66 No man sympathises 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] politically regulated, is a state contradistinguished 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 other mortals] acted strongly upon his mind. "Eager to pursue knowledge and attentive to [accumulate] retain it. "A mind [excursive] active, ambitious, and ad venturous. "In its [noblest] widest searches 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 terrific and more powerful [beings] phantoms perform on the stormy 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 lent Steele a hundred pounds, and "reclaimed his loan by an execution." In the new edition of the Biographia Britannica, the authenticity of this anecdote is denied. But Mr. Malone has obliged me with the following note concerning it: natured view of rousing Steele, and correcting that profusion which always made him necessitous.' 'If that were the case,' said Johnson, and that he only wanted to alarm Steele, he would afterwards have returned the money to his friend, which it is not pretended he did.' This too,' he added, 'might be retorted by an advocate for Steele, who might allege, that he did not repay the loan intentionally, merely to see whether Addison would be mean and ungenerous enough to make use of legal process to recover it. But of such speculations there is no end; we cannot dive into the hearts of men; but their actions are open to observation.' "I then mentioned to him that some people thought that Mr. Addison's character was so pure, that the fact, though true, ought to have been suppressed. He saw no reason for this. If nothing but the bright side of characters should be shown, we should sit down in despondency, and think it utterly impossible to imitate them in any thing. The sacred writers,' he observed, related the vicious as well as the virtuous actions of men; which had this moral effect, that it kept mankind from despair, into which otherwise they would naturally fall, were they not supported by the recollection that others had offended like themselves, and by penitence and amendment of life had been restored to the favour of Heaven.'' "His purpose was to [diffuse] infuse literary curiosity by gentle and unsuspected conveyance [among] into the gay, the idle, and the wealthy. "Framed rather for those that [wish] are learning to write. "Domestic [manners] scenes." "March 15th, 1781. 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 it from Savage, who lived in intimacy with Steele, and who mentioned, that Steele told him the story with tears in his eyes. In his Life of PARNELL, I wonder that JohnBen Victor, Dr. Johnson said, likewise informed son omitted to insert an epitaph which he had him of this remarkable transaction, from the rela- long before composed for that amiable man, tion of Mr. Wilks the comedian, who was also an without ever writing it down, but which he intimate of Steele's. Some, in defence of Addison, was so good as, at my request, to dictate to have said, that the act was done with the good-me, by which means it has been preserved. 1 The late Mr. Burke informed me, in 1792, that Lady Dorothea Primrose, who died at a great age, I think in 1768, and had been well acquainted with Steele, told him the same story. MALONE. Lady Dorothea, the sixth and youngest daughter of the first Earl of Roseberry, could not have been, at her death, in 1768, more than sixty-five, and was probably some years less, and must have been little more than a child when Addison died; so that her evidence as a contemporary is not worth much. If the story be at all true (which I doubt), the most probable explanation is that which was given by Mr. Thomas Sheridan (see post, 15th April, 1781), namely, that it was a friendly execution put in to screen Steele's goods from hostile creditors. A not unfrequent practice, nor quite unjustifiable, when the debt is real. -CROKER. 2 I have since observed, that Johnson has further enforced the propriety of exhibiting the faults of virtuous and eminent men in their true colours, in the last paragraph of the 164th Number of his Rambler: "It is particularly the duty of those who consign illustrious names to posterity, to take care lest their readers be misled by ambiguous examples. That writer may be justly condemned as an enemy to goodness, who suffers fondness or interest to confound right with wrong, or to shelter the faults which even the wisest and the best have committed, from that ignominy which guilt ought always to suffer, and with which it should be more deeply stigmatised, when dignified by its neighbourhood to uncommon worth; since we shall be in danger of beholding it without abhorrence, unless its turpitude be laid open, and the eye secured from the deception of surrounding splendour." MALONE. 