if he denied it, think as well of him afterwards? Yet it may be urged that what a man has no right to ask, you may refuse to communicate; and there is no other effectual mode of preserving a secret, and an important secret, the discovery of which may be very hurtful to you, but a flat denial; for if you are silent, or hesitate, or evade, it will be held equivalent to a confession. But stay, Sir, here is another case.. Supposing the author had told me confidentially that he had written 'Junius,' and I were asked if he had, I should hold myself at liberty to deny it, as being under a previous promise, express or implied, to conceal it. Now what I ought to do for the author, may I not do for myself? But I deny the lawfulness of telling a lie to a sick man, for fear of alarming him. You have no business with consequences; you are to tell the truth. Besides, you are not sure what effect your telling him that he is in danger may have. It may bring his distemper to a crisis, and that may cure him. Of all lying, I have the greatest abhorrence of this, because I believe it has been frequently practised on myself."

I cannot help thinking that there is much weight in the opinion of those who have held that truth, as an eternal and immutable principle, ought, upon no account whatever, to be violated, from supposed previous or superior obligations, of which every man being to judge for himself, there is great danger that we too often, from partial motives, persuade ourselves that they exist; and probably whatever extraordinary instances may sometimes occur, where some evil may be prevented by violating this noble principle, it would be found that human happiness would, upon the whole, be more perfect, were truth universally preserved.

In the notes to the " Dunciad," we find the following verses, addressed to Pope : *

"While malice, Pope, denies thy page

Its own celestial fire;

While critics, and while bards in rage,
Admiring, won't admire :

While wayward pens thy worth assail,
And envious tongues decry;

These times, though many a friend bewail,
These times bewail not I.

But when the world's loud praise is thine,

And spleen no more shall blame : When with thy Homer thou shalt shine In one establish'd fame!

When none shall rail, and every lay
Devote a wreath to thee;

That day (for come it will) that day
Shall I lament to see."

It is surely not a little remarkable that they should appear without a name. Miss Seward, knowing Dr. Johnson's almost universal and minute literary information, signified a desire that I should ask him who was the author. He was prompt with his answer :- "Why, Sir, they were written by one Lewis, who was either under-master or an usher of Westminster-school, and published a Miscellany, in which 'Grongar Hill' first came out.” † Johnson praised them highly, and

"

† Lewis's Verses addressed to Pope (as Mr. Bindley suggests to me), were first published in a collection of Pieces in verse and prose on occasion of the " Dunciad," 8vo, 1732. They are there called an Epigram. Grongar Hill," the same gentleman observes, was first printed in Savage's "Miscellanies,' as an ode (it is singular that Johnson should not have recollected this), and was reprinted in the same year (1726) in Lewis's Miscellany," in the form it now bears.

In that "Miscellany" (as the Reverend Mr. Blakeway observes to me) "the beautiful poem, ' Away, let nought to love displeasing,' etc. (reprinted in Percy's RELIQUES, vol. i, b. iii, No. 14), first appeared." [Lewis was author of " Philip of Macedon," a tragedy, published in 1727, and dedicated to Pope; and in 1730 he published a second volume of miscellaneous poems.

As Dr. Johnson settled in London not long after the Verses addressed to Pope first appeared, he probably then obtained some information concerning their author, David Lewis, whom he has described as an Usher of Westminster-school; yet the Dean of Westminster, who has been pleased at my request to make some inquiry on this subject, has not found any vestige of his having ever been employed in this situation.-A late writer (" Environs of London," iv, 171), supposed that the following inscription in the churchyard of the church of Low Leyton, in Essex, was intended to commemorate this poet :

Etat. 75]

SACK. PARKER

1071

repeated them with a noble animation. In the twelfth line, instead of "one establish'd fame," he repeated "one unclouded flame," which he thought was the reading in former editions: but I believe was a flash of his own genius. It is much more poetical than the other.

On Monday, June 14, and Tuesday, 15, Dr. Johnson and I dined, on one of them, I forget which, with Mr. Mickle, translator of the "Lusiad," at Wheatley, a very pretty country place a few miles from Oxford; and on the other with Dr. Wetherell, Master of University College. From Dr. Wetherell's he went to visit Mr. Sackville Parker, the bookseller; and when he returned to us, gave the following account of his visit, saying, "I have been to see my old friend, Sack. Parker; I find he has married his maid; he has done right. She had lived with him many years in great confidence, and they had mingled minds; I do not think he could have found any wife that would have made him so happy. The woman was very attentive and civil to me. She pressed me to fix a day for dining with them, and to say what I liked, and she would be sure to get it for me. Poor Sack. He is very ill, indeed.* We parted as never to meet again. It has quite broken me down." This pathetic narrative was strangely diversified with the grave and earnest defence of a man's having married his maid. I could not but feel it as in some degree ludicrous.

