Life of Samuel Johnson, Vol. II (version 2) — Section 29

I renewed my solicitations that Dr. Johnson would this year accomplish his long-intended visit to Scotland.

'TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

'DEAR SIR, 'The regret has not been little with which I have missed a journey so pregnant with pleasing expectations, as that in which I could promise myself not only the gratification of curiosity, both rational and fanciful, but the delight of seeing those whom I love and esteem.

But such has been the course of things, that I could not come; and such has been, I am afraid, the state of my body, that it would not well have seconded my inclination.

My body, I think, grows better, and I refer my hopes to another year; for I am very sincere in my design to pay the visit, and take the ramble.

In the mean time, do not omit any opportunity of keeping up a favourable opinion of me in the minds of any of my friends.

Beattie's book[580] is, I believe, every day more liked; at least, I like it more, as I look more upon it.

'I am glad if you got credit by your cause, and am yet of opinion, that our cause was good, and that the determination ought to have been in your favour.

Poor Hastie[581], I think, had but his deserts.

'You promised to get me a little _Pindar_, you may add to it a little _Anacreon_.

'The leisure which I cannot enjoy, it will be a pleasure to hear that you employ upon the antiquities of the feudal establishment.

The whole system of ancient tenures is gradually passing away; and I wish to have the knowledge of it preserved adequate and complete.

For such an institution makes a very important part of the history of mankind.

Do not forget a design so worthy of a scholar who studies the laws of his country, and of a gentleman who may naturally be curious to know the condition of his own ancestors.

'I am, dear Sir, 'Yours with great affection, 'SAM JOHNSON.'

'August 31, 1772[582].'

'TO DR. JOHNSON.

'MY DEAR SIR, 'Edinburgh, Dec.

25, 1772. * * * * * 'I was much disappointed that you did not come to Scotland last autumn.

However, I must own that your letter prevents me from complaining; not only because I am sensible that the state of your health was but too good an excuse, but because you write in a strain which shews that you have agreeable views of the scheme which we have so long proposed.

* * * * * 'I communicated to Beattie what you said of his book in your last letter to me.

He writes to me thus:--"You judge very rightly in supposing that Dr. Johnson's favourable opinion of any book must give me great delight.

Indeed it is impossible for me to say how much I am gratified by it; for there is not a man upon earth whose good opinion I would be more ambitious to cultivate.

His talents and his virtues I reverence more than any words can express.

The extraordinary civilities[583] (the paternal attentions I should rather say,) and the many instructions I have had the honour to receive from him, will to me be a perpetual source of pleasure in the recollection, '"_Dum memor ipse mei, dum spiritus has reget artus_[584].

'"I had still some thoughts, while the summer lasted, of being obliged to go to London on some little business; otherwise I should certainly have troubled him with a letter several months ago, and given some vent to my gratitude and admiration.

This I intend to do, as soon as I am left a little at leisure.

Mean time, if you have occasion to write to him, I beg you will offer him my most respectful compliments, and assure him of the sincerity of my attachment and the warmth of my gratitude."

* * * * * 'I am, &c. 'JAMES BOSWELL.'

1773: AETAT.

64. --In 1773 his only publication was an edition of his folio _Dictionary_, with additions and corrections[585]; nor did he, so far as is known, furnish any productions of his fertile pen to any of his numerous friends or dependants, except the Preface[586] to his old amanuensis Macbean's _Dictionary of Ancient Geography_.

[587] His _Shakspeare_, indeed, which had been received with high approbation by the publick, and gone through several editions, was this year re-published by George Steevens, Esq.

, a gentleman not only deeply skilled in ancient learning, and of very extensive reading in English literature, especially the early writers, but at the same time of acute discernment and elegant taste.

[588] It is almost unnecessary to say, that by his great and valuable additions to Dr. Johnson's work, he justly obtained considerable reputation: '_Divisum imperium cum Jove Caesar habet_.'

[589] 'To JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

'DEAR SIR, 'I have read your kind letter much more than the elegant _Pindar_ which it accompanied.

I am always glad to find myself not forgotten; and to be forgotten by you would give me great uneasiness.

My northern friends have never been unkind to me: I have from you, dear Sir, testimonies of affection, which I have not often been able to excite; and Dr. Beattie rates the testimony which I was desirous of paying to his merit, much higher than I should have thought it reasonable to expect.

'I have heard of your masquerade[590].

What says your synod to such innovations?

I am not studiously scrupulous, nor do I think a masquerade either evil in itself, or very likely to be the occasion of evil; yet as the world thinks it a very licentious relaxation of manners, I would not have been one of the _first_ masquers in a country where no masquerade had ever been before[591].

