rendered him blind of one eye, considerably im`paired his sense of hearing, and, in all probability, produced some other peculiarities in his appearance and temper which will be afterwards noticed.

Johnson began to learn English under a widow called Oliver, who kept a school in Lichfield. His next teacher in the same language was always mentioned by him under the familiar appellation of Tom Brown. This master published a Spelling Book, and pompously dedicated it "To the Uni"verse." Johnson began to learn Latin under Mr Hawkins, the usher of the free school of Lichfield; and in two years came to be under the care of Mr Hunter, the head master, a respectable teacher, but whom Johnson represented as unduly severe. Among Johnson's school-fellows with whom he contracted an intimacy, were Dr James, inventor of the celebrated powder, Mr Lowe, eaon of Windsor, Dr Taylor, rector of Ashbourne, and Mr Hector, surgeon in Birmingham. Johnson when a boy soon became large and bulky, but stout in his person. He was so extremely nearsighted, that he could enter into few of the sports' of his companions; and this defect affected him to such a degree through life, that he admitted he had never seen "the human face divine;" and probably, therefore, comprehended inaccurately the whole import of the expression. He was indolent in his habits both of mind and body, but was a good scholar; and this circumstance, or rather, perhaps, his bodily strength, which was uncommon, made him be respected by his companions, some of whom afterwards related, that frequently three of them in the morning carried him to school.

But the only bodily amusements in which he was remembered to have engaged was that of being drawn upon the ice by a boy bare-footed, who pulled him by a cord or garter fixed round his body. The intellectual amusement of which he first became fond was that of reading the wild romances of chivalry, a taste which he retained at a very advanced age.

In 1725, when fifteen years of age, Johnson was sent on a visit to his cousin Cornelius, commonly called in the gay world Parson Ford, already mentioned. With him Johnson resided several months, receiving assistance from Mr Ford in the study of the classics. The general rule of study given to Johnson by his cousin, who knew the world well, was this: "Obtain," said Ford, "some general "principles of every science he who can talk "only on one subject, or act only in one depart "ment, is seldom wanted, and perhaps never wish"ed for; while the man of general knowledge can "often benefit, and always please." This counsel appears to have been abundantly acceptable to the inclination of Johnson, and he pursued it at an early as well as a late period, by a great extent of miscellaneous reading. His early inclination for the pleasures to be obtained by reading will not appear wonderful, when it is considered that he not only possessed the germ of high talents, but that, by his bodily defects, he was in some degree cut off from the amusements of youth; and, in addition to this, that he was totally destitute of that great source of pleasure and of idleness, called a musical ear.

By the advice of Cornelius Ford, Johnson was

removed to the school of Stourbridge in Worcestershire, of which Mr Wentworth was teacher. Here Johnson acted as a sort of assistant in teaching the younger boys. After remaining at Stourbridge little more than a year, he returned home, and continued to pursue his studies by reading irregularly a great variety of ancient authors. While at school, he had already given several proofs of poetical talents, particularly in translations from the classics. After remaining at home during two years, Mr Andrew Corbet, a gentleman of Shropshire, engaged him to assist his son in his studies at the university of Oxford. Accordingly, on the 31st of October, 1728, Johnson and young Corbet were entered at Pembroke College, Corbet as a gentleman commoner, and Johnson as a commoner. Johnson's father accompanied him to Oxford, and found means to obtain for him an introduction to Mr Jordan, the college tutor. Dr Adams, who was afterwards tutor of the same college, was present on the occasion. They observed that old Johnson was very full of the merits of his son, whose appearance seemed to them strange and uncouth. The young man was modest and silent; he said nothing till a proper opportunity occurred, when he suddenly interfered in the conversation, quoted Macrobius in an appo site manner, and impressed upon his hearers an idea that his reading must have been extensive. He had thus early cultivated those talents for obtaining distinction in conversation which afterwards rendered him remarkable, and the exercise of which formed one of the chief pleasures of his life.

When at college, Johnson is said to have exhi

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bited, at times, a portion of that surly, and, per haps, unreasonable spirit of independence, which marked, in a certain degree, his future conduct. Sir John Hawkins remarks, that "It was a prac"tice in his time for a servitor, by order of the "master, to go round to the rooms of the young men, and, knocking at the door, to inquire if "they were within, and if no answer was return"ed, to report them absent. Johnson could not "endure this intrusion, and would frequently be "silent, when the utterance of a word would have "insured him from censure; and, farther to be re"venged for being disturbed when he was as pro"fitably employed as perhaps he could be, would

join with others of the young men in the college "in hunting, as they called it, the servitor, who "was thus diligent in his duty; and thus they did "with the noise of pots and candlesticks, singing "to the tune of Chevy-Chace, the words in that ❝old ballad,

"To drive the deer with hound and horn," &c. "not seldom to the endangering of the life and "limbs of the unfortunate victim."

Notwithstanding such levities, Johnson speedily displayed the superiority of his powers, and, in particular, his talents for Latin versification. His tutor, Mr Jordan, wishing to obtain a full specimen of his powers in this way, required him, as a task, or punishment for some irregularity, to prepare, during the Christmas holidays, a Latin translation of Pope's Messiah: this he performed in such a style as secured to him the estimation of his college, and even the respect of the whole university.

The poem was printed by his father without his knowledge. Pope is said to have expressed great admiration of it, saying that it would remain a doubt in future times whether the Latin or the English version was the original.

In two years after he entered the university, Johnson's salary ceased, in consequence of the departure of Corbet, whose studies he assisted. He still remained however at college, but in extremely straitened circumstances. He wished to study law, but he knew not the means of bringing himself forward in the common law; and to entitle him to practise civil law, a long course of academical study was necessary, to which his finances were inadequate. He appears to have remained at college till his poverty excited commiseration. Judging like the rest of the world, he considered poverty as disgraceful. A pair of new shoes, of which he was notoriously in want, were at one time placed at the door of his apartment; but on discovering this act of charity, he cast them away with indignation. He maintained an external appearance of gaiety, and amused circles of his fellow students with his conversation: but he afterwards admitted, that these delusive appearances covered much bitterness of heart, on account of the narrow state of his circumstances.

After attending the university three years, Johnson retired to Lichfield. Previous to this period, in 1729, during a college vacation, while at his father's house, at the age of twenty, he was seized with a hypochondriac affection, produc tive of perpetual fretfulness and irritation, which reduced his mind to a state of dejection that ren