Exult all times expressed his thoughts with great force, or wide, as he saw best for the moment. and an elegant choice of language, the effect of ing in his intellectual strength and dexterity, he which was aided by his having a loud voice, and could, when he pleased, be the greatest sophist a slow deliberate utterance. In him were united that ever contended in the lists of declamation; a most logical head with a most fertile imagina- and, from a spirit of contradiction and a delight tion, which gave him an extraordinary advan-in showing his powers, he would often maintain tage in arguing; for he could reason close the wrong side with equal warmth and ingenuity; so that when there was an audience, his real him known by a talent which is given to very few opinions could seldom be gathered from his talk; learned men. There it appears that he was a man who though when he was in company with a single spoke off-hand a thousand good things. His memory friend, he would discuss a subject with genuine extended to what was ancient and modern; to the court fairness; but he was too conscientious to make and to the city; to the dead and to the living languages; to things serious and things jocose; in a word, to a error permanent and pernicious, by deliberately thousand sorts of subjects. That which appeared a trifle writing it; and in all his numerous works, he to some readers of the Menagiana, who did not consider earnestly inculcated what appeared to him to be circumstances, caused admiration in other readers, who the truth; his piety being constant, and the minded the difference between what a man speaks, without preparation, and that which he prepares for the ruling principle of all his conduct. press; and, therefore, we cannot sufficiently commend the care which his illustrious friends took to erect a monument so capable of giving him immortal glory; They were not obliged to rectify what they had heard him say; for, in so doing, they had not been faithful historians of his conversation."-BOSWELL. Such was Samuel Johnson, a man whose talents, that the more his character is considered, the acquirements, and virtues, were so extraordinary, more he will be regarded by the present age, and by posterity, with admiration and reverence. CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF DR. JOHNSON'S WORKS. The works to which an asterisk (*) is affixed are those of which Dr. Johnson acknowledged the authorship to his friends, while those marked by a dagger (†) are ascertained to be his by internal evidence. In this list, drawn up by the biographer, the poetical works are not included. These consist of a Latin translation of Pope's "Messiah," "London," and "The Vanity of Human Wishes," imitated from Juvenal; a Prologue on the Opening of Drury-lane Theatre by Mr. Garrick; and "Irene," a Tragedy, besides some minor pieces. 512 CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF DR. JOHNSON'S WORKS. Essay on the Description of China, from 1753. the French of Du Halde.t 1743. Dedication to Dr. Mead of Dr. James's Medicinal Dictionary.t FOR THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, clusive.* A Letter, announcing that the Life of Mr. Advertisement for Osborne concerning the 1744. Life of Richard Savage.* Preface to the Harleian Miscellany.* FOR THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. 1745. Miscellaneous observations on the Tragedy of Macbeth, with remarks on Sir T. H.'s (Sir Thomas Hanmer's) Edition of Shakspeare, and proposals for a new Edition of that Poet.* 1747. Plan for a Dictionary of the English Language, addressed to Philip Dormer, Earl of Chesterfield.* FOR THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. 1748. Life of Roscommon.* 1750. Foreign History, November.† FOR MR. DODSLEY'S PRECEPTOR. Preface.* Vision of Theodore the Hermit.* "The Rambler," the first Paper of which was published 20th of March this year, and the last 17th of March, 1752, the day on which Mrs. Johnson died.* (a) Letter in "The General Advertiser " to excite the attention of the Public to the performance of 'Comus," which_was next day to be acted at Drury-lane Playhouse for the benefit of Milton's Granddaughter.* " Preface and Postscript to Lauder's Pamphlet, entitled, "An Essay on Milton's Use and Imitation of the Moderns in his Paradise Lost,"*" 1751. Life of Cheynel, in the Miscellany called "The Student."* Letter for Lauder, addressed to the Rev. Dr. John Douglas, acknowledging his Fraud concerning Milton, in terms of suitable Contrition.* Dedication to the Earl of Middlesex, of Mrs. Charlotte Lennox's "Female Quixote."