In the morning of Tuesday, June 15, while we sat at Dr. Adams's, we talked of a printed letter from the Reverend Herbert Croft, to a young gentleman who had been his pupil, in which he advised him to read to the end of whatever books he should begin to read. JOHNSON: "This is surely a strange advice; you may as well resolve that whatever men you happen to get acquainted with, you are to keep to them for life. A book may be good for nothing; or there may be only one thing in it worth knowing are we to read it all through? These voyages (pointing to the three large volumes of 'Voyages to the South Sea,'t which were just come out) who will read them through? A man had better work his way before the mast than read them through; they will be eaten by rats and mice, before they are read through. There can be little entertainment in such books; one set of savages is like another." BoSWELL: "I do not think the people of Otaheité can be reckoned savages. JOHNSON: "Don't cant in defence of savages." BOSWELL : BOSWELL: "They have the art of navigation.”—JOHNSON: "A dog or a cat can swim." BOSWELL: "They carve very ingeniously." JOHNSON: JOHNSON: "A cat can scratch, and a child with a nail can scratch." I perceived this was none of the mollia tempora fandi, so desisted.

Upon his mentioning that when he came to college he wrote his first exercises twice over, but never did so afterwards; MISS ADAMS: "I suppose, Sir, you could not make them better?" JOHNSON: JOHNSON: "Yes, Madam, to be sure, I could make them better. Thought is better than no thought." MISS ADAMS: "Do you think, Sir,

"Sacred to the memory of David Lewis, Esq., who died the 8th day of April, 1760, aged 77 years; a great favourite of the Muses, as his many excellent pieces in poetry sufficiently testify.

Also Mary, the wife of the above-named David Lewis, fourth daughter of Newdigate Owsley, Esq., who departed this life the 10th of October, 1774, aged 90 years.'

But it appears to me improbable that this monument was erected for the author of the Verses to Pope, and of the Tragedy already mentioned; the language both of the dedication prefixed to that piece, and of the dedication addressed to the Earl of Shaftesbury, and prefixed to the Miscellanies," 1730, denoting a person who moved in a lower sphere than this Essex 'Squire seems to have done. M.]

* [He died at Oxford in his 89th year, December 10, 1796. M.]

↑ [Cook's voyages.]

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you could make your Ramblers better?" JOHNSON: Certainly I could.” BOSWELL: "I'll lay a bet, Sir, you cannot." JOHNSON: But I will, Sir, if I choose. I shall make the best of them you shall pick out, better." BOSWELL: “But you may add to them. I will not allow of that." JOHNSON: "Nay, Sir, there are three ways of making them better;-putting out, adding, or correcting."

During our visit at Oxford the following conversation passed between him and me on the subject of my trying my fortune at the English Bar. Having asked whether a very extensive acquaintance in London, which was very valuable, and of great advantage to a man at large, might not be prejudicial to a lawyer, by preventing him from giving sufficient attention to his business?-JOHNSON: "Sir, you will attend to business, as business lays hold of you. When not actually employed, you may see your friends as much as you do now. You may dine at a club every day, and sup with one of the members every night; and you may be as much at public places as one who has seen them all would wish to be. But you must take care to attend constantly in Westminster Hall; both to mind your business, as it is almost all learnt there (for nobody reads now), and to show that you want to have business. And you must not be too often seen at public places, that competitors may not have it to say, 'He is always at the Playhouse or at Ranelagh, and never to be found at his chambers.' And, Sir, there must be a kind of solemnity in the manner of a professional man. I have nothing particular to say to you on the subject. All this I should say to anyone; I should have said it to Lord Thurlow twenty years ago."

The PROFESSION may probably think this representation of what is required in a barrister who would hope for success, to be much too indulgent; but certain it is that as

"The wits of Charles found easier ways to fame,"

some of the lawyers of this age who have risen high, have by no means thought it absolutely necessary to submit to that long and painful course of study which a Plowden, a Coke, and a Hale, considered as requisite. My respected friend, Mr. Langton, has shown me, in the handwriting of his grandfather, a curious account of a conversation which he had with Lord Chief Justice Hale, in which that great man tells him, "That for two years after he came to the inn of court, he studied sixteen hours a day; however (his Lordship added), that by this intense application he almost brought himself to his grave, though he were of a very strong constitution, and after reduced himself to eight hours; but that he would not advise anyone to so much; that he thought six hours a day, with attention and constancy, was sufficient; that man must use his body as he would his horse, and his stomach, not tire him at once, but rise with an appetite."

CHAPTER LVI-1784

BOSWELL'S FAREWELL TO JOHNSON

Johnson and Boswell Return to London from Oxford-A Scheme for Study-Mr. Cator-Horry Walpole Johnson's Dislike of Puns-Edmund Burke-Johnson in the Militia-Reynolds's Discourses to the Royal Academy "-Johnson and the Compositor-Caleb Whitefoord-Johnson's Bull-George Steevens's Recollections of Johnson-Johnson's Last Visit to the Literary ClubEfforts to send Johnson to Italy-Lord Thurlow-Boswell's Last Meeting with Johnson-Mrs. Thrale's Marriage Her Anecdotes of Johnson.

