8 during his life, so no writer in this nation ever had such an accumulation of literary honours after his death. A sermon upon that event was preached in Beside the Dedications to him by Dr. Goldsmith, the Reverend Dr. Franklin, and the Reverend Mr. Wilson, which I have mentioned according to their dates, there was one by a lady, of a versification of "Aningait and Ajut, and one by the ingenious Mr. Walker, of his "Rhetorical Grammar." I have introduced into this work several compliments paid to him in the writings of his contemporaries; but the number of them is so great, that we may fairly say that there was almost a general tribute. Let me not be forgetful of the honour done to him by Colonel Myddleton, of Gwaynynog, near Denbigh; who, on the banks of a rivulet in his park, where Johnson delighted to stand and repeat verses, erected an urn with the following inscription: "This spot was often dignified by the presence of "Whose moral writings, exactly conformable to the precepts of "Gave ardour to Virtue and confidence to Truth." 1784. Etat. 75 As no inconsiderable circumstance of his fame, we must reckon the extraordinary zeal of the artists to extend and perpetuate his image. I can enumerate a bust by Mr. Nollekens, and the many casts which are made from it; several pictures by Sir Joshua Reynolds from one of which, in the possession of Duke of Dorset, Mr. Humphry executed a beautiful miniature in enamel: one by Mrs. Frances Reynolds, Sir Joshua's sister: one by Mr. Zoffanij; and one by Mr. Opie; and the following engravings of his portrait: 1. One by Cooke, from Sir Joshua, for the Proprietors' edition of his folio Dictionary.-2. One from ditto, by ditto, for their quarto edition.-3. One from Opie, by Heath, for Harrison's edition of his Dictionary.-4. One from Nolleken's bust of him, by Bartolozzi, for Fielding's quarto edition of his Dictionary.-5. One small, from Harding, by Trotter, for his "Beauties."-6. One small, from Sir Joshua, by Trotter, for his "Lives of the Poets." -7. One small, from Sir Joshua, by Hall, for "The Rambler." -8. One small, from an original drawing, in the possession of Mr. John Simco, etched by Trotter, for another edition of his Lives of the Poets."-9. One small, no painter's name, etched by Taylor, for his Johnsoniana.-10. One folio whole-length, with his oak 1784. St. Mary's church, Oxford, before the University, by the Reverend Mr. Agutter, of Magdalen College. The Lives, the Memoirs, the Essays, both in prose and verse, which have been published cancerning him, would make many volumes. The nu Etat. 75. - stick, as described in Boswell's "Tour," drawn and etched by Trotter.-11. One large mezzotinto, from Sir Joshua, by Doughty. -12. One large Roman head, from Sir Joshua, by Marchi,-13. One octavo, holding a book to his eye, from Sir Joshua, by Hall, for his works.-14. One small, from a drawing from the life, and engraved by Trotter, for his Life published by Kearsley.—15 One large, from Opie, by Mr. Townley, (brother of Mr. Townley, of the Commons) an ingenious artist, who resided some time at Berlin, and has the honour of being engraver to his Majesty the King of Prussia. This is one of the finest mezzotintos that ever was executed; and what renders it of extraordinary value, the plate was destroyed after four or five impressions only were taken off.. One of them is in the possession of Sir William Scott. Mr. Townley has lately been prevailed with to execute and publish another of the same, that it may be more generally circulated among the admirers of Dr. Johnson.-16. One large, from Sir Joshua's first picture of him, by Heath, for this work, in quarto.-17. One octavo, by Baker, for the octavo edition.-18. And one for “Lawater's Essays on Physiognomy," in which Johnson's countenance is analysed upon the principles of that fanciful writer.-There are also several seals with his head cut on them, particularly a very fine one by that eminent artist, Edward Burch, Esq. R. A. in the possession of the younger Dr. Charles Burney. Let me add, as a proof of the popularity of his character, that there are copper picces struck at Birmingham, with his head impressed on them, which pass current as half-pence there, and in the neighbouring parts of the country. 