1742. し In 1742 he wrote for the Gentleman's Magazine the "Preface,†" the " Parliamentary Debates,*" " Essay on the Account of the Conduct of the Ætat. 33. Duchefs of Marlborough,*" then the popular topick of conversation. This Essay is a short but masterly performance. We find him, in No. 13 of his Rambler, cenfuring a profligate sentiment in that "Account;" and again infifting upon it strenuously in conversation *. "An Account of the Life of Peter Burman,*" I believe chiefly taken from a foreign publication; as, indeed, he could not himself know much about Burman; "Additions to his Life of Baretier; *" "The Life of Sydenham,*" afterwards prefixed to Dr. Swan's edition of his works; "Proposals for printing Bibliotheca Harleiana, or a Catalogue of the Library of the Earl of Oxford.*" His account of that celebrated collection of books, in which he displays the importance to literature, of what the French call a catalogue raisonnée, when the subjects of it are extensive and various, and it is executed with ability, cannot fail to impress all his readers with admiration of his philological attainments. It was afterwards prefixed to the first volume of the Catalogue, in which the Latin accounts of books were written by him. He was employed in this business by Mr. Thomas Osborne the bookfeller, who purchased the library for 13,000l. a sum, which Mr. Oldys says, in one of his manufcripts, was not more than the binding of the books had cost; yet, as Dr. Johnson affured me, the flowness of the fale was such, that there was not much gained by it. It has been confidently related, with many embellishments, that Johnfon one day knocked Osborne down in his shop, with a folio, and put his foot upon his neck. The simple truth I had from Johnfon himself. "Sir, he was impertinent to me, and I beat him. But it was not in his shop: it was in my own chamber." A very diligent observer may trace him where we should not easily fuppose him to be found. I have no doubt that he wrote the little abridgement entitled "Foreign History," in the Magazine for December. To prove it, I shall quote the introduction. "As this is that season of the year in which Nature may be faid to command a fufpenfion of hoftilities, and which feems intended, by putting a short stop to violence and flaughter, to afford time for malice to relent, and animosity to subside; we can scarce expect any other accounts than of plans, negociations and treaties, of proposals for peace, and preparations for war." As also this passage: "Let those who despise the Capacity of the Swiss, tell us by what wonderful policy, or by what happy 1742. Ætat. 33. conciliation of interests, it is brought to pass, that in a body made up of different communities and different religions, there should be no civil commotions, though the people are so warlike, that to nominate and raise an army is the fame." I am obliged to Mr. Astle for his ready permission to copy the two following letters, of which the originals are in his possession. Their contents shew that they were written about this time, and that Johnfon was now engaged in preparing an hiftorical account of the British Parliantent. "SIR, To Mr. CAVE. [No date.] “ I BELIEVE I am going to write a long letter, and have therefore taken a whole sheet of paper. The first thing to be written about is our historical design. " You mentioned the proposal of printing in numbers, as an alteration in the scheme, but I believe you mistook, some way or other, my meaning; I had no other view than that you might rather print too many of five sheets, than of five and thirty. "With regard to what I shall fay on the manner of proceeding, I would have it understood as wholly indifferent to me, and my opinion only, not my resolution. Emptoris fit eligere. " I think the infertion of the exact dates of the most important events in the margin, or of fo many events as may enable the reader to regulate the order of facts with fufficient exactness, the proper medium between a journal which has regard only to time, and a history which ranges facts according to their dependence on each other, and postpones or anticipates according to the convenience of narration. I think the work ought to partake of the fpirit of history, which is contrary to minute exactness, and of the regularity of a journal, which is inconfiftent with spirit. For this reason, I neither admit numbers or dates, nor reject them. " I am of your opinion with regard to placing most of the resolutions, &c. in the margin, and think we shall give the most complete account of parliamentary proceedings that can be contrived. The naked papers, without an hiftorical treatise interwoven, require some other book to make them understood. I will date the fucceeding facts with some exactness, but I think in the margin. You told me on Saturday that I had received money on this work, and found set down 131. 