[To the list of persons now privileged to wear such collars
given by Mr. Nichols, must be added the Serjeants of Arms, of
whose creation by investiture with the Collar of Esses, Pegge
has preserved so curious an account in the Fifth Part of his
_Curialia_.]
_Hell paved with good Intentions_ (Vol. ii., p. 86.).--The history of
the phrase which Sir Walter Scott attributed "to a stern old divine,"
and which J.M.G. moralises upon, and asserts to be a misquotation for
"the _road_ to hell," &c., is this:--Boswell, {141} in his _Life of
Johnson_ (_sub_ 15th April, 1775), says that Johnson, in allusion to the
unhappy failure of pious resolves, said to an acquaintance, "Sir, hell
is paved with good intentions." Upon which Malone adds a note:
"This is a proverbial saying. 'Hell,' says Herbert, 'is full of
good meanings and wishings.'--_Jacula Prudentum_, p. 11. ed.
1631."
but he does not say where else the proverbial saying is to be found. The
last editor, Croker, adds,--
"Johnson's phrase has become so proverbial, that it may seem
rather late to ask what it means--why '_paved_?' perhaps as
making the _road_ easy, _facilis descensus Averni_."