'I am afraid Beattie will not be at his College soon enough for us, and I shall be sorry to miss him; but there is no staying for the concurrence of all conveniences. We will do as well as we can.-I am, sir, your most humble servant, 'SAM. JOHNSON.'

TO THE SAME.

August 3, 1773. 'DEAR SIR,-Not being at Mr. Thrale's when your letter came, I had written the inclosed paper and sealed it; bringing it hither for a frank, I found yours. If anything could repress my ardour, it would be such a letter as yours. To disappoint a friend is unpleasing: and he that forms expectations like yours, must be disap-❘ pointed. Think only when you see me, that you see a man who loves you, and is proud and glad that you love him.-I am, sir, your most affectionate, 'SAM. JOHNSON.'

TO THE SAME.

'NEWCASTLE, Aug. 11, 1773. 'DEAR SIR,-I came hither last night, and hope, but do not absolutely promise, to be in Edinburgh on Saturday. Beattie will not come so soon.-I am, sir, your most humble servant, 'SAM. JOHNSON.'

'My compliments to your lady.'

TO THE SAME.

'Saturday night. 'Mr. Johnson sends his compliments to Mr. Boswell, being just arrived at Boyd's.'

His stay in Scotland was from the 18th of August, on which day he arrived, till the 22d of November, when he set out on his return to London; and I believe ninety-four days were never passed by any man in a more vigorous exertion.

He came by the way of Berwick-upon-Tweed to Edinburgh, where he remained a few days, and then went by St. Andrews, Aberdeen, Inverness, and Fort Augustus, to the Hebrides, to visit which was the principal object he had in view. He visited the isles of Sky, Rasay, Coll, Mull, Inchkenneth, and Icolmkill. He travelled through Argyleshire, by Inverary, and from thence by Lochlomond and Dumbarton to Glasgow, then by Loudon to Auchinleck in Ayrshire, the seat of my family, and then by Hamilton, back to Edinburgh, where he again spent some time. He thus saw the four Universities of Scotland, its three principal cities, and as much of the Highland and insular life as was sufficient for his philosophical contemplation. I had the pleasure of accompanying him during the whole of his journey. He was respectfully entertained by the great, the learned, and the elegant wherever he went; nor was he less delighted

His various adventures, and the force and vivacity of his mind, as exercised during this peregrination, upon innumerable topics, have been faithfully, and to the best of my abilities, displayed in my Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, to which, as the public has been pleased to honour it by a very extensive circulation, I beg leave to refer, as to a separate and remarkable portion of his life,' which may be there seen in detail, and which exhibits as striking a view of his powers in conversation, as his works do of his excellence in writing. Nor can I deny to myself the very flattering gratification of inserting here the character which my friend Mr. Courtenay has been pleased to give of that work:

'With Reynolds' pencil, vivid, bold, and true, So fervent Boswell gives him to our view: In every trait we see his mind expand; The master rises by the pupil's hand; We love the writer, praise his happy vein, Graced with the naïveté of the sage Montaigne. Hence not alone are brighter parts display'd, But e'en the specks of character portray'd: We see the Rambler with fastidious smile Mark the lone tree, and note the heath-clad isle; But when the heroic tale of Flora 2 charms, Deck'd in a kilt, he wields a chieftain's arms: The tuneful piper sounds a martial strain, And Samuel sings "The King shall have his ain."'During his stay at Edinburgh, after his return from the Hebrides, he was at great pains to obtain information concerning Scotland; and it will appear, from his subsequent letters, that he was not less solicitous for intelligence on this subject after his return to London.

'TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

'Nov. 27, 1773.

'DEAR SIR,-I came home last night without any incommodity, danger, or weariness, and am ready to begin a new journey. I shall go to Oxford on Monday. I know Mrs. Boswell wished me well to go; her wishes have not been

1. The author was not a small gainer by this extraordinary journey; for Dr. Johnson thus writes to Mrs. Thrale, Nov. 3, 1773: Boswell will praise my resolu tion and perseverance, and I shall in return celebrate his good humour and perpetual cheerfulness. He has better faculties than I had imagined; more justness of discernment, and more fecundity of images. It is very convenient to travel with him; for there is no house where he is not received with kindness and respect.' Let. 90, to Mrs. Thrale.-MALONE