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 with that which took away all his powers of enjoying either profit or pleasure, the death of his wife, whom he is said to have lamented with such sorrow, as hastened his end.'] His end, whatever was the cause, was now approaching. "In the Hermit, the [composition] narrative, as it is less airy, is less pleasing." In the Life of BLACKMORE, we find that writer's reputation generously cleared by Johnson from the cloud of prejudice which the malignity of contemporary wits had raised around it. In the spirited exertion of justice, he has been imitated by Sir Joshua Reynolds, in his praise of the architecture of Vanbrugh. We trace Johnson's own character in his observations on Blackmore's "magnanimity as an author." "The incessant attacks of his enemies, whether serious or merry, are never discovered to have disturbed his quiet, or to have lessened his confidence in himself." Johnson, I recollect, once told me, laughing heartily, that he understood it has been 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 any man's real sentiments, that he enjoyed the perpetual shower of little hostile 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 [shown] 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. 66 "At least [written] compiled with integrity. 1 I should have thought that Johnson, who had felt the severe affliction from which Parnell never recovered, would have preserved this passage. He omitted it, doubtless, because he afterwards learned, that however he might have lamented his wife, his end was hastened by other means. MALONE. Malone had not turned to the Life, where he would have found the substance of this passage transferred to another paragraph. The common story combines both these causes; for it is said that the loss of his wife led poor Parnell into such intemperance as shortened his life. - CROKER, 1835. Let not my readers smile to think of Johnson's being a candidate for female favour; Mr. Peter Garrick assured me that he was told by a lady, that, in her opinion, Johnson was "Faults which many tongues were desirous] would have made haste to publish. "But though he [had not] could not boast of much critical knowledge. "He [used] waited for no felicities of fancy. "Or had ever elated his [mind] views to that ideal perfection which every [mind] genius born to excel is condemned always to pursue and never to overtake. “The [first great] fundamental principle of wisdom and of virtue." Various Readings in the Life of PHILIPS. "His dreaded [rival] antagonist Pope. 66 They [have not often much] are not loaded with thought. "In his translation 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 equally pleasing with his writings. "It apparently [requires] presupposes a similar knowledge of many characters. 46 Reciprocation of [similes] conceits. "The dialogue is [quick and various] sparkling. life] of nearer alliance to life. "Love for Love; a comedy [more drawn from that they show little wit and [no] little virtue. "The general character of his miscellanies is, "[Perhaps] certainly he had not the fire requisite for the higher species of lyric 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 and Gothic fairies." Various Readings in the Life of Akenside. "For [another] a different purpose. zeal. 66 [A furious] an unnecessary, and outrageous [Something which] what he called and thought liberty. 66 tion. [A favourer of innovation] lover of contradic "Warburton's [censure] objections. "Mr. Dyson with [a zeal] an ardour of friendship." In the Life of LYTTELTON, Johnson seems to have been not favourably disposed towards that nobleman. Mrs. Thrale suggests that be! was offended by Molly Aston's preference of his lordship to him. I can by no means join | 66 in the censure bestowed by Johnson on his lordship, whom he calls "poor Lyttelton," for returning thanks to the critical reviewers, for having kindly commended" his "Dialogues of the Dead." Such acknowledgments," says my friend, "never can be proper, since they must be paid either for flattery or for justice." In my opinion, 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, who are so much the arbiters of literary merit, as in a considerable degree to influence the public opinion, review an author's work, placido lumine, when I am afraid mankind in general are better pleased with severity, he may surely express a grateful sense of their civility. 