JOHNSON TO GEORGE STRAHAN, to say. University College, Oxford. May 25. 1765. "DEAR SIR, - That I have answered neither of your letters you must not impute to any declension of good will, but merely to the want of something I suppose you pursue your studies diligently, and diligence will seldom fail of success. Do not tire yourself so much with Greek one day as to be afraid of looking on it the next; but give it a certain portion of time, suppose four hours, and pass the rest of the day in Latin or English. I would have you learn French, and take in a literary journal once a month, which will accustom you to various subjects, and inform you what learning is going forward in the world. Do not omit to mingle some lighter books with those of more importance; that which is read remisso animo is often of great use, and takes great hold of the remembrance. However, take what course you will, if you be diligent you will be a scholar. I am, dear Sir, yours affectionately, SAM. JOHNSON."] Rose MSS. Davies twenty-five." Trinity College, Dublin, at this time surprised Johnson with a spontaneous compliment of the highest academical honours, by creating him Doctor of Laws. The diploma, which is in my possession, is as follows: "OMNIBUS ad quos præsentes literæ pervenerint, salutem. Nos Præpositus et Socii Seniores Collegii Sacrosanctæ et Individuæ Trinitatis Regina Elizabethe juxta Dublin, testamur, Samueli Johnson, Armigero, ob egregiam scriptorum elegantiam et utilitatem, gratiam concessam fuisse pro gradu Doctoratus in utroque Jure, octavo die Julii, Anno Domini millesimo septingentesimo sexagesimo-quinto. In 1 A quarter's pension. - CROKER. 9 Dr. Thomas Leland, the translator of Demosthenes, and author of the History of Ireland, was born at Dublin, in 1722, and died in 1785. WRIGHT. The same who has contributed some notes to this work, and the elder brother of my earliest literary friend Dr. John Key, sometime Provost of Dublin College, and afterwards Bishop of Ossory. Both the brothers were amiable Bran and accomplished scholars.-CROKER. Hawkins and Murphy seem to think that this honour flowed the publication of Shakspeare, but that is a mistake. Ayre was in July at the annual Commencement; the on of Shakspeare in October. Johnson's acknow1 W** postponed to the end of the academic JOHNSON TO DR. LELAND. "Johnson's Court, Fleet Street, London, "Oct. 17. 1765. 4 "SIR, Among the names subscribed to the degree which I have had the honour of receiving from the University of Dublin, I find none of which I have any personal knowledge but those of Dr. Andrews and yourself. "Men can be estimated by those who know them not, only as they are represented by those who know them; and therefore I flatter myself that I owe much of the pleasure which this distinction gives me, to your concurrence with Dr. Andrews in recommending me to the learned society. "Having desired the Provost to return my general thanks to the University, I beg that you, Sir, will accept my particular and immediate acknowledgments. I am, Sir, your most obedient SAM. JOHNSON.” 5 and most humble servant, He appears this year to have been seized with a temporary fit of ambition, for he had thoughts both of studying law, and of engaging in politics. His "Prayer [p. 67.] before the Study of Law" is truly admirable : 66 Sept. 26. 1765. Almighty God, the giver of wisdom, without whose help resolutions are vain, without whose blessing study is ineffectual; enable me, if it be thy will, to attain such knowledge as may qualify me to direct the doubtful, and instruct the ignorant; to prevent wrongs and terminate contentions; and grant that I may use that knowledge which I shall attain, to thy glory and my own salvation, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen." His prayer in the view of becoming a politician is entitled, "Engaging in politics with | H-n," no doubt, his friend, the Right Hon. William Gerard Hamilton 6, for whom, during 5 Hawkins and Murphy thought that Johnson's attachment to Oxford prevented him from assuming the title which it conferred. The fact is true; but it is still more remarkable that he never used the title of Doctor before his name, (VET after his Oxford degree, (post, 30th Mar. 1775.) Hawkins says that he disliked to be called Doctor, as reminding him that he had been a schoolmaster. This seems improbable; my opinion is, that he did not use his Irish title, expecting an Oxford one, and when the Oxford one came tardily and ungraciously ten years later, he disdained to assume it. CROKER. 