuable. A man who has been able to furnish a book, which has been approved by the world, has established himself as a respectable character in distant society, without any danger of having that character lessened by the observation of his weaknesses. To preserve an uniform dignity among those who see us every day, is hardly possible; and to aim at it, must put us under the fetters of perpetual restraint. The authour of an approved book may allow his natural disposition an easy play, and yet indulge the pride of superior genius, when he considers that by those who know him only as an authour, he never ceases to be respected. Such an authour, when in his hours of gloom and discontent, may have the consolation to think, that his writings are, at that very time, giving pleasure to numbers; and such an authour may cherish the hope of being remembered after death, which has been a great object to the noblest minds in all ages.’

  a [The first edition of Hume’s History of England was full of Scotticisms, many of which he corrected in subsequent editions.]

  a His Lordship having frequently spoken in an abusive manner of Dr. Johnson, in my company, I on one occasion during the life-time of my illustrious friend could not refrain from retaliation, and repeated to him this saying. He has since published I don’t know how many pages in one of his curious books, attempting, in much anger, but with pitiful effect, to persuade mankind that my illustrious friend was not the great and good man which they esteemed and ever will esteem him to be.

  b A Wife, a poem, 1614.

  a Of whom I acknowledge myself to be one, considering it as a piece of the secondary or comparative species of criticism; and not of that profound species which alone Dr. Johnson would allow to be ‘real criticism.’ It is, besides, clearly and elegantly expressed, and has done effectually what it professed to do, namely, vindicated Shakspeare from the misrepresentations of Voltaire; and considering how many young people were misled by his witty, though false observations, Mrs. Montagu’s Essay was of service to Shakspeare with a certain class of readers, and is, therefore, entitled to praise. Johnson, I am assured, allowed the merit which I have stated, saying, (with reference to Voltaire,) ‘it is conclusive ad hominem.’276

  a When Mr. Foote was at Edinburgh, he thought fit to entertain a numerous Scotch company, with a great deal of coarse jocularity, at the expense of Dr. Johnson, imagining it would be acceptable. I felt this as not civil to me; but sat very patiently till he had exhausted his merriment on that subject; and then observed, that surely Johnson must be allowed to have some sterling wit, and that I had heard him say a very good thing of Mr. Foote himself. ‘Ah, my old friend Sam (cried Foote,) no man says better things; do let us have it.’ Upon which I told the above story, which produced a very loud laugh from the company. But I never saw Foote so disconcerted. He looked grave and angry, and entered into a serious refutation of the justice of the remark.’What, Sir, (said he,) talk thus of a man of liberal education; – a man who for years was at the University of Oxford; – a man who has added sixteen new characters to the English drama of his country!’

  a I have since had reason to think that I was mistaken; for I have been informed by a lady, who was long intimate with her, and likely to be a more accurate observer of such matters, that she had acquired such a niceness of touch, as to know, by the feeling on the outside of the cup, how near it was to being full.

  a An acute correspondent of the European Magazine, April, 1792, has completely exposed a mistake which has been unaccountably frequent in ascribing these lines to Blackmore, notwithstanding that Sir Richard Steele, in that very popular work, The Spectator, mentions them as written by the Authour of The British Princes, the Honourable Edward Howard. The correspondent above mentioned, shews this mistake to be so inveterate, that not only I defended the lines as Blackmore’s, in the presence of Dr. Johnson, without any contradiction or doubt of their authenticity, but that the Reverend Mr. Whitaker has asserted in print, that he understands they were suppressed in the late edition or editions of Blackmore. ‘After all (says this intelligent writer) it is not unworthy of particular observation, that these lines so often quoted do
not exist either in Blackmore or Howard.’ In The British Princes, 8vo. 1669, now before me, p. 96, they stand thus: –

  ‘A vest as admir’d Voltiger had on,

  Which, from this Island’s foes, his grandsire won,

  Whose artful colour pass’d the Tyrian dye,

  Oblig’d to triumph in this legacy.’