2 The celebrated Flora Macdonald.' See Boswell's Tour to the Hebrides.

3 In this he showed a very acute penetration. My wife paid him the most assiduous and respectful attention, while he was our guest; so that I wonder how he discovered her wishing for his departure. The truth is, that his irregular hours and uncouth habits, such as turning the candles with their heads downwards when they did not burn bright enough, and letting the wax drop upon the carpet, could not but be disagree

disappointed. Mrs. Williams has received Sir A.'s' letter.

son, and see if you cannot give me a better inscription. I must have it both in Latin and

'You shall have what information I can procure as to the order of the Clans. A gentleman of the name of Grant tells me that there is no settled order among them; and he says that the Macdonalds were not placed upon the right of the army at Culloden: the Stuarts were. I shall, however, examine witnesses of every name that I can find here. Dr. Webster shall be quickened too. I like your little memorandums; they are symptoms of your being in earnest with your book of northern travels.

Your box shall be sent next week by sea. You will find in it some pieces of the broom bush, which you saw growing on the old castle of Auchinleck. The wood has a curious appearance when sawn across. You may either have a little writing-standish made of it, or get it formed into boards for a treatise on witchcraft, by way of a suitable binding.'

'Be so good as to read the passage in. Robertable to a lady. Besides, she had not that high admiration of him which was felt by most of those who knew hun; and what was very natural to a female mind, she thought he had too much influence over her husband. She once in a little warmth made, with more point than justice, this remark upon that subject: 'I have seen many a bear led by a man; but I never before saw a man led by a bear.'-BOSWELL.

18r Alexander Gordon, one of the Professors at Aberdeen-BOSWELL

This was a box containing a number of curious ngs which he had picked up in Scotland, particularly me horn spoons.-BOSWELL.

The Reverend Dr. Alexander Webster, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, a man of distinguished abilities, who had promised him information concerning the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. - BOSWELL

Latin one, you will at least choose the best of these two, and send a translation of it.'

His humane forgiving disposition was put to a pretty strong test on his return to London, by a liberty which Mr. Thomas Davies had taken with him in his absence, which was, to publish two volumes, entitled Miscellaneous and Fugitive Pieces, which he advertised in the newspapers, By the Author of the Rambler.' In this collection, several of Dr. Johnson's acknowledged writings, several of his anonymous performances, and some which he had written for others, were inserted; but there were also some in which he had no concern whatever. He was at first very angry, as he had good reason to be. But, upon consideration of his poor friend's narrow circumstances, and that he had only a little profit in view, and meant no harm, he soon relented, and continued his kindness to him as formerly.

In the course of his self-examination with retrospect to this year, he seems to have been much dejected: for he says, January 1, 1774, "This year has passed with so little improvement, that I doubt whether I have not rather impaired than increased my learning;' and yet we have seen how he read, and we know how he talked during that period.

1

He was now seriously engaged in writing an account of our travels in the Hebrides, in consequence of which I had the pleasure of a more frequent correspondence with him.

'TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

-

'Jan. 29, 1774. 'DEAR SIR, My operations have been hindered by a cough; at least I flatter myself, that if my cough had not come, I should have been further advanced. But I have had no intelligence from Dr. W- [Webster], nor from the Excise Office, nor from you. No account of the little borough. Nothing of the Erse language. I have yet heard nothing of my box.

'You must make haste and gather me all you can, and do it quickly, or I will and shall do without it.

'Make my compliments to Mrs. Boswell, and tell her that I do not love her the less for wishing me away. I gave her trouble enough, and shall be glad, in recompense, to give her any pleasure.

'I would send some porter into the Hebrides, if I knew which way it could be got to my kind. friends there. Inquire, and let me know.

1 Prayers and Meditations, p. 129.-BOSWELL. 2 The ancient burgh of Prestick in Ayrshire.-Bos

WELL,

'Make my compliments to all the Doctors of Edinburgh, and to all my friends, from one end of Scotland to the other.

'Write to me, and send me what intelligence you can; and if anything is too bulky for the post, let me have it by the carrier. I do not like trusting wind and waves.-I am, dear sir, your most, etc., 'SAM. JOHNSON.'

TO THE SAME.