6 Single-speech Hamilton had been secretary to Lord Hifax, as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and remained a short time with his successor, Lord Northumberland, but he resigned in 1764. Though he never spoke in parliament alter a long acquaintance, he had a great esteem, situation which produces much wealth should and to whose conversation he once paid this be considered as very respectable; and, no high compliment: "I am very unwilling to be doubt, honest industry is entitled to esteem. left alone, Sir, and therefore I go with my But, perhaps, the too rapid advance of men company down the first pair of stairs, in some of low extraction tends to lessen the value of hopes that they may, perhaps, return again; that distinction by birth and gentility, which I go with you, Sir, as far as the street-door." has ever been found beneficial to the grand In what particular department he intended to scheme of subordination. Johnson used to engage does not appear, nor can Mr. Hamil-give this account of the rise of Mr. Thrale's ton explain. His prayer is in general terms: this, his biographer informs us (perhaps on the authority of this passage), that he meditated taking an active part in political life: he, however, did not, and his alliance with Johnson, whatever it was intended to be, seems to have produced little or nothing. He died in 1796.- CROKER. In the preface to a late collection of Mr. Hamilton's Pieces, it has been observed that our author was, by the generality of Johnson's words, "led to suppose that he was seized with a temporary fit of ambition, and that hence he was induced to apply his thoughts to law and politics. But Mr. Boswell was certainly mistaken in this respect: and these words merely allude to Johnson's having at that time entered into some engagement with Mr. Hamilton occasionally to furnish him with his sentiments on the great political topics which should be considered in parliament." In consequence of this engagement, Johnson, in November, 1766, wrote a very valuable tract, entitled "Considerations on Corn," which is printed as an appendix to the works of Mr. Hamilton, published by T. Payne in 1808. MALONE. I cannot doubt that so solemn a "prayer, on engaging m politics," must have had a serious meaning; and the page as to "hopes and fears," though omitted in Boswell's quotation, confirms this opinion. It were perhaps vain now to inquire after what Mr. Hamilton professed not to be able to explain; but we may be sure that it was, in Johnson's opinion, no such slight and casual assistance In father: "He worked at six shillings a week for twenty years in the great brewery, which afterwards was his own. The proprietor of it had an only daughter, who was married to a nobleman. It was not fit that a peer should continue the business. On the old man's death, therefore, the brewery was to be sold. To find a purchaser for so large a property was a difficult matter; and, after some time, it was suggested, that it would be advisable to treat with Thrale, a sensible, active, honest man, who had been employed in the house, and to transfer the whole to him for thirty thousand pounds, security being taken upon the property. This was accordingly settled. eleven years Thrale paid the purchase-money. He acquired a large fortune, and lived to be a member of parliament for Southwark.3 But what was most remarkable was the liberality with which he used his riches. He gave his son and daughters the best education. The esteem which his good conduct procured him from the nobleman who had married his master's daughter, made him be treated with much attention; and his son, both at school and at the university of Oxford, associated with young men of the first rank. His allowance from his father, after he left college, was splendid; not less than a thousand a year. This, in a man who had risen as old Thrale did, was a very extraordinary instance of generosity. He used to say, "If this young dog does not find so much after I am gone as he expects, let him remember that he has a great deal in my own time." The son, though in affluent circumstances, had good sense enough to carry on his father's as is suggested in the foregoing note. From a letter to Miss Porter (post, January 14. 1766), it may be guessed, that this engagement was in some way connected with the parliamentary session; perhaps an alliance to write pamphlets or paragraphs, or to prepare speeches. Whatever it was, it may be inferred, from the obscurity in which they involved and left it, that it was something which Johnson did not chose to talk about, nor Hamilton to avow. CROKER. 