Life of Samuel Johnson, Vol. II (version 2) — Section 45

Next day I dined with Johnson at Mr. Thrale's. He attacked Gray, calling him 'a dull fellow.'

BOSWELL.

'I understand he was reserved, and might appear dull in company; but surely he was not dull in poetry.'

JOHNSON.

'Sir, he was dull in company, dull in his closet, dull every where.

[961] He was dull in a new way, and that made many people think him GREAT.

He was a mechanical poet.'

He then repeated some ludicrous lines, which have escaped my memory, and said, 'Is not that GREAT, like his Odes?'

Mrs. Thrale maintained that his Odes were melodious; upon which he exclaimed, 'Weave the warp, and weave the woof;'--I added, in a solemn tone, 'The winding-sheet of Edward's race.'

'_There_ is a good line.'

'Ay, (said he), and the next line is a good one,' (pronouncing it contemptuously;) 'Give ample verge and room enough.'

--[962] 'No, Sir, there are but two good[963] stanzas in Gray's poetry, which are in his _Elegy in a Country Church-yard_.'

He then repeated the stanza, 'For who to dumb forgetfulness a prey,' &c. mistaking one word; for instead of _precincts_ he said _confines_.

He added, 'The other stanza I forget[964].'

A young lady[965] who had married a man much her inferiour in rank being mentioned, a question arose how a woman's relations should behave to her in such a situation; and, while I recapitulate the debate, and recollect what has since happened[966], I cannot but be struck in a manner that delicacy forbids me to express.

While I contended that she ought to be treated with an inflexible steadiness of displeasure, Mrs. Thrale was all for mildness and forgiveness, and, according to the vulgar phrase, 'making the best of a bad bargain.'

JOHNSON.

'Madam, we must distinguish.

Were I a man of rank, I would not let a daughter starve who had made a mean marriage; but having voluntarily degraded herself from the station which she was originally entitled to hold, I would support her only in that which she herself had chosen; and would not put her on a level with my other daughters.

You are to consider, Madam, that it is our duty to maintain the subordination of civilized society; and when there is a gross and shameful deviation from rank, it should be punished so as to deter others from the same perversion.'

After frequently considering this subject, I am more and more confirmed in what I then meant to express, and which was sanctioned by the authority, and illustrated by the wisdom, of Johnson; and I think it of the utmost consequence to the happiness of Society, to which subordination is absolutely necessary[967].

It is weak, and contemptible, and unworthy, in a parent to relax in such a case.

It is sacrificing general advantage to private feelings.

And let it be considered, that the claim of a daughter who has acted thus, to be restored to her former situation, is either fantastical or unjust.

If there be no value in the distinction of rank, what does she suffer by being kept in the situation to which she has descended?

If there be a value in that distinction, it ought to be steadily maintained.

If indulgence be shewn to such conduct, and the offenders know that in a longer or shorter time they shall be received as well as if they had not contaminated their blood by a base alliance, the great check upon that inordinate caprice which generally occasions low marriages will be removed, and the fair and comfortable order of improved life will be miserably disturbed[968].

Lord Chesterfield's Letters being mentioned, Johnson said, 'It was not to be wondered at that they had so great a sale, considering that they were the letters of a statesman, a wit, one who had been so much in the mouths of mankind, one long accustomed _virA"m volitare per ora_[969].'

On Friday, March 31, I supped with him and some friends at a tavern[970].

One of the company[971] attempted, with too much forwardness, to rally him on his late appearance at the theatre; but had reason to repent of his temerity.

'Why, Sir, did you go to Mrs. Abington's benefit?

Did you see?'

JOHNSON.

'No, Sir.'

'Did you hear?'

JOHNSON.

'No, Sir.'

'Why then, Sir, did you go?'

JOHNSON.

'Because, Sir, she is a favourite of the publick; and when the publick cares the thousandth part for you that it does for her, I will go to your benefit too[972].'

Next morning I won a small bet from lady Diana Beauclerk, by asking him as to one of his particularities, which her Ladyship laid I durst not do.

It seems he had been frequently observed at the Club to put into his pocket the Seville oranges, after he had squeezed the juice of them into the drink which he made for himself.

Beauclerk and Garrick talked of it to me, and seemed to think that he had a strange unwillingness to be discovered.

We could not divine what he did with them; and this was the bold question to be put.

I saw on his table the spoils of the preceding night, some fresh peels nicely scraped and cut into pieces.

'O, Sir, (said I,) I now partly see what you do with the squeezed oranges which you put into your pocket at the Club.'

JOHNSON.

'I have a great love for them.'