'LONDON, Feb. 7, 1774. ‘DEAR SIR,—In a day or two after I had

written the last discontented letter, I received my box, which was very welcome. But still I must entreat you to hasten Dr. Webster, and continue to pick up what you can that may be useful.

'Mr. Oglethorpe was with me this morning. You know his errand. He was not unwelcome.

'Tell Mrs. Boswell that my good intentions towards her still continue. I should be glad to do anything that would either benefit or please her,

'Chambers is not yet gone, but so hurried or so negligent, or so proud, that I rarely see him. I have indeed, for some weeks past, been very ill of a cold and cough, and have been at Mrs. Thrale's, that I might be taken care of. I am much better; nova redeunt in prælia vires; but I am yet tender and easily disordered. How happy it was that neither of us were ill in the Hebrides!

'The question of Literary Property is this day before the Lords. Murphy drew up the Appellant's case, that is, the plea against the perpetual right. I have not seen it, nor heard the decision. I would not have the right perpetual.

'I will write to you as anything occurs, and do you send me something about my Scottish friends. I have very great kindness for them. Let me know likewise how fees come in, and when we are to see you. I am, sir, yours affectionately, 'SAM. JOHNSON.'

He at this time wrote the following letters to Mr. Steevens, his able associate in editing Shak

speare:

'TO GEORGE STEEVENS, ESQ., HAMPSTEAD. 'Feb. 7, 1774. 'SIR,-If I am asked when I have seen Mr. Steevens, you know what answer I must give; if I am asked when I shall see him, I wish you would tell me what to say.

'If you have Lesley's History of Scotland, or any other book about Scotland except Boetius and Buchanan, it will be a kindness if you send them to, sir, your humble servant,

'SAM. JOHNSON.'

TO THE SAME.

'Feb. 21, 1774. 'SIR,-We are thinking to augment our Club, and I am desirous of nominating you, if you

care to stand the ballot, and can attend on Friday nights at least twice in five weeks; less than this is too little, and rather more will be expected. Be pleased to let me know before | Friday.-I am, sir, your most, etc.,

'SAM. JOHNSON.'

TO THE SAME,

'March 5, 1774.

'SIR,-Last night you became a member of the Club; if you call on me on Friday, I will introduce you. A gentleman proposed after you was rejected. I thank you for Neander,1 but wish he were not so fine. I will take care of him.-I am, sir, your humble servant,

'SAM. JOHNSON.'

'TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

'March 5, 1774.

'DEAR SIR,-Dr. Webster's informations were much less exact and much less determined than I expected: they are, indeed, much less positive than, if he can trust his own book," which he laid before me, he is able to give. But I believe it will always be found that he who calls

much for information will advance his work but slowly.

'I am, however, obliged to you, dear sir, for your endeavours to help me, and hope that between us something will some time be done, if not on this, on some occasion.

'Chambers is either married or almost married to Miss Wilton, a girl of sixteen, exquisitely beautiful, whom he has, with his lawyer's tongue, persuaded to take her chance with him in the East.

'We have added to the club Charles Fox, Sir Charles Bunbury, Dr. Fordyce, and Mr. Steevens.

'Return my thanks to Dr. Webster. Tell Dr. Robertson I have not much to reply to his censure of my negligence: and tell Dr. Blair, that since he has written hither what I said to

him, we must now consider ourselves as even, forgive one another, and begin again. I care not how soon, for he is a very pleasing man. Pay my compliments to all my friends, and remind Lord Elibank of his promise to give me all his works.

'I hope Mrs. Boswell and little Miss are well. -When shall I see them again? She is a sweet lady; only she was so glad to see me go, that

1 See the Catalogue of Mr. Steevens's Library, No. 265: Neandri (Mich.) Opus aureum, Gr. et Lat. 2 tom. 4to. corio turcico, foliis deauratis. Lipsiæ, 1577.'-This was doubtless the book which appears to have been lent by Mr. Steevens to Dr. Johnson. -MALONE.

? A manuscript account drawn by Dr. Webster of all the parishes in Scotland, ascertaining their length, breadth, number of inhabitants, and distinguishing Protestants and Roman Catholics. This book had been transmitted to government, and Dr. Johnson saw a copy of it in Dr. Webster's possession.-BOSWELL

I have almost a mind to come again, that she may again have the same pleasure.

