was somewhat susceptible of flattery. As he was general and unconfined in his studies, he cannot be considered as master of any one particular science; but he had accumulated a vast and various collection of learning and knowledge, which was so arranged in his mind, as to be ever in readiness to be brought forth. But his superiority over other learned men consisted chiefly in what may be called the art of thinking, the art of using his mind; a certain continual power of seizing the useful substance of all that he knew, and exhibiting it in a clear and forcible manner; so that knowledge, which we often see to be no better than lumber in men of dull understanding, was, in him, true, evident, and actual wisdom. His moral precepts are practical; for they are drawn from an intimate acquaintance with human nature. His maxims carry conviction: for they are founded on the basis of common sense, and a very attentive and minute survey of real life. His mind was so full of imagery, that he might have been perpetually a poet; yet it is remarkable, that however rich his prose is in this respect, his poetical pieces, in general, have not much of that splendour, but are rather distinguished by strong sentiment, and acute observation, conveyed in harmonious and energetick verse, particularly in heroick couplets. Though usually grave, and even awful in his deportment, he possessed uncommon and peculiar powers of wit and humour; he frequently indulged himself in colloquial pleasantry; and the heartiest merriment was often enjoyed in his company; with this great advantage, that, as it was entirely free from any poisonous tincture of vice or impiety, it was salutary to those who shared in it. He had accustomed himself to such accuracy in his common conversation,' that 7 Though a perfect resemblance of Johnson is not to be found in any age, parts of his character are admirably expressed by Clarendon, in drawing that of Lord Falkland, whom the noble and masterly he at all times expressed his thoughts with great force, and an elegant choice of language, the effect of which was aided by his having a loud voice, and a slow deliberate historian describes at his seat near Oxford :-"Such an immense→ ness of wit, such a solidity of judgement, so infinite a fancy, bound in by a most logical ratiocination.-His acquaintance was cultivated by the most polite and accurate men, so that his house was an University in less volume, whither they came, not so much for repose as study, and to examine and refine those grosser propositions, which laziness and consent made current in conversation." Bayle's account of Menage may also be quoted as exceedingly applicable to the great subject of this work." His illustrious friends erected a very glorious monument to him in the collection entitled Menagiana. Those who judge of things right, will confess that this collection is very proper to shew the extent of genius and learning which was the character of Menage. And I may be bold to say, that the excellent works he published will not distinguish him from other learned men so advantageously as this. To publish books of great learning, to make Greek and Latin verses exceedingly well turned, is not a common talent, I own; neither is it extremely rare. It is incomparably more difficult to find men who can furnish discourse about an infinite number of things, and who can diversify them an hundred ways. How many authours are there, who are admired for their works, on account of the vast learning that is displayed in them, who are not able to sustain a conversation. Those who know Menage only by his books, might think he resembled those learned men: but if you shew the MENAGIANA, you distinguish him from them, and make him known by a talent which is given to very few learned men. There it appears that he was a man who spoke off-hand a thousand good things. His memory extended to what was ancient and modern ; to the court and to the city; to the dead and to the living languages; to things serious and things jocose; in a word, to a thousand sorts of subjects. That which appeared a trifle to some readers of the Menagiana, who did not consider circumstances, caused admiration in other readers, who minded the difference between what a man speaks without preparation, and that which he prepares for the press. And, therefore, we cannot sufficiently commend the care which his illustrious friends took to erect a monument so capable of giving him immortal glory. They were not obliged to rectify what they had heard him say; for, in so doing, they had not been faithful historians of his conversation." utterance. In him were united a most logical head with a most fertile imagination, which gave him an extraordinary advantage in arguing: for he could reason close or wide, as he saw best for the moment. Exulting in his intellectual strength and dexterity, he could, when he pleased, be the greatest sophist that ever contended in the lists of declamation; and, from a spirit of contradiction, and a delight in shewing his powers, he would often maintain the wrong side with equal warmth and ingenuity; so that, when there was an audience, his real opinions could seldom be gathered from his talk; though when he was in company with a single friend, he would discuss a subject with genuine fairness; but he was too conscientious to make errour permanent and pernicious, by deliberately writing it; and, in all his numerous works, he earnestly inculcated what appeared to him to be the truth; his piety being constant, and the ruling principle of all his conduct. Such was SAMUEL JOHNSON, a man whose talents, acquirements, and virtues, were so extraordinary, that the more his character is considered, the more he will be regarded by the present age, and by posterity, with admiration and reverence. INDEX. A. ABERCROMBIE, James, Esq. of Philadelphia, his communications Abingdon, Lord, bon mot of, iii. 435, n. Abington, Mrs. ii. 311, 314, 319. Abjuration, oath of, ii. 312, n. Absentees from their estates, how far justifiable, iii. 181, 182, 183, 251. Abyssinia. See Lobo, Rasselas. Academy, Royal, instituted, ii. 62. Action in public speaking, ii. 200. Actors, i. 134, 135, 163; ii. 81, 221, 222, 390, 450; iii. 187; iv. Adams, Rev. Dr. i. Advert. ix. 32, 33, 44, 45, 47, 99, 101, 144, Adams, Miss, iv. 291, 298. Addison, Johnson's opinion of, i. 187, 375; ii. 333; iii. 42, 340. Johnson's Life of, iv. 49, 91. Adye, Miss Mary, i. 14; ii. 452; iii. 110. 'Adventurer,' Hawkesworth's, i. 170, 195, 209, 210, 211, n. 214. Egri Ephemeris, Johnson's, iv. 390. Agar, W. E. Esq. iii. 118, n. Agutter, Rev. Mr. his sermon on Johnson's death, iv. 433, 434. Agriculture, i. 264. Akenside's poetry, ii. 154; iii. 29. ...... his early friendship with Charles Townsend, iii. 3. Akerman, Mr. Keeper of Newgate, character and anecdotes of, iii. 430, 431. Alchymy, ii. 360. 'Aleppo, Siege of,' a tragedy, iii. 261, n. Alfred, i. 144. ...... his will, iv. 133. Allen, Mr. the printer, i. 416; iii. 271; iv. 358, 388. ... Johnson's letter to, iv. 229. .... American and Americans, ii. 284, 285, 303, 304, 305, 306; iii. Amyat, Dr. his anecdote of Dr. Johnson, i. 331, n. Angeloni's letters, iv. 110. Angels, iv. 297, n. Anthologia, iv. 395. Antiquities, study of, iii. 413. Arbuthnot, i. 375. Archæological Dictionary, Wilson's, iv. 164, n. Argyle, Archibald, Duke of, iii. 69. Armorial bearings, as ancient as the siege of Thebes, ii. 168. Armstrong, Dr. i. 305, n. iii. 116. Arnold, Dr. on insanity, iii. 180. Articles, thirty-nine, ii. 92, 142. Ascham, Roger, Johnson's life of, i. 411. extract from the Proposals for, i. 411, n. Ash, John, M. D. founder of the Eumelian Club, iv. 406, n. Astle, Thomas, Esq. iv. 133, n. 318. Athol porridge, iv. 80. Atterbury, Bishop, his funeral sermon on Lady Cutts, iii. 231. Avarice, iii. 323. Auchinleck, Lord, (the Author's father,) ii. 399. Authour, the young, (Johnson's poem,) i. 29. Authours, of deciding on their MSS. ii. 183; iii. 261, 320, 374. .. respect due to them, iii. 312; iv. 111. See Books. ii. 224. .... had better be attacked than unnoticed, iii. 375. their writings shew not their real characters, but what Authourship, iii, 333. |