  It is probable, I think, that some wag, in order to make Howard still more ridiculous than he really was, has formed the couplet as it now circulates.

  a Pr. and Med. p. 95 {p. 101}.

  a Son of the learned Mrs. Grierson, who was patronised by the late Lord Granville, and was the editor of several of the Classicks.

  a [In a Discourse by Sir William Jones, addressed to the Asiatick Society, Feb. 24, 1785, is the following passage: – ‘One of the most sagacious men in this age who continues, I hope, to improve and adorn it, Samuel Johnson, remarked in my hearing, that if Newton had flourished in ancient Greece, he would have been worshipped as a Divinity.’]

  a [These lines have been discovered by the author’s second son in the London Magazine for July, 1732, where they form part of a poem on Retirement, copied, with some slight variations, from one of Walsh’s smaller poems, entitled The Retirement. They exhibit another proof that Johnson retained in his memory fragments of neglected poetry. In quoting verses of that description, he appears by a slight variation to have sometimes given them a moral turn, and to have dexterously adapted them to his own sentiments, where the original had a very different tendency. In 1782, when he was at Brighthelmstone, he repeated to Mr. Metcalfe, some verses, as very characteristick of a celebrated historian.305 They are found among some anonymous poems appended to the second volume of a collection frequently printed by Lintot, under the title of Rope’s Miscellanies: –

  ‘See how the wand’ring Danube flows,

  Realms and religions parting;

  A friend to all true christian foes,

  To Peter, Jack, and Martin.

  Now Protestant, and Papist now,

  Not constant long to either,

  At length an infidel does grow,

  And ends his journey neither.

  Thus many a youth I’ve known set out,

  Half Protestant, half Papist,

  And rambling long the world about,

  Turn infidel or atheist.’]

  a Thoughts on the late Transactions respecting Falkland’s Islands.

  b By comparing the first with the subsequent editions, this curious circumstance of ministerial authorship may be discovered.

  a Pr. and Med. p. 101 {p.105}.

  b Thus translated by a friend: –

  In fame scarce second to the nurse of Jove,

  This Goat, who twice the world had traversed round,

  Deserving both her master’s care and love,

  Ease and perpetual pasture now has found.’

  a Mr. Langton married the Countess Dowager of Rothes.

  a ‘To JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

  ‘MY DEAR SIR,– ‘Edinburgh, May3, 1792.

  ‘As I suppose your great work will soon be reprinted, I beg leave to trouble you with a remark on a passage of it, in which I am a little misrepresented. Be not alarmed; the misrepresentation is not imputable to you. Not having the book at hand, I cannot specify the page, but I suppose you will easily find it. Dr. Johnson says, speaking of Mrs. Thrale’s family, “Dr. Beattie sunk upon us that he was married,” or words to that purpose. I am not sure that I understand sunk upon us, which is a very uncommon phrase, but it seems to me to imply, (and others, I find, have understood it in the same sense,) studiously concealed from us his being married. Now, Sir, this was by no means the case. I could have no motive to conceal a circumstance, of which I never was nor can be ashamed; and of which Dr. Johnson seemed to think, when he afterwards became acquainted with Mrs. Beattie, that I had, as was true, reason to be proud. So far was I from concealing her, that my wife had at that time almost as numerous an acquaintance in London as I had myself; and was, not very long after, kindly invited and elegantly entertained at Streatham by Mr. and Mrs. Thrale.

  ‘My request, therefore, is, that you would rectify this matter in your new edition. You are at liberty to make what use you please of this letter.

  ‘My best wishes ever attend you and your family. Believe me to be, with the utmost regard and esteem, dear Sir,

  ‘Your obliged and affectionate humble servant, ‘J. BEATTIE.’