'Inquire if it be practicable to send a small present of a cask of porter to Dunvegan, Rasay, and Coll. I would not wish to be thought forgetful of civilities.-I am, sir, your humble servant, 'SAM. JOHNSON.'

On the 5th of March I wrote to him, requesting his counsel whether I should this spring come to London. I stated to him, on the one hand, some pecuniary embarrassments, which, together with my wife's situation at that time, made me hesitate: and, on the other, the pleasure and improvement which my annual visit to the metropolis always afforded me; and particularly | mentioned a peculiar satisfaction which I experienced in celebrating the festival of Easter in St. Paul's Cathedral; that to my fancy it appeared like going up to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover; and that the strong devotion which I felt on that occasion diffused its influence on my mind through the rest of the year.

'TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

[Not dated, but written about the 15th of March.] 'DEAR SIR,-I am ashamed to think that since I received your letter I have passed so many days without answering it.

'I think there is no great difficulty in resolving your doubts. The reasons for which you are inclined to visit London, are I think Lot of sufficient strength to answer the objections. That you should delight to come once a year to the fountain of intelligence and pleasure, is very natural; but both information and pleasure must be regulated by propriety. Pleasure, which cannot be obtained but by unseasonable or unsuitable expense, must always end in pain; and pleasure, which must be enjoyed at the expense of another's pain, can never be such as a worthy mind can fully delight in.

What improvement you might gain by coming to London, you may easily supply or easily compensate, by enjoining yourself some particular study at home, or opening some new avenue to information. Edinburgh is not yet exhausted; and I am sure you will find no pleasure here which can deserve either that you should anticipate any part of your future fortune, or that you should condemn yourself and your bly to penurious frugality for the rest of the

year.

'I need not tell you what regard you owe to Mr. Boswell's entreaties; or how much you ought to study the happiness of her who studies years with so much diligence, and of whose kindness you enjoy such good effects. Life Cannot subsist in society but by reciprocal concessions. She permitted you to ramble last year, you must permit her now to keep you at home.

"Your last reason is so serious that I am unwilling to oppose it. Yet you must remember, that your image of worshipping once a year in a certain place, in imitation of the Jews, is but a comparison; and simile non est idem: if the annual resort to Jerusalem was a duty to the Jews, it was a duty because it was commanded; and you have no such command, therefore no such duty. It may be dangerous to receive too readily, and indulge too fondly, opinions from which perhaps no pious mind is wholly disengaged, of local sanctity and local devotion. You know what strange effects they have produced over a great part of the Christian world. I am now writing, and you, when you read this, are reading under the eye of Omnipresence.

'To what degree fancy is to be admitted into religious offices, it would require much deliberation to determine. I am far from intending totally to exclude it. Fancy is a faculty bestowed by our Creator, and it is reasonable that all his gifts should be used to his glory, that all our faculties should co-operate in his worship; but they are to co-operate according to the will of him that gave them, according to the order which his wisdom has established. As ceremonies prudential or convenient are less obligatory than positive ordinances, as bodily worship is only the token to others or ourselves of mental adoration, so fancy is always to act in subordination to reason. We may take fancy for a companion, but must follow reason as our guide. We may allow fancy to suggest certain ideas in certain places; but reason must always be heard, when she tells us that those ideas and those places have no natural or necessary relation. When we enter a church, we habitually recall to mind the duty of adoration, but we must not omit adoration for want of a temple; because we know, and ought to remember, that the Universal Lord is everywhere present; and that, therefore, to come to Jona, or to Jerusalem, though it may be useful, cannot be necessary.

'Thus I have answered your letter, and have not answered it negligently. I love you too well to be careless when you are serious.

'I think I shall be very diligent next week about our travels, which I have too long neglected.—I am, dear sir, your most, etc., 'SAM. JOHNSON.'

'Compliments to Madam and Miss.'

least it will not hurt her, to tell you that I wish her well.-I am, sir, your most humble servant, 'SAM. JOHNSON.'