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 than compositions. "His last literary [work] production. [Found the way] undertook to persuade." As the introduction to his critical examination of the genius and writings of YOUNG, he did Mr. Herbert Croft, then a barrister of Lincoln's Inn, now a clergyman', the honour to adopt a Life of Young, written by that gentleman, who was the friend of Dr. Young's son, and wished to vindicate him from some very erroneous remarks to his prejudice. Mr. Croft's performance was subjected to the revision of Dr. Johnson, as appears from the following note to Mr. John Nichols 2: "This Life of Dr. Young was written by a friend of his son. What is crossed with black is expunged by the author, what is crossed with red is expunged by me. If you find any thing more that can be well omitted, I shall not be sorry to see it yet shorter." It has always appeared to me to have a considerable share of merit, and to display a pretty successful imitation of Johnson's style. When I mentioned this to a very eminent literary character [Mr. Burke], he opposed me vehemently, exclaiming, "No, no, it is not a good imitation of Johnson; it has all his pomp without his force; year; and to declare my wishes that your years to come may be many and happy. In this wish, indeed, I include myself, who have none but you on whom my heart reposes; yet surely I wish your good, even though your situation were such as should permit you to communicate no gratifications to, dearest, dearest Madam, your, &c., SAM. JOHNSON." - BOSWELL. There is here a slight mistake in the text. It was not Molly Aston, but Hill Boothby, for whose affections Johnson and Lord Lyttelton were rival candidates. - MALONE. The mistake of the gay and handsome Molly Aston the object of Johnson's youthful admiration, for Miss Boothby whom he never saw till she was an ailing and ascetic old maid, is surely not a slight one. See antè, p. 20. n. 2. Mrs. Piozzi states that Johnson confessed that he had depreciated Lyttel ton from a jealous recollection of the preference that Miss Boothby showed him. But this would indeed have been an it has all the nodosities 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 he was not. And setting his mind again to work, he added, with exquisite felicity, "It has all the contortions of the sibyl, without the inspiration." 6 Mr. Croft very properly guards us against supposing that Young was a gloomy man; and mentions, that "his parish was indebted to the good-humour of the author of the Night Thoughts' for an assembly and a bowling-green." A letter from a noble foreigner is quoted, in which he is said to have been "very pleasant in conversation." Mr. Langton, who frequently visited him, informs me that there was an air of benevolence in his manner, but that he could obtain from him less information than he had hoped to receive from one who had lived so much in intercourse with the brightest men of what has been called the Augustan age of England; and that he showed a degree of eager curiosity concerning the common occurrences that were then passing, which appeared somewhat remarkable in a man of such intellectual stores, from life with declared disappointment in his of such an advanced age, and who had retired expectations. mind, and his cheerfulness of temper, appeared An instance at once of his pensive turn of in a little story, which he himself told to Mr. Langton, when they were walking in his garden: "Here (said he) I had put a handsome sun-dial, with this inscription, Eheu fugaces! which (speaking with a smile) was sadly verified, for by the next morning my dial had been carried off. 3 It gives me much pleasure to observe, that however Johnson may have casually talked, yet when he sits, as "an ardent judge zealous to his trust, giving sentence" upon the excellent works of Young, he allows them the high praise to which they are justly entitled. "The Universal Passion," says he, " is indeed a very great performance, his distichs have the weight of solid sentiment, and his points the sharpness of resistless truth." But I was most anxious concerning Johnson's decision upon "Night Thoughts," which I esteem as a mass of the grandest and richest odium in longum jacens, as Miss Boothby had been dead twenty-five years. She might perhaps have offended the proud spirit of Johnson, by paying more attention to so distinguished a visitor as Sir George Lyttelton; but that he, a married and eminently moral man, could, at the time of Johnson's acquaintance with her, have had any design on poor Miss Boothby's heart, is quite impossible. -CROKER. 1 See antè p. 650. n. 2. — C. 2 Gentleman's Magazine, vol. Iv. p. 10. 3 The late Mr. James Ralph told Lord Macartney, that he passed an evening with Dr. Young at Lord Melcombe's (then Mr. Doddington), at Hammersmith. The doctor happening to go out into the garden, Mr. Doddington 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 is abroad!"