  I have, from my respect for my friend Dr. Beattie, and regard to his extreme sensibility, inserted the foregoing letter, though I cannot but wonder at his considering as any imputation a phrase commonly used among the best friends.

  a See p. 289.

  a [This fiction is known to have been invented by Daniel Defoe, and was added to Drelincourt’s book, to make it sell. The first edition had it not.]

  a This project has since been realized. Sir Henry Liddel, who made a spirited tour into Lapland, brought two reindeer to his estate in Northumberland, where they bred; but the race has unfortunately perished.

  b [There is no Preface to The Rehearsal as originally published. Dr. Johnson seems to have meant the Address to the Reader with a Key subjoined to it; which have been prefixed to the modern editions of that play. He did not know, it appears, that several additions were made to The Rehearsal after the first edition.]

  a it must not be presumed that dr. johnson meant to give any countenance to licentiousness, though in the character of an advocate he made a just and subtle distinction between occasional and habitual transgression.

  a Mr. Samuel Paterson, eminent for his knowledge of books.

  b Mr. Paterson, in a pamphlet, produced some evidence to show that his work was written before Sterne’s Sentimental Journey appeared.

  a See this curious question treated by him with most acute ability, Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd edit. p. 33 {16 Aug.}.

  a Here was a blank, which may be filled up thus: – ‘was told by an apparition;’ – the writer being probably uncertain whether he was asleep or awake, when his mind was impressed with the solemn presentiment with which the fact afterwards happened so wonderfully to correspond.

  a It is remarkable, that Lord Monboddo, whom, on account of his resembling Dr. Johnson in some particulars, Foote called an Elzevir edition342 of him, has, by coincidence, made the very same remark. Origin and Progress of Language, vol. iii. 2nd edit. p. 219.

  a Pr. and Med. p. 111.

  a Mrs. Piozzi, to whom I told this anecdote, has related it, as if the gentleman had given ‘the natural history of the mouse.’ Anec. p. 191.

  a Wilson against Smith and Armour.

  a Lord Kames, in his Historical Law Tracts.

  a He, however, wrote, or partly wrote, an Epitaph on Mrs. Bell, wife of his friend John Bell, Esq., brother of the Reverend Dr. Bell, Prebendary of Westminster, which is printed in his Works {i. 151}. It is in English prose, and has so little of his manner, that I did not believe he had any hand in it, till I was satisfied of the fact by the authority of Mr. Bell.

  b Given by a lady at Edinburgh.

  c There had been masquerades in Scotland; but not for a very long time.

  a This gentleman,358 who now resides in America in a publick character of considerable dignity, desired that his name might not be transcribed at full length.

  a Now Doctor White, and Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania. During his first visit to England in 1771, as a candidate for holy orders, he was several times in company with Dr. Johnson, who expressed a wish to see the edition of his Rasselas, which Dr. White told him had been printed in America. Dr. White, on his return immediately sent him a copy.

  a Afterwards Charles I.

  a ‘By inscribing this slight performance to you, I do not mean so much to compliment you as myself. It may do me some honour to inform the publick, that I have lived many years in intimacy with you. It may serve the interests of mankind also to inform them, that the greatest wit may be found in a character, without impa
iring the most unaffected piety.’

  b See an account of this learned and respectable gentleman, and of his curious work on the Middle State, Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd edit. p. 371 {25 Oct.}.

  a The humours of Ballamagairy.

  a I regretted that Dr. Johnson never took the trouble to study a question which interested nations. He would not even read a pamphlet which I wrote upon it, entitled The Essence of the Douglas Cause; which, I have reason to flatter myself, had considerable effect in favour of Mr. Douglas; of whose legitimate filiation I was then, and am still, firmly convinced. Let me add, that no fact can be more respectably ascertained, than by the judgement of the most august tribunal in the world; a judgement, in which Lord Mansfield and Lord Camden united in 1769, and from which only five of a numerous body entered a protest.

  a [It has already been observed (ante, 291), that one of his first Essays was a Latin Poem on a glow-worm; but whether it be any where extant, has not been ascertained.]

  a Ovid. de Art. Amand. i. iii. v. 13.

  b In allusion to Dr. Johnson’s supposed political principles, and perhaps his own.

  a Here is another instance of his high admiration of Milton as a Poet, notwithstanding his just abhorrence of that sour Republican’s political principles. His candour and discrimination are equally conspicuous. Let us hear no more of his ‘injustice to Milton’.

  a Dr. Johnson’s memory here was not perfectly accurate: Eugenio does not conclude thus. There are eight more lines after the last of those quoted by him; and the passage which he meant to recite is as follows: –