MR. BOSWELL TO DR. JOHNSON. 'EDINBURGH, May 12, 1774. 'LORD HAILES has begged of me to offer you his best respects, and to transmit to you specimens of Annals of Scotland, from the accession

of Malcolm Kenmore to the death of James V., in drawing up which his lordship has been engaged for some time. His lordship writes to me thus: "If I could procure Dr. Johnson's criticisms, they would be of great use to me in the prosecution of my work, as they would be judicious and true. I have no right to ask that favour of him. If you could, it would highly oblige me."

'Dr. Blair requests you may be assured that he did not write to London what you said to him, and that neither by word nor letter has he made the least complaint of you; but, on the contrary, has a high respect for you, and loves you much more since he saw you in Scotland. It would both divert and please you to see his eagerness about this matter.'

TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

STREATHAM, June 12, 1774. 'DEAR SIR,-Yesterday I put the first sheets of The Journey to the Hebrides to the press. I have endeavoured to do you some justice in the first paragraph. It will be one volume in octavo, not thick.

It will be proper to make some presents in Scotland. You shall tell me to whom I shall give; and I have stipulated twenty-five for you to give in your own name. Some will take the present better from me, others better from you. In this you who are to live in the place ought to direct. Consider it. Whatever you can get for my purpose send me; and make my compliments to your lady and both the young ones.— I am, sir, yours, etc., 'SAM. JOHNSON.'

MR. BOSWELL TO DR. JOHNSON.

'EDINBURGH, June 24, 1774.

'You do not acknowledge the receipt of the various packets which I have sent to you. Neither can I prevail with you to answer my letters, though you honour me with returns. You have said nothing to me about poor Goldsmith,' nothing about Langton.

'I have received for you, from the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge in Scotland, the following Erse books :-The New Testament; -Baxter's Call;-The Confession of Faith of

the Assembly of Divines at Westminster;-The Mother's Catechism;-A Gaelic and English Vocabulary.'2

1 Dr. Goldsmith died April 4, this year.-BOSWELL. 2 These books Dr. Johnson presented to the Bodleian Library.-BoSWELL.

TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

July 4, 1774. 'DEAR SIR,-I wish you could have looked over my book before the printer, but it could not easily be. I suspect some mistakes; but as I deal, perhaps, more in notions than in facts, the matter is not great, and the second edition will be mended, if any such there be. The press will go on slowly for a time, because I am going into Wales to-morrow.

'I should be very sorry if I appeared to treat such a character as Lord Hailes otherwise than with high respect. I return the sheets, to which I have done what mischief I could; and finding it so little, thought not much of sending them. The narrative is clear, lively, and short.

'I have done worse to Lord Hailes than by neglecting his sheets; I have run him in debt. Dr. Horne, the President of Magdalen College, in Oxford, wrote to me about three months ago that he purposed to reprint Walton's Lives, and desired me to contribute to the work. answer was that Lord Hailes intended the same publication; and Dr. Horne has resigned it to him. His lordship must now think seriously

about it.

My

Of poor dear Dr. Goldsmith there is little to be told, more than the papers have made public. He died of a fever, made, I am afraid, more violent by uneasiness of mind. His debts began to be heavy, and all his resources were exhausted. Sir Joshua is of opinion that he owed not less than two thousand pounds. Was ever poet so trusted before?

'You may, if you please, put the inscription thus: "Maria Scotorum Regina nata 15—, a suis in exilium acta 15-, ab hospitâ neci data 15-." You must find the years.

'Of your second daughter, you certainly gave the account yourself, though you have forgotten it. While Mrs. Boswell is well, never doubt of a boy. Mrs. Thrale brought, I think, five girls running, but while I was with you she had a boy.

'I am obliged to you for all your pamphlets, and of the last I hope to make some use. I made some of the former. I am, dear sir, your most affectionate servant,

'SAM. JOHNSON.' 'My compliments to all the three ladies.'

'TO BENNET LANGTON, ESQ., AT LANGTON, NEAR SPILSBY, LINCOLNSHIRE.

'July 5, 1774. 'DEAR SIR,-You have reason to reproach me that I have left your last letter so long unanswered, but I had nothing particular to say. Chambers, you find, is gone far, and poor

1 On the cover enclosing them, Dr. Johnson wrote'If my delay has given any reason for supposing that I have not a very deep sense of the honour done me by asking my judgment, I am very sorry.'-BOSWELL