BOSWELL.

'And pray, Sir, what do you do with them?

You scrape them, it seems, very neatly, and what next?'

JOHNSON.

'Let them dry, Sir.'

BOSWELL.

'And what next?'

JOHNSON.

'Nay, Sir, you shall know their fate no further.'

BOSWELL.

'Then the world must be left in the dark.

It must be said (assuming a mock solemnity,) he scraped them, and let them dry, but what he did with them next, he never could be prevailed upon to tell.'

JOHNSON.

'Nay, Sir, you should say it more emphatically:--he could not be prevailed upon, even by his dearest friends, to tell[973].'

He had this morning received his Diploma as Doctor of Laws from the University of Oxford.

He did not vaunt of his new dignity, but I understood he was highly pleased with it.

I shall here insert the progress and completion of that high academical honour, in the same manner as I have traced his obtaining that of Master of Arts.

To the Reverend Dr. FOTHERGILL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, to be communicated to the Heads of Houses, and proposed in Convocation.

'MR. VICE-CHANCELLOR AND GENTLEMEN[974],

'The honour of the degree of M. A.

by diploma, formerly conferred upon MR.

SAMUEL JOHNSON, in consequence of his having eminently distinguished himself by the publication of a series of Essays, excellently calculated to form the manners of the people, and in which the cause of religion and morality has been maintained and recommended by the strongest powers of argument and elegance of language, reflected an equal degree of lustre upon the University itself.

'The many learned labours which have since that time employed the attention and displayed the abilities of that great man, so much to the advancement of literature and the benefit of the community, render him worthy of more distinguished honours in the Republick of letters: and I persuade myself, that I shall act agreeably to the sentiments of the whole University, in desiring that it may be proposed in Convocation to confer on him the degree of Doctor in Civil Law by diploma, to which I readily give my consent; and am, 'Mr. Vice-Chancellor and Gentlemen, 'Your affectionate friend and servant, 'NORTH[975].'

'Downing-street, March 23, 1775.' DIPLOMA.

'CANCELLARIUS, Magistri, et Scholares Universitatis Oxoniensis omnibus ad quos presentes Literae pervenerint, salutem in Domino Sempiternam.

'SCIATIS, virum illustrem, SAMUELEM JOHNSON, in omni humaniorum literarum genere eruditum, omniumque scientiarum comprehensione felicissimum, scriptis suis, ad popularium mores formandos summAi verborum elegantiAi ac sententiarum gravitate compositis, ita olim inclaruisse, ut dignus videretur cui ab AcademiAi suAi eximia quaedam laudis praemia deferentur [deferrentur] quique [in] venerabilem Magistrorum Ordinem summAi cum dignitate cooptaretur: 'Cum verA squared eundem clarissimum virum tot posteA tantique labores, in patriAi praesertim linguAi ornandAi et stabiliendAi feliciter impensi, ita insigniverint, ut in Literarum RepublicAi PRINCEPS jam et PRIMARIUS jure habeatur; Nos CANCELLARIUS, Magistri, et Scholares Universitatis Oxoniensis, quo talis viri merita pari honoris remuneratione exaequentur, et perpetuum suae simul laudis, nostraeque ergA literas propensissimae voluntatis extet monumentum, in solenni Convocatione Doctorum et Magistrorum Regentium, et non Regentium, praedictum SAMUELEM JOHNSON Doctorem in Jure Civili renunciavimus et constituimus, eumque virtute praesentis Diplomatis singulis juribus, privilegiis et honoribus, ad istum gradum quA quA pertinentibus, frui et gaudere jussimus.

In cujus rei testimonium commune Universitatis Oxoniensis sigillum praesentibus apponi fecimus.

'Datum in Domo nostrae Convocationis die tricesimo Mensis Martii, Anno Domini Millesimo septingentesimo, septuagesimo quinto[976].'

'_Viro Reverendo_ Thomae Fothergill, S. T.

P.

_Universitatis Oxoniensis Vice-Cancellario_.

'S. P.

D.

'Sam Johnson.

'MULTIS non est opus, ut testimonium quo, te praeside, Oxonienses nomen meum posteris commendAcrunt, quali animo acceperim compertum faciam.

Nemo sibi placens non laetatur[977]; nemo sibi non placet, qui vobis, literarum arbitris, placere potuit.

Hoc tamen habet incommodi tantum beneficium, quod mihi nunquam posthAcc sine vestrae famae detrimento vel labi liceat vel cessare; semperque sit timendum, ne quod mihi tam eximiae laudi est, vobis aliquando fiat opprobrio.

Vale[978].'