Though I have, in some degree, obviated any reflections against my illustrious friend’s dark views of life, when considering, in the course of this Work, his Rambler and his Rasselas,1175 I am obliged to Mr. Churton for complying with my request of his permission to insert his Remarks, being conscious of the weight of what he judiciously suggests as to the melancholy in my own constitution. His more pleasing views of life, I hope, are just. Valeant quantum valere possunt.1176
Mr. Churton concludes his letter to me in these words: – ‘Once, and only once, I had the satisfaction of seeing your illustrious friend; and as I feel a particular regard for all whom he distinguished with his esteem and friendship, so I derive much pleasure from reflecting that I once beheld, though but transiently near our College gate, one whose works will for ever delight and improve the world, who was a sincere and zealous son of the Church of England, an honour to his country, and an ornament to human nature.’
His letter was accompanied with a present from himself of his Sermons at the Bampton Lecture, and from his friend, Dr. Townson, the venerable Rector of Malpas, in Cheshire, of his Discourses on the Gospels, together with the following extract of a letter from that excellent person, who is now gone to receive the reward of his labours: – ‘Mr. Boswell is not only very entertaining in his works, but they are so replete with moral and religious sentiments, without an instance, as far as I know, of a contrary tendency, that I cannot help having a great esteem for him; and if you think such a trifle as a copy of the Discourses, ex dono authoris,1177 would be acceptable to him, I should be happy to give him this small testimony of my regard.’
Such spontaneous testimonies of approbation from such men, without any personal acquaintance with me, are truly valuable and encouraging.
a Aurungzebe.1179
b Yet there is no doubt that a man may appear very gay in company who is sad at heart. His merriment is like the sound of drums and trumpets in a battle, to drown the groans of the wounded and dying.
c Page 139.
a The annotator calls them ‘amiable verses.’
a [Lewis’s Verses addressed to Pope were first published in a Collection of Pieces on occasion of The Dunciad, 8vo., 1732. They do not appear in Lewis’s own Miscellany, printed in 1726. –Grongar Hill was first printed in Savage’s Miscellanies as an Ode, and was reprinted in the same year in Lewis’s Miscellany, in the form it now bears.
In his Miscellanies, 1726, the beautiful poem, – ‘Away, let nought to love displeasing,’ – reprinted in Percy’s Reliques, vol. i. book iii. No. 13, first appeared.]
a Letters to Mrs. Thrale, vol. ii. p. 372.
a Letters to Mrs. Thrale, vol. ii. p. 284.
b See p. 327.
a Anecdotes, p. 43.
a Compositor in the Printing-house means, the person who adjusts the types in the order in which they are to stand for printing; and arranges what is called the form, from which an impression is taken.
b This circumstance therefore alluded to in Mr. Courtenay’s Poetical Character of him is strictly true. My informer was Mrs. Desmoulins, who lived many years in Dr. Johnson’s house.
a This has been printed in other publications, ‘fall to the ground.’ But Johnson himself gave me the true expression which he had used as above; meaning that the recommendation left as little choice in the one case as the other.
a Edward Lord Thurlow.
b It is strange that Sir John Hawkins should have related that the application was made by Sir Joshua Reynolds, when he could so easily have been informed of the truth by inquiring of Sir Joshua. Sir John’s carelessness to ascertain facts is very remarkable.
a A friend of mine happened to be passing by a field congregation in the environs of London, when a Methodist preacher quoted this passage with triumph.
b I trust that THE CITY OF LONDON, now happily in unison with THE COURT, will have the justice and generosity to obtain preferment for this Reverend Gentleman, now a worthy old servant of that magnificent Corporation.
a Letters to Mrs. Thrale, vol. ii. p. 375.
b Dr. Johnson’s letter to Sir John Hawkins, Life, p. 570.
a Anec. p. 293.
b Who has been pleased to furnish me with his remarks.
c Anec. p. 183.
d Anec. p. 202.
a Anec. p. 44.
b Ib. p. 23.
c Ib. p. 51.
a Anec. p. 193{51}.
b Ib. p. 258.
c George James Cholmondeley, Esq., grandson of George, third Earl of Cholmondeley, and one of the Commissioners of Excise; a gentleman respected for his abilities, and elegance of manners.
a Letters to Mrs. Thrale, vol. ii. p. 12.
b Anec. p. 23.
c Ib. p. 302.
d Anec. p. 63.
a Upon mentioning this to my friend Mr. Wilkes, he, with his usual readiness, pleasantly matched it with the following sentimental anecdote. He was invited by a young man of fashion at Paris, to sup with him and a lady, who had been for some time his mistress, but with whom he was going to part. He said to Mr. Wilkes that he really felt very much for her, she was in such distress; and that he meant to make her a present of two hundred louis-d’ors. Mr. Wilkes observed the behaviour of Mademoiselle, who sighed indeed very piteously, and assumed every pathetick air of grief; but eat no less than three French pigeons, which are as large as English partridges, besides other things. Mr. Wilkes whispered the gentleman, ‘We often say in England, Excessive sorrow is exceeding dry, but I never heard Excessive sorrow is exceeding hungry. Perhaps one hundred will do.’ The gentleman took the hint.
a Sir Joshua Reynolds, on account of the excellence both of the sentiment and expression of this letter, took a copy of it which he shewed to some of his friends; one of whom,1216 who admired it, being allowed to peruse it leisurely at home, a copy was made, and found its way into the newspapers and magazines. It was transcribed with some inaccuracies. I print it from the original draft in Johnson’s own hand-writing.