ON Wednesday, June 19, Dr. Johnson and I returned to London; he was not well to-day, and said very little, employing himself chiefly in reading Euripides. He expressed some displeasure at me, for not observing sufficiently the various objects upon the road. "If I had your eyes, Sir (said he), I should count the passengers." It was wonderful how accurate his observation of visual objects was, notwithstanding his imperfect eyesight, owing to a habit of attention.-That he was much satisfied with the respect paid to him at Dr. Adams's is thus attested by himself: "I returned last night from Oxford, after a fortnight's abode with Dr. Adams, who treated me as well as I could expect or wish; and he that contents a sick man, a man whom it is impossible to please, has surely done his part well." * After his return to London from this excursion, I saw him frequently, but have few memorandums; I shall therefore here insert some particulars which I collected at various times.

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The Reverend Mr. Astle, of Ashbourne, in Derbyshire, brother to the learned and ingenious Thomas Astle, Esq., was from his early years known to Dr. Johnson, who obligingly advised him as to his studies, and recommended to him the following books, of which a list which he has been pleased to communicate, lies before me, in Johnson's own handwriting :-" Universal History (Ancient); "Rollin's "Ancient History; " Puffendorf's "Introduction to History; " Vertot's "History of Knights of Malta; Vertot's "Revolution of Portugal; Vertot's "Revolution of Sweden;" Carte's "History of England; "Present State of England ; "Geographical Grammar; "Prideaux's Connexion; "Nelson's Feasts and Fasts; "Duty of Man ; ""Gentleman's Religion;" "Clarendon's History; Watts's "Improvement of the Mind; " Watts's "Logic; "Nature Displayed; Lowth's "English Grammar; "Blackwell on the Classics; ""Sherlock's Sermons ; Burnet's "Life of Hale; Dupin's "History of the Church; Shuckford's Connexions; ""Law's Serious Call; " Walton's "Complete Angler; "Sandys's Travels; Spratt's History of the Royal Society; England's "Gazetteer; " Goldsmith's "Roman History; "some Commentaries on the Bible. It having been mentioned to Dr. Johnson that a gentleman who had a son whom he imagined to have an extreme degree of timidity, resolved to send him to a public school, that he might acquire confidence ;-" Sir (said Johnson), this is a preposterous "Letters to Mrs. Thrale," vol. ii, p. 372.

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expedient for removing his infirmity; such a disposition should be cultivated in the shade. Placing him at a public school is forcing an owl upon day."

Speaking of a gentleman whose house was much frequented by low company; "Rags, Sir (said he), will always make their appearance, where they have a right to do it."

Of the same gentleman's mode of living, he said, "Sir, the servants, instead of doing what they are bid, stand round the table in idle clusters, gaping upon the guests; and seem as unfit to attend a company as to steer a man-of-war.”

A dull country magistrate gave Johnson a long tedious account of his exercising his criminal jurisdiction, the result of which was having sentenced four convicts to transportation. Johnson, in an agony of impatience to get rid of such a companion, exclaimed, "I heartily wish, Sir, that I were a fifth."

Johnson was present when a tragedy was read, in which there occurred this line:

"Who rules o'er freemen should himself be free."

The company having admired it much, “ I cannot agree with you (said Johnson). It might as well be said,

He was pleased with the kindness of Mr. Cator, who was joined with him in Mr. Thrale's important trust, and thus describes him : *"There is much good in his character, and much usefulness in his knowledge." He found a cordial solace at that gentleman's seat at Beckenham, in Kent, which is indeed one of the finest places at which I ever was a guest; and where I find more and more a hospitable welcome. Johnson seldom encouraged general censure of any profession; but he was willing to allow a due share of merit to the various departments necessary in civilized life. In a splenetic, sarcastical, or jocular frame of mind, however, he would sometimes utter a pointed saying of that nature. One instance has been mentioned,† where he gave a sudden satirical stroke to the character of an attorney. The too indiscriminate admission to that employment, which requires both abilities and integrity, has given rise to injurious reflections, which are totally inapplicable to many very respectable men who exercise it with reputation and honour.

Johnson having argued for some time with a pertinacious gentleman: his opponent, who had talked in a very puzzling manner, happened to say, "I don't understand you, Sir; upon which Johnson observed, "Sir, I have found you an argument; but I am not obliged to find you an understanding."

Talking to me of Horry Walpole (as Horace, late Earl of Orford, was often called), Johnson allowed that he got together a great many curious little things, and told them in an elegant manner. Mr. Walpole thought Johnson a more amiable character after reading his "Letters to Mrs. Thrale"; but never was one of the true admirers of that great man. We may suppose a prejudice conceived, if he ever heard Johnson's account to Sir George Staunton, that when he made the speeches in Parliament for the Gentleman's Magazine, "he always took care to put Sir Robert Walpole in the wrong, and to say everything he could against the electorate of Hanover." The celebrated" Heroic Epistle," in which Johnson is satirically introduced, has been ascribed both to Mr. Walpole and Mr. Mason. One day at Mr. Courtenay's, when a gentleman expressed his opinion that there was more energy in that poem than

*"Letters to Mrs. Thrale," vol. ii, p. 284.

† See p. 374.

[In his Posthumous Works, he has spoken of Johnson in the most contemptuous manner! M.]