2 The predecessor of old Thrale was Edmund Halsey, Esq.; the nobleman who married his daughter was Lord Cobham, great uncle of the first Marquis of Buckingham. But I believe Dr. Johnson was mistaken in assigning so very low an origin to Mr. Thrale. The clerk of St. Albans, a very aged man, told me, that he (the elder Thrale) married a sister of Mr. Halsey. It is at least certain that the family of Thrale was of some consideration in that town: in the abbey church is a handsome monument to the memory of Mr. John Thrale, late of London, merchant, who died in 1704, aged 54, Margaret his wife, and three of their children who died young, between the years 1676 and 1690. The arms upon this monument are, paly of eight, gules and or, impaling, ermine, on a chief indented vert, three wolves' (or gryphons') heads, or, couped at the neck: Crest on a ducal coronet, a tree, vert. -BLAKEWAY. 3 In 1733 he served the office of high sheriff for Surrey. He died April 9. 1758.- CROKER. trade, which was of such extent, that I remember he once told me, he would not quit it for an annuity of ten thousand a year: "Not," said he, "that I get ten thousand a year by it, but it is an estate to a family." Having left daughters only, the property was sold for the immense sum of one hundred and thirty-five thousand pounds: a magnificent proof of what may be done by fair trade in a long period of time. general supposition: but it is not the truth. Mr. Murphy, who was intimate with Mr. Thrale, having spoken very highly of Dr. Johnson, he was requested to make them acquainted. This being mentioned to Johnson, he accepted of an invitation to dinner at Thrale's, and was so much pleased with his reception, both by Mr. and Mrs. Thrale, and they so much pleased with him, that his invitations to their house were more and more There may be some who think that a new frequent, till at last he became one of the system of gentility might be established, upon family, and an apartment was appropriated to principles totally different from what have him, both in their house at Southwark and in hitherto prevailed. Our present heraldry, it their villa at Streatham. may be said, is suited to the barbarous times in which it had its origin. It is chiefly founded upon ferocious merit, upon military excellence. Why, in civilised times, we may be asked, should there not be rank and honours, upon principles which, independent of long custom, are certainly not less worthy, and which, when once allowed to be connected with elevation and precedency, would obtain the same dignity in our imagination? Why should not the knowledge, the skill, the expertness, the assiduity, and the spirited hazards of trade and commerce, when crowned with success, be entitled to give those flattering distinctions by which mankind are so universally captivated? Such are the specious, but false arguments for a proposition which always will find numerous advocates, in a nation where men are every day starting up from obscurity to wealth. To refute them is needless. The general sense of mankind cries out, with irresistible force, "Un gentilhomme est toujours gentilhomme." 2 Mr. Thrale had married Miss Hesther Lynch Salusbury, of good Welsh extraction, a lady of lively talents, improved by education. That Johnson's introduction into Mr. Thrale's family, which contributed so much to the happiness of his life, was owing to her desire for his conversation, is a very probable and the 1 Mrs. Burney informs me that she heard Dr. Johnson say," An English merchant is a new species of gentleman." He, perhaps, had in his mind the following ingenious passage in The Conscious Lovers," Act iv. Scene 2., where Mr. Sealand thus addresses Sir John Bevil:-" Give me leave to say, that we merchants are a species of gentry that have grown into the world this last century, and are as honourable, and almost as useful, as you landed-folks, that have always thought yourselves so much above us; for your trading, forsooth, is extended no farther than a load of hay, or a fat ox. You are pleasant people indeed! because you are generally bred up lazy, therefore, I warrant you, industry is dishonourable."- BoSWELL. If, indeed, Johnson called merchants a new species of gentlemen, he must have forgotten not only the merchants of Tyre, who were " princes," and the Medici of Florence, but the Greshams, Cranfields, Osbornes, Duncombes, and so many others of England. - CROKER. This dictum, whatever be its value, is not applicable to this question, which is, not whether a gentleman can ever cease to be one, but, whether a plebeian can ever become one. —CROKER. 