4 U.
&

THE LIFE

OF

SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL. D.

COMPREHENDING

AN ACCOUNT OF HIS STUDIES AND NUMEROUS WORKS,

IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER;

A SERIES OF HIS EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE AND
CONVERSATIONS WITH MANY EMINENT PERSONS; AND VARIOUS

ORIGINAL PIECES OF HIS COMPOSITION,

NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED:

THE WHOLE EXHIBITING A VIEW OF LITERATURE AND LITERARY MEN IN GREAT
BRITAIN, FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY DURING WHICH

HE FLOURISHED.

BY JAMES BOSWELL, Esq.

Quo fit ut OMNIS
Votira patrat reliti descripta tabella
VITA SENIS-

HORAT.

A NEW EDITION,
ELUCIDATED BY COPIOUS NOTES,

AND

ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS PORTRAITS, VIEWS, AND
CHARACTERISTIC DESIGNS, ENGRAVED FROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES.

IN FOUR VOLUMES.-VOL. IV.

LONDON:

OFFICES OF THE NATIONAL ILLUSTRATED LIBRARY,

CONTENTS OF VOLUME IV.

PAGE

vi

Contents

List of Illustrations

vii

CHAPTER 1.--1780-1781.

Langton's Johnsoniana-Anecdotes of Johnson, and his Opinions on various

Subjects-Theocritus—Callimachus–Maittaire-On Employing the Poor

-Lockman-Physical and Moral Truth-Huggins—Mrs. Clive-Farquhar

-Garrick-Langley-Spence-Dr. Forster-Mrs. Lennox-Beauclerk-

Lord Elibank—Mr. Dossie-Toleration-Johnson's Memory—Dr. Parr-

Machinery of Pagan Poets-Hospitality-Rev. Dr. Farmer-Joshua Barnes

-Dodsley's Cleone"-Goldsmith's Ignorance-Adam Smith-Burke~-

Bishop Berkeley-Mr. Vesey-Richardson-Archbishop Secker-Dr.

Blagden-Johnson's Religious Sentiments—Dr. Francklin's Demonax

9

CHAPTER II.-1781.

Johnson's “Lives of the Poets" completed—John Nichols—The various Read-

ings in “ The Lives "—Cowley-Waller-Milton-Dr. Towers' Remarks

on the Writings of Johnson-Dryden-Pope-Bishop Warburton-Dr.

Broome - Lord Somerville - Addison- Parnell -- Blackmore-- Ambrose

Philips-Congreve-Tickell - Aken side-Lyttelton-Miss Boothby-Her-

bert Croft-Young's “ Night Thoughts "-Swift—Rev. Joseph Spence-

Attacks on “ The Lives of the Poets

31

CHAPTER III.-1781.

K

Johnson's Correspondence with Warren Hastings-Mr. Chambers—Mr. Hoole

- Liberty and Necessity-Doctors Marlay, Heath, and Moss—Picture of a

Man, by Shakspeare and Milton-Registration of Deeds-Daty of an M.P.

-Deportment of Bishops—“Merriment of Parsons"-Rev. Zachariah

Mudge-Dr. Harle-Mahogany Liquor-On Dancing-Sir P. J. Clerk

and Mr. Perkins-American War-Dudley Long-Talking-Death of Mr.

Thrale-Queen's Arms Club-Mr. Hoole-Mrs. Lucy Porter-Mr. Be-

renger-Robin Hood Society-Apparitions-Dinner at Mrs. Garrick's

Mr. T. Hollis-Printer's Devil-Whigs and Tories-Death of Mr. W.;

Sirahan

52

.

CHAPTER IV.-1781.

PAGE

"

Johnson Dines with Wilkes and Dr. Beattie-Letter writing-Bet Flint-

Oratory—Beauclerk's Library-Blue-stocking Clubs-Sulling fleet-The

Countess of Cork-Johnson's “ List of Subscribers"-"Talking for Victory"

-A“ cui bono" Man—" Heroic Epistle to Sir W. Chambers"—Johnson's

Commendation of Lord Carlisle's Poems- Dr. Barnard —“ Of Tory and

Whig"-Boswell's Departure for Scotland-Visit to Welwyn-Dr. Young

-On Original Sin—Rev. Mr. Palmer and the Unitarians--Ancient Egyp-

tians-Wealth-Rev. Mr. Smith-Luton Hoe, Seat of Lord Bute-Society

of Procurators, in Scotland - Mr. Robertson, of “ The Caledonian Mercury"

CHAPTER 7.-1781-1782.

Marrying a Pretty Woman-Johnson's Charity to the Poor—Mr. Bewley's En-

thusiasm for Johnson-Sir J. Sinclair--Mr. Hector-Death of Mr. Levett

-Johnson's Satisfaction at the Dissolution of the Ministry-General Corre-

spondence-Mr. Malone-Johnson's Despondency-Dr. Lawrence-John-

son's Lamentations for the Loss of Friends—Mrs. Careless—Passage from

“ The Beauties of Johnson "-Evils of Poverty-Mr. Perkins-Sanitary

Rules-Reprinting of “ The Lives of the Poets"

97

CHAPTER VI.-1782–1783.