+ (a) This is a mistake. The last number of "The Rambler" appeared on the fourteenth of March, three days before Mrs. Johnson died.-MALONE. 1754. 1756. Dedication to John, Earl of Orrery, of Shakspeare Illustrated, by Mrs. Charlotte Lennox.* During this and the following year he wrote and gave to his much-loved friend Dr. Bathurst, the Papers in "The Adventurer," signed T.* Life of Edward Cave in "The Gentleman's Magazine."* A Dictionary, with a Grammar and History of the English Language.' An Account of an Attempt to ascertain the Longitude at Sea, by an exact Theory of the Variations of the Magnetical Needle, with a Table of the Variations at the most remarkable Cities in Europe, from the year 1660 to 1860.* This he wrote for Mr. Zachariah Williams, an ingenious ancient Welsh Gentleman, father of Mrs. Ann Williams, whom he for many years kindly lodged in his house. It was published with a Translation into Italian by Signor Baretti, In a Copy of it, which he presented to the Bodleian Li brary at Oxford, is pasted a character of the late Mr. Zachariah Williams, plainly written by Johnson.+ An Abridgment of his Dictionary.* Several Essays in "The Universal Visitor," which there is some difficulty in ascertaining. All that are marked with two asterisks have been ascribed to him, although I am confident, from internal evidence, that we should except from these "The Life of Chaucer,' ""Reflections on the State of Portugal," and "Ar Essay on Architecture: and from the same evidence I am confident that he wrote "Further Thoughts on Agriculture, " and "A Dissertation on the State of Literature and Authors." The Dissertation on the Epitaphs written by Pope he afterwards acknowledged, and added to his "Idler." Life of Sir T. Browne, prefixed to a new edition of his Christian Morals.* CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF DR. JOHNSON'S WORKS. Polybius."-" Sir Isaac Newton's Arguments in proof of a Deity."-"Borlase's History of the Isles of Scilly." "Home's Experiments on Bleaching." "Browne's History of Jamaica.' "Hales on Distilling Sea Waters, Ventilators in Ships, and curing an ill Taste in Milk."-"Lucas's Essay on Waters.' 1760. 1761. "Keith's Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops."-" Philosophical Transactions, vol. xlix."-" Miscellanies, by Elizabeth Harrison."-"Evans's Map, and Account of the Middle Colonies in America.' "The Cadet, a Military Treatise.""The Conduct of the Ministry relating to the present War impartially examined."f "Mrs. Lennox's Translation of Sully's Memoirs."-"Letter on the Case of Admiral Byng."-"Appeal to the People concerning Admiral Byng."-"Hanway's 1762. Eight Days' Journey, and Essay on Tea."-" Some further Particulars in Relation to the Case of Admiral Byng, by a gentleman of Oxford."* Mr. Jonas Hanway having written an angry Answer to the Review of his Essay on Tea, Johnson, in the same Collection, made a reply to it." This is the only instance, it is believed, when he condescended to take notice of anything that had been written against him; and here his chief intention seems to have been to make sport. Dedication to the Earl of Rochford of, and Preface to, Mr. Payne's Introduction to the Game of Draughts.* Introduction to "The London Chronicle," an evening paper which still subsists with deserved credit. 1763. 1757. Speech on the subject of an Address to the The first two paragraphs of the Preface 513 cerning the best plan for Blackfriars Bridge.* Address of the Painters to George III. on Review in "The Gentleman's Magazine," of Mr. Tytler's acute and able Vindication of Mary Queen of Scots.* Introduction to the Proceedings of the Committee for Clothing the French Prisoners.* Preface to "Rolt's Dictionary of Trade and Commerce."* Corrections and Improvements for Mr. Gwyn the Architect's Pamphlet, entitled, "Thoughts on the Coronation of George III." * Dedication to the King, of the Rev. Dr. Kennedy's "Complete System of Astronomical Chronology, unfolding the Scriptures," 4to edition.* Preface to the Catalogue of the Artists' Exhibition. + Character of Collins in "The Poetical Calendar," published by Fawkes and Woty.* Dedication to the Earl of Shaftesbury of the edition of Roger Ascham's English Works, published by the Rev. Mr. Bennet.* The Life of Ascham, also prefixed to that edition.* Review of "Telemachus," a Masque, by the Rev. George Graham, of Eton College, in "The Critical Review."* Dedication to the Queen, of Mr. Hoole's "Translation of Tasso. "* Account of the Detection of the Imposture of the Cock-lane Ghost, published in the Newspapers and Gentleman's Magazine."* Part of a Review of Grainger's “Sugar Cane, a Poem," in "The London Chronicle."