3 "The first time," says Mrs. Piozzi, "I ever saw this extraordinary man was in the year 1764, when Mr. Murphy, who had long been the friend and confidential intimate of Mr. Thrale, persuaded him to wish for Johnson's conversation, extolling it in terms which that of no other person could have deserved, till we were only in doubt how to obtain his company, and find an excuse for the invitation. The celebrity Johnson had a very sincere esteem for Mr. Thrale, as a man of excellent principles, a good scholar, well skilled in trade, of a sound understanding, and of manners such as presented the character of a plain independent English 'squire. As this family will frequently be mentioned in the course of the following pages, and as a false notion has prevailed that Mr. Thrale was inferior, and in some degree insignificant, compared with Mrs. Thrale, it may be proper to give a true state of the case from the authority of Johnson himself in his own words. If "I know no man," said he, "who is more master of his wife and family than Thrale. he but holds up a finger, he is obeyed. It is a great mistake to suppose that she is above him in literary attainments. She is more flippant; but he has ten times her learning: he is a regular scholar; but her learning is that of a schoolboy in one of the lower forms. My readers may naturally wish for some representation of the figures of this couple. Mr. Thrale was tall, well proportioned, and stately. As for Madam, or my Mistress, by which epithets Johnson used to mention Mrs. Thrale, she was short, plump, and brisk. She has herself given us a lively view of the idea which Johnson had of her person, on her appearing before him in a dark-coloured gown: "You of Mr. Woodhouse, a shoemaker, whose verses were at that time the subject of common discourse, soon afforded a pretence, and Mr. Murphy brought Johnson to meet him, giving me general cautions not to be surprised at his figure, dress, or behaviour. What I recollect best of the day's talk was his earnestly recommending Addison's works to Mr. Woodhouse as a model for imitation. Give nights and days, Sir,' said he, to the study of Addison, if you mean either to be a good writer, or, what is more worth, an honest man.' When I saw something like the same expression in his criticism on that author, in the Lives of the Poets, I put him in mind of his past injunctions to the young poet, to which he replied, that he wished the shoemaker might have remembered them as well.' Mr. Johnson liked his new acquaintance so much, however, that from that time he dined with us every Thursday through the winter."- CROKER. + The reader will not fail to observe the tone in which Boswell permits himself to talk of this couple." It marks a prejudice which pervades his book. - CROKER. He should have added that she was very pretty. She was about twenty-four or twenty-five years of age, when this acquaintance commenced. At the time of my first edition I was unable to ascertain precisely Mrs. Piozzi's agebut a subsequent publication, named Piozziana, fixes ber birth on her own authority to the 16th January, 1740; yet even that is not quite conclusive, for she calls it 1740 old style, that is, 1741. I must now, of course, adopt, though not without some doubt, the lady's reckoning. See Quarterly Review, vol. xlix. p. 252. CROKER, 1846. little creatures should never wear those sort of clothes, however; they are unsuitable in every way. What! have not all insects gay colours?" Mr. Thrale gave his wife a liberal indulgence, both in the choice of their company, and in the mode of entertaining them. He understood and valued Johnson, without remission, from their first acquaintance to the day of his death. Mrs. Thrale was enchanted with Johnson's conversation for its own sake, and had also a very allowable vanity in appearing to be honoured with the attention of so celebrated a man. Nothing could be more fortunate for Johnson than this connection. He had at Mr. Thrale's all the comforts and even luxuries of life; his melancholy was diverted, and his irregular habits lessened, by association with an agreeable and well-ordered family. He was treated with the utmost respect, and even affection. The vivacity of Mrs. Thrale's literary talk roused him to cheerfulness and exertion, even when they were alone. But this was not often the case; for he found here a constant succession of what gave him the highest enjoyment, the society of the learned, the witty, and the eminent in every way; who were assembled in numerous companies, called forth his wonderful powers, and gratified him with admiration, to which no man could be insensible. In the October of this year he at length gave to the world his edition of Shakspeare, which, if it had no other merit but that of producing his Preface, in which the excellences and defects of that immortal bard are displayed with a masterly hand, the nation would have had no