- BOSWELL. poetry that human genius has ever produced; and was delighted to find this character of that work: “In his 'Night Thoughts,' he has exhibited a very wide display of original poetry, variegated with deep reflection and striking allusions: a wilderness of thought, in which the fertility of fancy scatters flowers of every hue and of every odour. This is one of the few poems in which blank verse could not be changed for rhyme, but with disadvantage." And afterwards, “Particular lines are not to be regarded; the power is in the whole; and in the whole there is a magnificence like that ascribed to Chinese plantation, the magnificence of vast extent and endless diversity." But there is in this poem not only all that Johnson so well brings in view, but a power of the pathetic beyond almost any example that I have seen. He who does not feel his nerves shaken and his heart pierced by many passages in this extraordinary work, particularly by that most affecting one, which describes the gradual torment suffered by the contemplation of an object of affectionate attachment visibly and certainly decaying into dissolution, must be of a hard and obstinate frame. 66 To all the other excellencies of "Night Thoughts" let me add the great and peculiar one, that they contain not only the noblest sentiments of virtue and contemplations on immortality, but the Christian sacrifice, the divine propitiation, with all its interesting circumstances, and consolations to a wounded spirit," solemnly and poetically displayed in such imagery and language, as cannot fail to exalt, animate, and soothe the truly pious. No book whatever can be recommended to young persons, with better hopes of seasoning their minds with vital religion, than "Young's Night Thoughts.' In the Life of SWIFT, it appears to me that Johnson had a certain degree of prejudice against that extraordinary man, of which I have elsewhere had occasion to speak. Mr. Thomas Sheridan imputed it to a supposed apprehension in Johnson, that Swift had not been sufficiently active in obtaining for him an Irish degree when it was solicited'; but of this there was not sufficient evidence; and let me not presume to charge Johnson with injustice, because he did not think so highly of the writings of this author, as I have done from my youth upwards. Yet that he had an unfavourable bias is evident, were it only from that passage in which he speaks of Swift's practice of saving, as "first ridiculous, and at fast detestable;" and yet, after some examination of circumstances, finds himself obliged to own, that "it will perhaps appear that he only liked one mode of expense better than another, 1 See anté, p. 37. n. 3. and p. 277. — C. Mr. Chalmers here records a curious literary anecdotethat when a new and enlarged edition of the "Lives of the Poets" was published in 1783, Mr. Nichols, in justice to the purchasers of the preceding editions, printed the additions in and saved merely that he might have something to give." One observation which Johnson makes in Swift's life should be often inculcated: “It may be justly supposed, that there was in his conversation what appears so frequently in his letters, an affectation of familiarity with the great, an ambition of momentary equality, sought and enjoyed by the neglect of those ceremonies which custom has established as the barriers between one order of society and another. This transgression of regularity was by himself and his admirers termed greatness of soul; but a great mind disdains to hold any thing by courtesy, and therefore never usurps what a lawful claimant may take away. He that encroaches on another's dignity, puts himself in his power; he is either repelled with helpless indignity, or endured by clemency and condescension." Various Readings in the Life of SwIFT. might be written by a man of a peculiar [opinions] "Charity may be persuaded to think that it character, without ill intention. "He did not [disown] deny it. "[To] by whose kindness it is not unlikely that he was [indebted for] advanced to his benefices. "[With] for this purpose he had recourse to Mr. Harley. "Sharpe, whom he [represents] describes as the harmless tool of others' hate.' Harley was slow because he was [irresolute] doubtful. "When [readers were not many] we were not yet a nation of readers. 66 him. 66 [Every man who] he that could say he knew Every man of known influence has so many [more] petitions [than] which [he can] cannot grant, that he must necessarily offend more than he [can gratify] gratifies. Ecclesiastical [preferments] benefices. "Swift [procured] contrived an interview. [As a writer] In his works he has given very different specimens. "On all common occasions he habitually [assumes] affects a style of [superiority] arrogance. "By the [omission] neglect of those ceremonies. "That their merits filled the world [and] or that there was no [room for] hope of more." I have not confined myself to the order of the "Lives," in making my few remarks Indeed a different order is observed in the original publication, and in the collection of Johnson's works. And should it be objected, that