[123] Dr Johnson's life of Pope.
[124] Vide Terence and the Careless Husband.
[125] Vide Dr Johnson's life of Shenstone.
[126] Vide Preface to Dr Johnson's octavo Dictionary, 4th edition.
[127] Vide Measure for measure.
[128] Vide Dictionary.
[129] Optics, P. 349.
[130] Chem. I. P. 399. 614.
[131] Preface to Folio Dictionary.
[132] Perhaps he means, in defining _Thunder_, _Plum porridge_, the
particle _But_, &c.
[133] Letter to the Earl of Chesterfield.
[134] Preface to folio dictionary.
[135] Ibid.
[136] Ibid.
[137] Ibid.
[138] It is said that this word is not to be found in any book previous
to the reign of James II. and that it was derived from the Priests who
surrounded him.
[139] SOLIDITY. '1. Fullness of matter; _not hollowness_. 2. Firmness;
hardness; compactness; _density_;' &c. &c. Dr Johnson's dictionary.
Every page is replete with jargon of this kind.
[140] Essay, &c. Book II. Chap. iv. Sect. 6.
[141] History of Manchester, Vol. II.
[142] Preface to the octavo dictionary.
[143] Vid. Preface to folio Dictionary.
[144] Vide Life of Pope.
[145] Vide Rambler.
[146] The Booksellers, vide Life of Dryden.
[147] Vide Dictionary, article WATER.
[148] Dr Johnson's Dictionary, 4th edition, folio.
[149] Ibid.
[150] It is needless to observe, that there is no such coin in
existence.
[151] Idler, No. 94.
[152] What string does the Doctor mean? for, besides the optic nerve,
there are six muscles, four straight, and two oblique, and other small
nervous branches.
[153] It is surprising how some persons acquire the reputation of piety.
The fervour of Dr Johnson's devotion cannot be denied by those who have
seen him rise in the midst of a large company--fall down on his knees
behind his chair, repeat his Pater noster, and then resume his seat.
This is one way to get a character for holiness, and it is an absolute
fact.
Laud proved his title to the dignity of a saint, by doing all the
mischief that lay in his power. He lighted up the flames of discord
through three kingdoms. They were extinguished in the course of twenty
years, by rivers of blood.
'Knocking Jack of the North' founded his reputation, by railing at the
damnable sin of fornication, destroying great numbers of fine buildings,
and insulting the person of his Sovereign. His character was completely
detestable, which is evident from the whole tenor of his life and
writings, from his 'Blast against Women,' and above all, from his
insolence to Queen Mary, a Princess the most admired, the most
beautiful, the most injured, and the most unfortunate of her age.
[154] Preface to Shakespeare.
[155] Ibid. Dr Johnson on Shakespeare.
[156] Preface to Folio Dictionary.
[157] False Alarm.
[158] Life of Pope.
[159] Life of Pope.
[160] Ibid.
[161] Ibid.
[162]
Let Budgell charge low Grubstreet on my quill--
And write whate'er he please, _except my_ WILL!
Epistle to Arbuthnot.
[163] Life of Pope.
[164] Vide life prefixed to his works.
[165] Rambler, No. 45.
[166] Life of Addison.
[167] Dr Johnson's reputation is raised to such a height, that many
writers do not think their productions can be successful, unless they
have his liberty to acknowledge their obligations to him. This tribute
of gratitude generally occupies a splendid dedication, or the second
paragraph in the author's preface, and we are sometimes reminded in a
marginal note of his particular respect for the Doctor. By a man of
tolerable information, such eulogiums cannot be perused without intense
disgust. But one of these gentlemen has boasted of the Doctor's
approbation of a work, which, had he ever been consulted, he would have
_damned beyond all depth_. Dr Percy has published three volumes of
English ballads, and as an apology for this work, he says in his
preface, that he could refuse nothing to such judges as the late Mr
Shenstone, and--the author of the RAMBLER. Now take notice, that the
very first poem in the collection, and one of the very best in the whole
of it, is Chevy Chace! Dr Percy admires it. Dr Johnson ridicules it in
the roughest terms. What are we to think of this; and what must Dr Percy
feel when he reads the passage just now quoted from his friend? If Dr
Johnson thinks Chevy Chace so insufferably dull, how must he have
sickened in the perusal of many pieces in that collection.
[168] Fugitive pieces. Vol. II. p. 136.
[169] Ibid, p. 26.
[170] Review for August 1782.
[171] Vide False Alarm.
[172] Though Dr Johnson has on all occasions expressed the utmost
contempt and aversion for the Scots, yet they have in general been
solicitous to soothe his pride. Dr Smollet says, that 'Johnson, inferior
to none in philosophy, philology, and poetry, stands foremost as an
essayist, justly celebrated for the strength, dignity, and variety of
his stile, &c.' And Beattie affirms, that his dictionary, considered as
the work of one man, is a _most wonderful_ performance! The Doctor's
capital enemies have likewise been Caledonians. The great author of
Lexiphanes was a Scot, and the Rambler is yet smarting under the rough
but irresistible _remarks_ of a Highland reviewer.
Our ingenious advocate for the second sight (vid. Tour) has long been
duped by a succession of rascals. Lawder persuaded him to believe, that
Paradise Lost was compiled from scraps of modern Latin poetry; his
pamphlet bears strong internal evidence that part of it at least (as has
been long alledged) is the production of the Doctor's pen. Compare in
particular the preface with such attempts in prose as we know to be
Lawder's own. Vide Gentleman's Magazine.