reason to complain. A blind indiscriminate admiration of Shakspeare had exposed the British nation to the ridicule of foreigners. Johnson, by candidly admitting the faults of his poet, had the more credit in bestowing on him deserved and indisputable praise; and doubtless none of all his panegyrists have done him half so much honour. Their praise was like that of a counsel, upon his own side of the cause: Johnson's was like the grave, well-considered, and impartial opi 1 Anecdotes, p. 279. BoSWELL. Hawkins says that" Johnson was insensible to Churchill's abuse; but the poem before mentioned had brought to remembrance that his edition of Shakespeare had long been due. His friends took the alarm, and, by all the arts of reasoning and persuasion, laboured to convince him that, having taken subscriptions for a work in which he had made no progress, his credit was at stake. He confessed he was culpable, and promised from time to time to begin a course of such reading as was necessary to qualify him for the work: this was no more than he had formerly done in an engagement with Coxeter, to whom he had bound himself to write the Life of Shakespeare, but he never could be prevailed on to begin it, so that even now it was questioned whether his promises were to be relied on. For this reason Thomas Coxeter, Esq., from whose manuscript notes the "Lives of the English Poets," by Shiels and Cibber, were principally compiled. He was bred at Trinity College, Oxford, and died in London, April 17. 1747, in his fifty-ninth year. See Gent, Mag, for 1781, p. 173. MALONE nion of the judge, which falls from his lips with weight, and is received with reverence. What he did as a commentator has no small share of merit, though his researches were not so ample, and his investigations so acute, as they might have been ; which we now certainly know from the labours of other able and ingenious critics who have followed him. He has enriched his edition with a concise account of each play, and of its characteristic excellence. Many of his notes have illustrated obscurities in the text, and placed passages eminent for beauty in a more conspicuous light; and he has, in general, exhibited such a mode of annotation, as may be beneficial to all subsequent editors. His Shakspeare was virulently attacked by Mr. William Kenrick, who obtained the degree of LL.D. from a Scotch university, and wrote for the booksellers in a great variety of branches. Though he certainly was not without considerable merit, he wrote with so little regard to decency, and principles, and decorum, and in so hasty a manner, that his reputation was neither extensive nor lasting. I remember one evening, when some of his works were mentioned, Dr. Goldsmith said, he had never heard of them; upon which Dr. Johnson observed, "Sir, he is one of the many who have made themselves public, without making themselves known." 3 at A young student of Oxford, of the name of Barclay, wrote an answer to Kenrick's review of Johnson's Shakspeare. Johnson was first angry that Kenrick's attack should have the credit of an answer. But afterwards, considering the young man's good intention, he kindly noticed him, and probably would have done more, had not the young man died. In his Preface to Shakspeare, Johnson treated Voltaire very contemptuously, observing, upon some of his remarks, "These are the petty cavils of petty minds." Voltaire, in revenge, made an attack upon Johnson, in one of his numerous literary sallies which I remember to have read; but, there being no general index to his voluminous works, have searched in vain, and therefore cannot quote it.+ Sir Joshua Reynolds, and some other of his friends, who were more concerned for his reputation than himself seemed to be, contrived to entangle him by a wager, or some other pecuniary engagement, to perform his task by a certain time." -C. Grainger thus writes to Percy on this subject, “27th June, 1758: I have several times called on Johnson to pay him part of your subscription I say part, because he never thinks of working if he has a couple of guineas in his pocket." And again, 20th July: "As to his Shakespeare, movet sed non promovet. I shall feed him occasionally with guineas." Prior's Goldsmith, i. 235. — CROKER, 1846. 3 Kenrick was born at Watford, Herts, and was brought up to the business of a rule-maker, which he quitted for literature. Of this "attack," entitled "A Review of Dr. Johnson's new edition of Shakespeare; in which the Ignorance or Inattention of that Editor is exposed, and the Poct defended from the Persecution of his Commentators," Dr. Johnson only said, "He did not think himself bound by Kenrick's rules." In 1774 he delivered Lectures on Shakespeare, and the next year commenced the London Review, which he continued to his death, June 10. 