'A new edition of my great _Dictionary_ is printed, from a copy which I was persuaded to revise; but having made no preparation, I was able to do very little.

Some superfluities I have expunged, and some faults I have corrected, and here and there have scattered a remark; but the main fabrick of the work remains as it was.

I had looked very little into it since I wrote it, and, I think, I found it full as often better, as worse, than I expected.

'Baretti and Davies have had a furious quarrel[592]; a quarrel, I think, irreconcileable.

Dr. Goldsmith has a new comedy, which is expected in the spring.

No name is yet given it[593].

The chief diversion arises from a stratagem by which a lover is made to mistake his future father-in-law's house for an inn.

This, you see, borders upon farce.

The dialogue is quick and gay, and the incidents are so prepared as not to seem improbable.

'I am sorry that you lost your cause of Intromission, because I yet think the arguments on your side unanswerable.

But you seem, I think, to say that you gained reputation even by your defeat; and reputation you will daily gain, if you keep Lord Auchinleck's precept in your mind, and endeavour to consolidate in your mind a firm and regular system of law, instead of picking up occasional fragments.

'My health seems in general to improve; but I have been troubled for many weeks with a vexatious catarrh, which is sometimes sufficiently distressful.

I have not found any great effects from bleeding and physick; and am afraid, that I must expect help from brighter days and softer air.

'Write to me now and then; and whenever any good befalls you, make haste to let me know it, for no one will rejoice at it more than, dear Sir, 'Your most humble servant, 'SAM.

JOHNSON.'

'London, Feb.

24, 1773.' 'You continue to stand very high in the favour of Mrs. Thrale.'

While a former edition of my work was passing through the press, I was unexpectedly favoured with a packet from Philadelphia, from Mr. James Abercrombie, a gentleman of that country, who is pleased to honour me with very high praise of my _Life of Dr. Johnson_.

To have the fame of my illustrious friend, and his faithful biographer, echoed from the New World is extremely flattering; and my grateful acknowledgements shall be wafted across the Atlantick.

Mr. Abercrombie has politely conferred on me a considerable additional obligation, by transmitting to me copies of two letters from Dr. Johnson to American gentlemen.

'Gladly, Sir, (says he,) would I have sent you the originals; but being the only relicks of the kind in America, they are considered by the possessors of such inestimable value, that no possible consideration would induce them to part with them.

In some future publication of yours relative to that great and good man, they may perhaps be thought worthy of insertion.'

'To MR. B---D[594].

'SIR, 'That in the hurry of a sudden departure you should yet find leisure to consult my convenience, is a degree of kindness, and an instance of regard, not only beyond my claims, but above my expectation.

You are not mistaken in supposing that I set a high value on my American friends, and that you should confer a very valuable favour upon me by giving me an opportunity of keeping myself in their memory.

'I have taken the liberty of troubling you with a packet, to which I wish a safe and speedy conveyance, because I wish a safe and speedy voyage to him that conveys it.

I am, Sir, 'Your most humble servant, 'SAM.

JOHNSON.'

'London, Johnson's-court, Fleet street, March 4, 1773.' 'To THE REVEREND MR. WHITE[595].

'DEAR SIR, 'Your kindness for your friends accompanies you across the Atlantick.

It was long since observed by Horace[596], that no ship could leave care behind; you have been attended in your voyage by other powers,--by benevolence and constancy; and I hope care did not often shew her face in their company.

'I received the copy of _Rasselas_.

The impression is not magnificent, but it flatters an authour, because the printer seems to have expected that it would be scattered among the people.

The little book has been well received, and is translated into Italian[597], French[598], German, and Dutch[599].

It has now one honour more by an American edition.

'I know not that much has happened since your departure that can engage your curiosity.

Of all publick transactions the whole world is now informed by the newspapers.

Opposition seems to despond; and the dissenters, though they have taken advantage of unsettled times, and a government much enfeebled, seem not likely to gain any immunities[600].

'Dr. Goldsmith has a new comedy in rehearsal at Covent-Garden, to which the manager predicts ill success[601].

I hope he will be mistaken.

I think it deserves a very kind reception.

'I shall soon publish a new edition of my large _Dictionary_; I have been persuaded to revise it, and have mended some faults, but added little to its usefulness.

'No book has been published since your departure, of which much notice is taken.

Faction only fills the town with pamphlets, and greater subjects are forgotten in the noise of discord.

'Thus have I written, only to tell you how little I have to tell.

Of myself I can only add, that having been afflicted many weeks with a very troublesome cough, I am now recovered.

'I take the liberty which you give me of troubling you with a letter, of which you will please to fill up the direction.

I am, Sir, 'Your most humble servant, 'SAM JOHNSON.'