9 It is not yet published.In a letter to me, Mr. Agutter says, My sermon before the University was more engaged with Dr. Johnson's moral than his intellectual character. It particularly examined his fear of death, and suggested several reasons for the apprehensions of the good, and the indifference of the infidel in their last bours; this was illustrated by contrasting the death of Dr. Johnson and Mr.Hume: the text was Job. xxi. 22—26.” Ætat. 75. merous attacks too upon him, I consider as part of 1784. his consequence, upon the principle which he himself so well knew and asserted. Many who trembled at his presence, were forward in assault, when they no longer apprehended danger. When one of his little pragmatical foes was invidiously snarling at his fame, at Sir Joshua Reynolds's table, the Reverend Dr. Parr exclaimed, with his usual bold animation, Ay, now that the old lion is dead, every ass thinks he may kick at him." A monument for him, in Westminster-Abbey was resolved upon soon after his death, and was supported by a most respectable contribution; but the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's having come to a resolution of admitting monuments there, upon a liberal and magnificent plan, that Cathehral was afterwards fixed on, as the place in which a cenotaph should be erected to his memory: and in the cathedral of his native city of Lichfield, a smaller one is to be erected. To compose his epitaph, could not but excite the warmest competition of genius." If laudari à laudato viro be praise which 1 1 1 [This monument has been since erected. It consists of a Medallion, with a tablet beneath, on which is this inscsiption: "The friends of SAMUEL JOHNSON, L.L D. "A Native of Lichfield, "Erected this Monument, "As a tribute of respect "To the Memory of a man of extensive learning, 2 The Reverend Dr. Parr, on being requested to undertake it, thus expressed himself in a letter to William Seward, Esq. "I leave this mighty task to some hardier and some abler writer. 1784. is highly estimable, I should not forgive myself were I to omit the following sepulchral verses on the au Etat. 75. The variety and splendour of Johnson's attainments, the peculiarities of his character, his private virtues, and his literary publications, fill me with confusion and dismay, when I reflect upon the confined and difficult species of composition, in which alone they can be expressed, with propriety, upon his monument.” But I understand that this great scholar, and warm admirer of Jolinson, has yielded to repeated solicitations, and executed the very difficult undertaking. [Dr. Johnson's Monument, consisting of a Colossal Figure leaning against a column, (but not very strongly resembling him,) has since the death of our authour been placed in St. Paul's Cathedral, having been first opened to publick view, Feb. 23, 1796. The Epitaph was written by the Rev. Dr. Parr, and is as follows: ΑΡΩ ́SAMVELI · IOHNSON GRAMMATICO ET CRITICO SCRIPTORVM ANGLICORVM · LITTERATE · PERITO . HOMINI OPTIMO ET SINGVLARIS EXEMPLI xul KAL. IANVAR ANN CHRIST clɔ Iɔcc LXXX▼ HM FACIVND CVRAVER. On a scroll in his hand are the following words: ΕΝΜΑΚΑΡΕΣΣΙ ΠΟΝΩΝΑΝΤ ΑΞΙΟΣΕΙΗΑΜΟΙΒΗ On one side of the monument-FACIEBAT JOHANNES BACON SCVLPEOR ANN. CHRIST. M.DCC.LXXXXV. The Subscription for this monument, which cost eleven hundred guineas, was begun by the LITERARY CLUB, and completed by the aid of Dr. Johnson's other friends and admirers. M.] thour of THE ENGLISH DICTIONARY, written by the 1784. Right Honourable Henry Flood :3 "No need of Latin or of Greek to grace "Our JOHNSON's memory, or inscribe his grave; "His native language claims this mournful space, "To pay the immortality he gave." The chracter of SAMUEL JOHNSON has, I trust, been so developed in the course of this work, that they who have honoured it with a perusal, may be considered as well acquainted with him. As, however, it may be expected that I should collect into one view the capital and distinguishing features of this extraordinary man, I shall endeavour to acquit To prevent any misconception on this subject, Mr. Malone, by whom these lines were obligingly communicated, requests me to add the following remark: "In justice to the late Mr. Flood, now himself wanting, and highly meriting, an epitaph from his country, to which his transcendent talents did the highest honour, as well as the most impor tant service; it should be observed, that these lines were by no means intended as a regular monumental inscription for Dr. Johnson. Had he undertaken to write an appropriated and discriminative epitaph for that excellent and extraordinary man, those who knew Mr. Flood's vigor of mind, will have no doubt that he would have produced one worthy of his illustrious subject. But the fact was merely this: In Dec. 1789, after a large subscription had been made for Dr. Johnson's monument, to which Mr. Flood liberally contributed, Mr. Malone happened to call on him at his house, in Berners-street, and the conversation turning on the proposed mo. nument, Mr. Malore maintained that the epitaph, by whomsoever it should be written, ought to be in Latin. Mr. Flood thought differently. The next morning, in the postscript to a note on another subject, he mentioned that he continued of the same opinion as on the preceding day, and subjoined the lines above given.” Etat. 75. |