1779.-WRIGHT. 4" Je ne veux point soupçonner le sieur Jonson d'être un mauvais plaisant, et d'aimer trop le vin: mais je trouve un Voltaire was an antagonist with whom I thought Johnson should not disdain to contend. I pressed him to answer. He said, he perhaps might; but he never did.1 [JOHNSON TO DR. JOSEPH WARTON. "Oct. 9. 1765. "DEAR SIR,Mrs. Warton uses me hardly in supposing that I could forget so much kindness and civility as she showed me at Winchester. I remember, likewise, our conversation about St. Cross. The desire of seeing her again will be one of the motives that will bring me into Hamp shire. "I have taken care of your book; being so far from doubting your subscription, that I think you have subscribed twice: you once paid your guinea into my own hand in the garret in Gough Square. When you light on your receipt, throw it on the fire; if you find a second receipt, you may have a second book. "To tell the truth, as I felt no solicitude about this work, I receive no great comfort from its con clusion; but yet am well enough pleased that the public has no farther claim upon me. would write more frequently to, dear Sir, your affectionate humble servant, I wish you "SAM. JOHNSON."] peu singulier qu'il compte la bouffonnerie et l'ivrognerie parmi les beautés du théâtre tragique;"&c. &c.-Dictionnaire Philosophique, art. "Art Dramatique." Voltaire, édit. 1784, vol. xxxvii. p. 10. WRIGHT. 1 He appears in the course of this summer to have visited Dr. Warton, Head Master of Winchester School, and on the publication of his Shakespeare wrote to him the letter in the text, which 1 extract from Wooll's Life of Warton. CROKER. The hospital of St. Cross, near Winchester, endowed formerly for the maintenance of seventy resident members, clergy and laity, with one hundred out-pensioners: but, since the Dissolution, reduced to ten residents, with the master and chaplain, and three out-pensioners. — CROKER, From one of his Journals I transcribed what follows: "At church, Oct. — 65. "To avoid all singularity: Bonaventura. "To come in before service, and compose my mind by meditation, or by reading some portions of scripture. Tetty. "If I can hear the sermon, to attend it, unless attention be more troublesome than useful. "To consider the act of prayer as a reposal of myself upon God, and a resignation of all into his holy hand." In 1764 and 1765 it should seem that Dr. Johnson was so busily employed with his edition of Shakspeare, as to have had little leisure for any other literary exertion, or, indeed, even for private correspondence. He did not favour me with a single letter for more than two years, for which it will appear that he afterwards apologised. He was, however, at all times ready to give assistance to his friends, and others, in revising their works, and in writing for them, or greatly improving, their Dedications. In that courtly species of composition no man excelled Dr. Johnson. Though the loftiness of his mini! prevented him from ever dedicating in his own person, he wrote a very great number of Dedications for others." Some of these, the persons who were favoured with them are unwilling should be mentioned, from a too anxious apprehension, as I think, that they might be suspected of having received larger assistance; and some, after all the diligence I have bestowed, have escaped my inquiries. He told me, a great many years ago, "he believed he ha-1 dedicated to all the Royal Family round;" and it was indifferent to him what was the subject of the work dedicated, provided it were innocent. He once dedicated ཏི། ཅི music for the German Flute to Edward, Duke of York. In writing Dedications for others, he considered himself as by no means speaking his own sentiments.5 Notwithstanding his long silence, I nevr omitted to write to him, when I had any thir worthy of communicating. I generally 3 He was probably proposing to himself the me 3-) ef và excellent person, who for his piety was named the Sa Doctor. BOSWELL. a 14 This trait Is amusing: Mr. Boswell concludes tat cause Johnson did not, for two years, write to årm to nobody, and was exclusively occupied with speare, though we have seen that, in those years time to pay visits to his friends in Lines Loshire amptonshire, and at Cambridge and Winchester. visited Brighton. If Mr. Boswell had been these Ina ym in London, there can be no doubt that he would have s Johnson by no means absorbed in Shakespeare —A 5 This paragraph about Dedications series loca placed, it would come in better under April 15,1773. — k |