Whoever wishes to see a perfect delineation of this Literary Jack of all Trades, may find it in an ingenious tract, entitled, ‘A SMALL WHOLE-LENGTH OF DR. PRIESTLEY,’ printed for Rivingtons, in St. Paul’s Church-Yard.
a Mrs. Anna Williams.
a My worthy friend, Mr. John Nichols, was present when Mr. Henderson, the actor, paid a visit to Dr. Johnson; and was received in a very courteous manner. See Gent. Mag. June, 1791.
I found among Dr. Johnson’s papers, the following letter to him, from the celebrated Mrs. Bellamy: –
‘To DR. JOHNSON.
‘SIR, – The flattering remembrance of the partiality you honoured me with, some years ago, as well as the humanity you are known to possess, has encouraged me to solicit your patronage at my Benefit.
‘By a long Chancery suit, and a complicated train of unfortunate events, I am reduced to the greatest distress; which obliges me, once more, to request the indulgence of the publick.
‘Give me leave to solicit the honour of your company, and to assure you, if you grant my request, the gratification I shall feel, from being patronized by Dr. Johnson, will be infinitely superiour to any advantage that may arise from the Benefit; as I am, with the profoundest respect, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
‘No. 10 Duke-street, St. James’s, May 11, 1783.’ ‘G. A. Bellamy.’
I am happy in recording these particulars, which prove that my illustrious friend lived to think much more favourably of Players than he appears to have done in the early part of his life.
b Piozzi Letters, vol. ii. p. 328.
c Ib., p. 342.
a A few copies only of this tragedy have been printed, and given to the authour’s friends.
b Dr. Johnson having been very ill when the tragedy was first sent to him, had declined the consideration of it.
a ‘I could have borne my woes; that stranger Joy
Wounds while it smiles: – The long imprison’d wretch,
Emerging from the night of his damp cell,
Shrinks from the sun’s bright beams; and that which flings
Gladness o’er all, to him is agony.’
a I was in Scotland when this Club was founded, during all the winter. Johnson, however, declared I should be a member, and invented a word upon the occasion: ‘Boswell (said he) is a very clubable man.’ When I came to town I was proposed by Mr. Barrington, and chosen. I believe there are few societies where there is better conversation or more decorum. Several of us resolved to continue it after our great founder was removed by death. Other members were added; and now, above eight years since that loss, we go on happily.
RULES.
‘To-day deep thoughts with me resolve to drench
In mirth, which after no repenting draws.’ – Milton.1147
‘The club shall consist of four-and-twenty.
‘The meetings shall be on the Monday, Thursday, and Saturday of every week; but in the week before Easter there shall be no meeting.
‘Every member is at liberty to introduce a friend once a week, but not oftener.
‘Two members shall oblige themselves to attend in their turn every night from eight to ten, or to procure two to attend in their room.
‘Every member present at the Club shall spend at least sixpence; and every member who stays away shall forfeit three-pence.
‘The master of the house shall keep an account of the absent members; and deliver to the President of the night a list of the forfeits incurred.
‘When any member returns after absence, he shall immediately lay down his forfeits; which if he omits to do, the President shall require.
‘There shall be no general reckoning, but every man shall adjust his own expences.
‘The night of indispensable attendance will come to every member once a month. Whoever shall for three months together omit to attend himself, or by substitution, nor shall make any apology in the fourth month, shall be considered as having abdicated the Club.
‘When a vacancy is to be filled, the name of the candidate, and of the member recommending him, shall stand in the Club-room three nights. On the fourth he may be chosen by ballot; six members at least being present, and two-thirds of the ballot being in his favour; or the majority, should the numbers not be divisible by three.
‘The master of the house shall give notice, six days before, to each of those members whose turn of necessary attendance is come.
‘The notice may be in these words: – “Sir, On – the – of – will be your turn of presiding at the Essex-Head. Your company is therefore earnestly requested.”
‘One penny shall be left by each member for the waiter.’
Johnson’s definition of a Club in this sense, in his Dictionary, is, ‘An assembly of good fellows, meeting under certain conditions.’
a I sent it to Mr. Pitt, with a letter, in which I thus expressed myself: ‘My principles may appear to you too monarchicaclass="underline" but I know and am persuaded, they are not inconsistent with the true principles of liberty. Be this as it may, you, Sir, are now the Prime Minister, called by the Sovereign to maintain the rights of the Crown, as well as those of the people, against a violent faction. As such, you are entitled to the warmest support of every good subject in every department.’ He answered: – ‘I am extremely obliged to you for the sentiments you do me the honour to express, and have observed with great pleasure the zealous and able support given to the Cause of the Publick in the work you were so good to transmit to me.’
b From his garden at Prestonfield, where he cultivated that plant with such success, that he was presented with a gold medal by the Society of London for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce.
a Who had written him a very kind letter.
a To which Johnson returned this answer: –
‘To THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL OF PORTMORE.
‘DR. JOHNSON acknowledges with great respect the honour of Lord Portmore’s
notice. He is better than he was; and will, as his Lordship directs, write to Mr. Langton.
‘Bolt-court, Fleet-street, April 13, 1784.’
a The eminent painter, representative of the ancient family of Homfrey (now Humphry) in the west of England; who, as appears from their arms which they have invariably used, have been, (as I have seen authenticated by the best authority,) one of those among the Knights and Esquires of honour who are represented by Holinshed as having issued from the Tower of London on coursers apparelled for the justes, accompanied by ladies of honour, leading every one a Knight, with a chain of gold, passing through the streets of London into Smithfield, on Sunday, at three o’clock in the afternoon, being the first Sunday after Michaelmas, in the fourteenth year of King Richard the Second. This family once enjoyed large possessions, but, like others, have lost them in the progress of ages. Their blood, however, remains to them well ascertained; and they may hope, in the revolution of events, to recover that rank in society for which, in modern times, fortune seems to be an indispensable requisite.