* Review of Goldsmith's "Traveller, a Poem," in "The Critical Review."* 1765. 1758. "The Idler," which began April 5, in this year, and was continued till April 5, 1760.* The Plays of William Shakspeare, in eight volumes, 8vo., with Notes.* An Essay on the Bravery of the English Common Soldiers was added to it when published in volumes.* 1759. Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia, a Tale.* Advertisement for the Proprietors of "The Idler" against certain persons who pirated those Papers as they came out singly, in a Newspaper called "The Universal Chronicle, or Weekly Gazette."+ For Mrs. Charlotte Lennox's English Ver- 1773. for the House of Lords.* Argument in support of the Law of Vicious Intromission; dictated to me for the Court of Session in Scotland.* Preface to Macbean's "Dictionary of Ancient Geography.' Argument in Favour of the Rights of Lay Patrons; dictated to me for the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland,* 514 CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF DR. JOHNSON'S WORKS. 1774. The Patriot.* 1775. A Journey to the Western Islands of Scot- Proposals for publishing the Works of Preface to Baretti's Easy Lessons in Italian Taxation no Tyranny; an answer to the Argument on the Case of Dr. Memis; Caledonian Mercury," against the Society of Procurators in Edinburgh, for having inserted in his paper a ludicrous Paragraph against them; demonstrating that it was not an injurious Libel; dictated to me.* 1782. The greatest part, if not the whole, of a Reply, by the Reverend Mr. Shaw, to a person at Edinburgh, of the name of Clarke, refuting his arguments for the authenticity of the Poems published by Mr. James Macpherson as Translations from Ossian.t dictated to me for the Court of Session 1784. Argument to prove that the Corporation of Stirling was corrupt; dictated to me for 1776. Argument in Support of the Right of imme- Proposals for publishing an Analysis of the 1777. Dedication to the King of the Posthumous Additions to the Life and Character of that 1780. Advertisement for his friend Mr. Thrale to The first Paragraph of Mr. Thomas Davies's 1781. Prefaces, Biographical and Critical, to the On the Distinction between Tory and List of the Authors of the Universal History, deposited in the British Museum, and printed in "The Gentleman's Maga zine" for December, this year.* VARIOUS YEARS. Letters to Mrs. Thrale.* Prayers and Meditations, which he delivered to the Rev. Mr. Strahan, enjoining him to publish them." Sermons, left for publication by John Taylor, LL.D. Prebendary of Westminster, and given to the World by the Rev. Samuel Hayes, A.M.† (a) Such was the number and variety of the prose works of this extraordinary man, which I have been able to discover, and am at liberty to mention; but we ought to keep in mind, that there must undoubtedly have been many more which are yet concealed; and we may add to the account the numerous Letters which he wrote, of which a considerable part are yet unpublished. It is hoped that those persons in whose possession they are will favour the world with them. JAMES BOS VELL. (a) To this List of the Writings of Dr. Johnson, Mr. Alexander Chalmers, with considerable probability, suggests to me that we may add the following: 1747. 1750. 1753. in the Court of Session in Scotland, and 1756. obtained it; dictated to me.* Defence of Mr. Robertson, Printer of "The | INDEX. ABSENTEEISM, 329 Abstinence of Johnson, 126, 128, 246 Accent, Scottish, easily detected, 168 Accent, provincial, often not disagreeable, 168 Actors, Johnson's prejudice against, 36, 311 Adams, Dr., 247, 467, 494 Adams's, Dr., eulogy of Johnson, 7 Adams, Miss, 469 Addison and Eustace Budgell, 269 Addison's style compared with Johnson's, 51 Address of the painters to George III. on his Adventure of Johnson, Langton, and Beauclerk, 57 "Adventurer, The," Johnson's interest in, 58 Advice to Boswell, 430, 461 Affecting scene between Johnson and Boswell, Affection of Johnson for his departed relations, 500 Affection of Johnson for the memory of his wife, Agricultural improvement; its influence on popu- Agriculture, Marshal's Minutes of, 347 Alchymy, 228 Alcibiades' dog, 324 Allen, Mr. Edmund, 450 Baretti, Mr. Joseph, 89, 91, 93 trial and acquittal of, on a charge of Baretti's account of Italy, praised by Johnson, 140 " Ancient Literature, Johnson appointed Professor Barnard, Dr., 418 Ancient Britain, 353 Ancient Egyptians, 421 of, 142 Anderson, Mr. John, 291 Anecdote of Floyd and Derrick, 113 Barnes, Rev. Joshua, 390 Barrington, Hon. Daines, 348 Anecdote of Johnson, while at Plymouth (1762), 93 Barry's pictures, 448 |