2s. 6d. reckoning the half guinea of last Saturday. As you hinted to me that you had many calls for money, I would not press you too hard, and therefore shall defire only, as I send it in, two guineas 4 1742. guineas for a sheet of copy, the rest you may pay me when it may be more convenient; and even by this sheet-payment I shall, for some time, be very Ætat. 33. expensive. "The Life of Savage I am ready to go upon; and in Great Primer, and Pica notes, I reckon on sending in half a sheet a day; but the money for that shall likewife lye by in your hands till it is done. With the debates, shall I not have business enough? if I had but good pens. "Towards Mr. Savage's Life what more have you got? I would willingly have his trial, &c. and know whether his defence be at Bristol; and would have his collection of poems, on account of the preface-The Plain Dealer,all the magazines that have any thing of his, or relating to him. " I thought my letter would be long, but it is now ended; and I am, Sir, "Your's, &c. "SAM. JOHNSON." "The boy found me writing this almost in the dark, when I could not quite easily read yours. " I have read the Italian-nothing in it is well. " I had no notion of having any thing for the Inscription. I hope you don't think I kept it it to extort a price. I could think of nothing, till to day. If you could spare me another guinea for the history, I should take it very kindly, to night; but if you do not, I shall not think it an injury. I am almost well again." "SIR, To Mr. CAVE. "YOU did not tell me your determination about the Soldier's Letter‡, which I am confident was never printed. I think it will not do by itself, or in any other place, so well as the Mag. Extraordinary. If you will have it at all, I believe you do not think I fet it high, and I will be glad if what you give, you will give quickly. " You need not be in care about something to print, for I have got the State Trials, and shall extract Layer, Atterbury, and Macclesfield from them, and shall bring them to you in a fortnight; after which I will try to get the South Sea Report." [No date, nor fignature.] 1743. Atat. 34. I would alfo afcribe to him an "Essay on the Description of China, from the French of Du Halde.f" His writings in the Gentleman's Magazine in 1743, are, the Preface, f the Parliamentary Debates,t " Confiderations on the Dispute between Croufaz and Warburton, on Pope's Essay on Man,t" in which, while he defends Croufaz, he shews an admirable metaphysical acuteness and temperance in controverfy; "Ad Lauram parituram Epigramma;*" and, " A Latin Tranflation of Pope's Verses on his Grotto;*" and, as he could employ his pen with equal fuccess upon a small matter as a great, I suppose him to be the authour of an advertisement for Osborn, concerning the great Harleian Catalogue. But I should think myself much wanting, both to my illustrious friend and my readers, did I not introduce here, with more than ordinary respect, an exquifitely beautiful Ode, which has not been inserted in any of the collections of Johnson's poetry, written by him at a very early period, as Mr. Hector informs me, and inferted in the Gentleman's Magazine of this year. FRIENDSHIP, an ODE.* FRIENDSHIP, peculiar boon of heaven, To men and angels only given, To all the lower world deny'd. While love, unknown among the bleft, 1 Angliacas inter pulcherrima Laura puellas, Mox uteri pondus depofitura grave, Mr. Hector was present when this Epigram was made impromptu. The first line was proposed by Dr. James, and Johnson was called upon by the company to finish it, which he instantly did. Thy Thy gentle flows of guiltless joys On fools and villains ne'er descend; In vain for thee the tyrant fighs, Directress of the brave and just, O guide us through life's darksome way! On felfish bofoms only prey. Nor shall thine ardours cease to glow, Johnfon had now an opportunity of obliging his schoolfellow Dr. James, of whom he once observed, "no man brings more mind to his profession." James published this year his "Medicinal Dictionary," in three volumes folio. Johnfon, as I understood from him, had written, or assisted in writing, the proposals for this work; and being very fond of the study of phyfick, in which James was his master, he furnished some of the articles. He, however, certainly wrote for it the Dedication to Dr. Mead, which is conceived with great address, to conciliate the patronage of that very eminent man 8. It has been circulated, I know not with what authenticity, that Johnfon confidered Dr. Birch as a dull writer, and faid of him, "Tom Birch is as brifk as a bee in conversation; but no fooner does he take a pen in his hand, than "SIR, 8 To Dr. MEAD. "THAT the Medicinal Dictionary is dedicated to you, is to be imputed only to your reputation for fuperiour skill in those sciences which I have endeavoured to explain and facilitate : and you are, therefore, to confider this address, if it be agreeable to you, as one of the rewards of merit; and, if otherwise, as one of the inconveniencies of eminence. "However you shall receive it, my defign cannot be disappointed; because this publick appeal to your judgement will shew that I do not found my hopes of approbation upon the ignorance of my readers, and that I fear his censure least, whose knowledge is most extensive. 1743. Ætat. 34. "I am, Sir, "Your most obedient humble servant, "R. JAMES." it |