Decith nf Boswell's Father-Johnson's Advice-His Correspondence with Bos-

well and his Lady-Poverty an Enemy to Human Happiness—Mrs. Thrale's

Coolness to Johnson-His parting Prayer on leaving Streatham-Mr. Met-

calfe-Visit to Cowdray-John Nichols—Wilson's " Archæological Dic.

tionary "-Dr. Patten-Boswell's Arrival in London, The Royal Family-

Conversation-Lies of Vanity--Johnson's Antipathy to the Scotch-Gene-

ral Oglethorpe-Opium-Neglect of Merit- Use of Riches-Goldsmith and

Lord Shelburne-Crabbe's “ Village"

112

CHAPTER VII.-1783.

Penuriousness of Wealth-Lord Mansfield-Harrington's “Nuge Antiqnæ"-

Motto on Johnson's Portrait—“Quos Deus vult perdere," &c.-On Happi.

ness-Johnson's Powers of Conversation-Mr. Welch-Dr. Buchanan-

Grub-street--Sir Wm. Chambers-Bishop Hurd-Reserve of Englishmen

- Morice Morgann, Derrick, and Smart—“The Great Twalmley"-A Cha-

rade-Mr. Cambridge-Johnson's Love of Children and Animals—Abp.

Stuart—"The Turkish Spy"—Mr. Windham-Mr. Lowe on Hospitality-

Walled Gardens - Mr. Walker on the Origin of Language--Moorfields

A singular Character

125

CHAPTER VIII,–1783.

Increase of London, and its Population-Natural Affections Duel betweer

Riddell and Cunningham-On Corpulen«y-Government of India--Dr
Shebbeare—Payment for Revi-wing-Religious Disbelief-Liberty of Con

PAGB

science Mallet's First Essay-On Reading-Virgil and Homer-Cant-

Hospitality--Sheridan-Friendship-Barry's Pictures---Christian Devotion

- Richard Baxter, Miss Philips-Correspondence-Johnson attacked by

Paralysis— Mr. Davies-Johnson's Recovery-- Visits Rochester and Heale

Death of Mrs. Williams-Miscellaneous Conversation

116

CHAPTER IX.-1783.

Johnson's Return from Heale-His Ill-health-Mrs. Williams's Benefactions-

Mrs. Siddons-Kemble-Death of Mr. Porter-Gerard Hamilton-Lord

Carlisle and Mrs. Chapone-Johnson's Critique on Lord Carlisle's Tragedy

- Unconstitutional Influence exercised by Scotch Peers—Mickle, and his

Translation of the Lusiad-Authenticity of Ossian, and Johnson's Refuta-

tion of the Essex-street Club, and its Rules

164

CHAPTER X.-1784.

The last Year of Johnson's Life-"Burton's Books"-Mr. Ald. Clark-Corre-

spondence Johnson's continued Ill-health-Drs. Gillespie, Heberden,

Cullen, Hope, and Munro-Johnson's Advice to Boswell-Lord Portmore-

Mr. Ozias Humphry—Johnson's Melancholy Thoughts at the Approach of

Death-His Advice to Miss Langton-Boswell's Arrival in London-Col.

Vallancy-Johnson on Earnest Disputation- Dines at the Essex-head Club

with a Constellation of Ladies—Mrs. Montagu-Foote-Mrs. Thrale's

altered Conduct_Bishop Douglas-Capel Lotit-Thomas à Kempis-Miss

Helen Maria Williams

176

CHAPTER XI.-1784.

Johnson's Departure for Oxford-Mrs. Beresford-Knotting-Arrival at Oxford

- Dr. Adams-Bishop Newton-Archibald Campbell—Nonjurors—Mrs.

Kennicot—Infidel Writers—Roman Catholic Religion—Bishop Hurd's

Sermons-Whig and Tory-Miss Adams-Dr. Wall— Dr. Radcliffe's Fel-

lowships-Forms of Prayer-Jeremy Taylor-Dr. Nowell— Rev. H. Bate

- John Henderson—The Rev. Sir Herbert Crott-Lord Lyttelton's Vision

-Johnson's Horror of Death-Balance of Misery- The Rev. R. Churton's

Remarks on Boswell's Johnson-On Truth-Junius–Pope's “Dunciad"

-Mr. Lewis-Mickle—The English Bar-Chief Justice Hale

194

.

CHAPTER XII.-1784.

Johnson's Return to London-Rev. Mr. Astle—Mr. Cator-Horace Walpole-

“Ever-memorable" John Hales—"No, Sir"-Lord Chatham-Burke's De-

fence of Johnson—“ Tommy Townshend "— Trained Bands of London-

Johnson's Apology to the Compositor-Attitudenizing-Johnson's Warmth

in Argument-His Visit to Marylebone Gardens-His Attention to Dress

His last Dinner at the “ Literary Club"-Intended Journey to Italy–Public

Criminals-Mr. Vilette-Dr. Knox-Mr. Pinkerton - Jamaica-Lord Ches.

terfield-Lord Eliot-Lord Thurlow's Letter in favour of Johnson-His

Sensibility-- Italy-Mrs. Thrale's intended Marriage, and her Anecdotes of

Johnson

212