C. Baldwin, Printer,

New Bridge-street, London.

THE

LIFE

OF

SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D.

COMPREHENDING

AN ACCOUNT OF HIS STUDIES,

AND NUMEROUS WORKS,

IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER;

A SERIES OF HIS EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE
AND CONVERSATIONS WITH MANY EMINENT PERSONS;

AND

VARIOUS ORIGINAL PIECES OF HIS COMPOSITION,
NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED:

THE WHOLE EXHIBITING A VIEW OF LITERATURE AND LITERARY MEN IN
GREAT-BRITAIN, FOR NEAR HALF A CENTURY DURING
WHICH HE FLOURISHED.

PRINTED FOR T. CADELL AND W. DAVIES, IN THE STRAND,

M DCCC XI,

"TO DR. SAMUEL JOE

Edinb

"YOUR congratulations upon ined with complaint: mine mu vie has for some time been very fined to the house these thre cold, attended with alarmin Here I gave a particular a tres which the dear to me, suffered; and of th person, upon e prehension in which I now w ever stood more in need of h

"Did you ever look at a boo
son, a Scotchman, under the
ens, according to the custo
a certain period. It is ent
Inquillitate." I earnestly
Bond res

r, when unoccupied, I grow
quies; but I fear I sh

ption agitates me to feverishne

"Your most affectionate
"I am, dear Sir,

THE

LIFE

OF

JOHNSON, LL.D.

SAMUEL JOHNSON.

"Edinburgh, Jan. 8, 1778.

alations upon a new year, are t: mine must be so too. My ne been very ill, having been e these three months by a sewith alarming symptoms. particular account of the dis on, upon every account most ; and of the dismal state of ch I now was: adding that I need of his consoling philo→

ok at a book written by Wilunder the Latin name of Vo o the custom of literary men It is entitled "De Animi earnestly desire tranquillity. I fear I shall never attain it: ed, I grow gloomy, and occufeverishness.

"DEAR SIR,

"To a letter so interesting as your last, it is proper to return some answer, however little I may be disposed to write.

Your alarm at your lady's illness was reasonable, and not disproportionate to the appearance of the disorder. I hope your physical friend's conjecture is now verified, and all fear of a consumption at an end: a little care and exercise will then restore her. London is a good air for ladies; and if you bring her hither, I will do for her what she did for me I will retire from my apartments for her acccommodation. Behave kindly to her, and keep her cheerful.

"You always seem to call for tenderness. Know then, that in the first month of the present year I very highly esteem and very cordially love you. I hope to tell you this at the beginning of every year as long as we live; and why should we trouble ourselves to tell or hear it oftener?

"Tell Veronica, Euphemia, and Alexander, that I wish them, as well as their parents, many happy years.

"You have ended the negro's cause much to my mind. Lord Auchinleck and dear Lord Hailes were on the side of liberty. Lord Hailes's name reproaches me; but if he saw my languid neglect of my own affairs, he would rather pity than resent my neglect of his. I hope to mend, ut et mihi vivam et amicis. I am, de ir Sir,

"Jan. 24, 1778.

"Yours affectionately,

"SAM. JOHNSON.”

"My service to my fellow-traveller, Joseph."

Johnson maintained a long and intimate friend