Mr Shaw has of late renewed his _enquiries_. They are only to be
regarded as the desperate ravings of a man who believes that, in
consequence of the _new light_, his moral and his literary character
have sunk together into final perdition; that his name, like Lawder's,
will be remembered only to his infamy, and _that_ Dr Johnson himself
despises and abhors him. Do you think me too severe on the Doctor's
infirmities? Can you forgive his injustice to the memory of his
benefactors--his political duplicity--his thirst for blood--his
inveterate antipathy to the most sacred rights of mankind?
Dr Johnson says, that one of the lowest of all human beings is a
Commissioner of Excise. This can hardly be the case, unless himself or
his reverend friend Mr Shaw shall arrive at that dignity. But in the
meantime, there is a Commissioner of Excise, or Customs, (no matter
which) who in the scale of human beings is not much _lower_ than
Lexiphanes himself. This couple stand in the most striking contrast: and
to draw the character of the first is to write an oblique but most
severe censure on the character of the second. Dr Smith's language is a
luscious and pure specimen of strength, elegance, precision, and
simplicity. His _Enquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of
nations_ deserves to be studied by every member of the community, as one
of the most accurate, profound, and persuasive books that ever was
written. In _that_ performance he displays an intimate and extensive
knowledge of mankind, in every department of life, from the cabinet to
the cottage; a supreme contempt of national prejudice, and a fearless
attachment to liberty, to justice, and to truth. His work is admired as
a mass of excellence, a condensation of reasonings, the most various,
important, original, and just.
* * * * *
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PUBLICATIONS IN PRINT
1948-1949
16. Henry Nevil Payne, _The Fatal Jealousie_ (1673).
18. Anonymous, "Of Genius," in _The Occasional Paper_, Vol. III,
No. 10 (1719), and Aaron Hill, Preface to _The Creation_ (1720).
1949-1950
19. Susanna Centlivre, _The Busie Body_ (1709).
20. Lewis Theobald, _Preface to the Works of Shakespeare_ (1734).
22. Samuel Johnson, _The Vanity of Human Wishes_ (1749), and two
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1951-1952
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1964-1965
110. John Tutchin, _Selected Poems_ (1685-1700).
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113. T. R., _An Essay Concerning Critical and Curious Learning_
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1966-1967
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1967-1968
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1968-1969
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137. Arthur Murphy, _The Englishman From Paris_ (1736).
138. [Catherine Trotter], _Olinda's Adventures_ (1718).
1969-1970
139. John Ogilvie, _An Essay on the Lyric Poetry of the Ancients_
(1762).
140. _A Learned Dissertation on Dumpling_ (1726) and _Pudding
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141. Selections from Sir Roger L'Estrange's _Observator_
(1681-1687).
142. Anthony Collins, _A Discourse Concerning Ridicule and Irony
in Writing_ (1729).
143. _A Letter From A Clergyman to His Friend, With An Account of
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* * * * *
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:
The text indicated quotes by repeating the open quote character on each
new line. This has not been followed in this transcription.
The text used the 'long s', as is common pre-1800. This has been
converted to a standard 's'.
The text used an 'oe' ligature for several words, which has been changed
to 'oe' in the text edition:
[oe]conomy
[oe]gnimatical
Gonnorh[oe]a
The following misprints have been corrected in the text:
Page iii "ignominious end". 'ignominous' in page image.
Page 14. "_False Alarm_". Initial F not italicised in page image.
Page 24. "'The design". Initial quote doubled in page image.
Page 35. "a specimen". 'speimen' in page image.
Page 36. "procure it.'" Removed extra end quote.
Page 48. "_a parte post_". 'a' not italisised in page image.
Page 49. "that ingredient". 'ingre-(newline)gredient' on page.
Page 51. "his only difficulty". 'difficuly' in page image.
Page 53. "Pissburnt". On page 'Piss-(newline)burnt'
Page 72. "(for I dare". Open bracked missing in page image.
Page 75. "for he". Printed as 'forhe'.
Page 80. "Brothelhouse". On page 'brothel-(newline)house'
Page 86. "or blood-thirsty". '-' unclear in page image.
Missing singlequote has been added at the end as indicated below:
Page 17. "these: 'They'"
Page 24. footnote. "_these reasons_,'"
Page 27. "have seen;'"
Page 36. "a poet.'"
Page 40. "fine sleeves;'"
Page 53. "animal water. _Pope._'"
Page 70. "say less'"
Page 78. "or write;'"
Page 78. "heavy ship;'"
In addition, missing period has been added as shown below:
Page 12. "too old to learn."
Page 13. "the victory. _Cibber_"
Page 22 footnote. "Ibid, p. 55."
Page 54. "divert school boys."
Page 54. "_s._ Fiddlefaddle"
Page 55. "Yet, _ad._"
Page 68. "hope and fear."
Page 74. "_Dryden._' Whoredom"
Page 74. "piece of bread."
Page 75. "consisting of three.'"
Page 75 footnote. "in existence."
The alphabetical list on pages 71-72 has several entries out of order.
The order has been kept from the text, rather than corrected.
On page 73 there is a footnote, "Vide Rambler.", with no footnote marker
on the page. This footnote has been placed where it is in the first
edition.