many of my various readings are inconsiderable, those who make an objection will be pleased to consider, that such small particulars are intended for those who are nicely critical in composition, to whom they will be an acceptable selection.2 a separate pamphlet, and advertised that it might be hal gratis. Not ten copies were called for. It may be presumed that the owners of the former editions had bound their sets. but it must also be observed, that the alterations were of considerable. CROKER. "Spence's Anecdotes," which are frequently quoted and referred to in Johnson's "Lives of the Poets," are in a manuscript collection, made by the Reverend Mr. Joseph Spence', containing a number of particulars concerning eminent men. To each anecdote is marked the name of the person on whose authority it is mentioned. This valuable collection is the property of the Duke of Newcastle, who, upon the application of Sir Lucas Pepys, was pleased to permit it to be put into the hands of Dr. Johnson, who I am sorry to think made but an awkward return. "Great assistance," says he," has been given me by Mr. Spence's Collection, of which I consider the communication as a favour worthy of public acknowledgement:" but he has not owned to whom he was obliged; so that the acknowledgement is unappropriated to his grace.2 While the world in general was filled with WHILE my friend is thus contemplated in the admiration of Johnson's "Lives of the Poets," splendour derived from his last and perhaps there were narrow circles in which prejudice most admirable work, I introduce him with and resentment were fostered, and from which peculiar propriety as the correspondent of Warren Hastings! a man whose regard reattacks of different sorts issued against him. 3 By some violent Whigs he was arraigned of flects dignity even upon Johnson; a man, the injustice to Milton; by some Cambridge men, his power; and who, by those who are forextent of whose abilities was equal to that of of depreciating Gray; and his expressing with a dignified freedom what he really thought of tunate enough to know him in private life, is admired for his literature and taste, and George, Lord Lyttelton, gave offence to some of the friends of that nobleman, and particu- beloved for the candour, moderation, and larly produced a declaration of war against mildness of his character. Were I capable of him from Mrs. Montagu, the ingenious essayist paying a suitable tribute of admiration to him, on Shakspeare, between whom and his lordship I should certainly not withhold it at a moa commerce of reciprocal compliments had long ment 5 when it is not possible that I should be been carried on. In this war the smaller pow- suspected of being an interested flatterer. But ers in alliance with him were of course led to how weak would be my voice after that of the engage, at least on the defensive, and thus I millions whom he governed! His condescendfor one was excluded from the enjoyment of ing and obliging compliance with my solicita"a Feast of Reason," such as Mr. Cumberland tion, I with humble gratitude acknowledge; has described, with a keen yet just and delicate and while by publishing his letter to me, pen, in his "Observer." These minute incon-accompanying the valuable communication, I veniences gave not the least disturbance to Johnson. He nobly said, when I talked to him of the feeble though shrill outery which had been raised, "Sir, I considered myself as intrusted with a certain portion of truth. have given my opinion sincerely; let them show where they think me wrong." do eminent honour to my great friend, I shall entirely disregard any invidious suggestions, that, as I in some degree participate in the honour, I have, at the same time, the gratiIfication of my own vanity in view. 1 The Rev. Joseph Spence, A. M., Rector of Great Harwood in Buckinghamshire, and Prebendary of Durham, died at Byfleet in Surrey, August 20. 1768 He was a fellow of New College in Oxford, and held the office of Professor of Poetry in that University from 1728 to 1738.- MALONE. 2 It appears from a letter of Mrs. Boscawen to Hannah More (Mem. i. 191.) that she was the person who procured Johnson the loan of Spence's papers.-CRoker, 1835. 3 From this disreputable class, I except an ingenious, though not satisfactory, defence of Hammond, which I did not see till lately, by the favour of its author, my amiable WARREN HASTINGS TO BOSWELL. "Park Lane, Dec. 2. 1790. SIR,I have been fortunately spared the troublesome suspense of a long search, to which, in performance of my promise, I had devoted this morning, by lighting upon the objects of it among the first papers that I laid my hands on; my veneration for your great and good friend, Dr. Johnson, and the pride, or I hope something of a better sentiment, which I indulge in possessing such |