'Mr. Johnson sends his compliments to Mr. Boswell, being just arrived at
Boyd's.--Saturday night.'
His stay in Scotland was from the 18th of August, on which day he
arrived, till the 22nd of November, when he set out on his return to
London; and I believe ninety-four days were never passed by any man in a
more vigorous exertion.*
* In his Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, published the
year after Johnson died, Boswell gives a detailed account of
Johnson's conversation and adventures with him throughout
the journey of 1773. Partly owing to their uninterrupted
association, partly to the strangeness and variation of
background and circumstances, and partly to Boswell's larger
leisure during the tour for the elaboration of his account,
the journal is even more racy, picturesque, and interesting
than any equal part of the Life. No reader who enjoys the
Life should fail to read the Tour--unabridged!--ED.
His humane forgiving disposition was put to a pretty strong test on his
return to London, by a liberty which Mr. Thomas Davies had taken
with him in his absence, which was, to publish two volumes, entitled,
Miscellaneous and fugitive Pieces, which he advertised in the
news-papers, 'By the Authour of the Rambler.' In this collection,
several of Dr. Johnson's acknowledged writings, several of his anonymous
performances, and some which he had written for others, were inserted;
but there were also some in which he had no concern whatever. He was at
first very angry, as he had good reason to be. But, upon consideration
of his poor friend's narrow circumstances, and that he had only a little
profit in view, and meant no harm, he soon relented, and continued his
kindness to him as formerly.
In the course of his self-examination with retrospect to this year, he
seems to have been much dejected; for he says, January 1, 1774, 'This
year has passed with so little improvement, that I doubt whether I have
not rather impaired than increased my learning'; and yet we have seen
how he READ, and we know how he TALKED during that period.
He was now seriously engaged in writing an account of our travels in the
Hebrides, in consequence of which I had the pleasure of a more frequent
correspondence with him.
'TO BENNET LANGTON, ESQ., AT LANGTON, NEAR SPILSBY, LINCOLNSHIRE.
'DEAR SIR,--You have reason to reproach me that I have left your
last letter so long unanswered, but I had nothing particular to say.
Chambers, you find, is gone far, and poor Goldsmith is gone much
further. He died of a fever, exasperated, as I believe, by the fear of
distress. He had raised money and squandered it, by every artifice
of acquisition, and folly of expence. But let not his frailties be
remembered; he was a very great man.
'I have just begun to print my Journey to the Hebrides, and am leaving
the press to take another journey into Wales, whither Mr. Thrale is
going, to take possession of, at least, five hundred a year, fallen to
his lady. All at Streatham, that are alive, are well.
'I have never recovered from the last dreadful illness, but flatter
myself that I grow gradually better; much, however, yet remains to mend.
[Greek text omitted].
'If you have the Latin version of Busy, curious, thirsty fly, be so kind
as to transcribe and send it; but you need not be in haste, for I shall
be I know not where, for at least five weeks. I wrote the following
tetastrick on poor Goldsmith:--
[Greek text omitted]
'Please to make my most respectful compliments to all the ladies, and
remember me to young George and his sisters. I reckon George begins to
shew a pair of heels.
'Do not be sullen now, but let me find a letter when I come back. I am,
dear Sir, your affectionate, humble servant,
'SAM. JOHNSON.
'July 5,1774.'