As a specimen of his writings, I shall quote the following passage, which appears to me equally absurd and impious, and which might have been retorted upon him by the men who were prosecuted for burning his house. ‘I cannot, (says he,) as a necessarian, [meaning necessitarian,] hate any man; because I consider him as being, in all respects, just what God has made him to be; and also as doing with respect to me, nothing but what he was expressly designed and appointed to do; God being the only cause, and men nothing more than the instruments in his hands to execute all his pleasure.’ – Illustrations of Philosophical Necessity, p. in.
The Reverend Dr. Parr, in a late tract, appears to suppose that Dr. Johnson not only endured, but almost solicited, an interview with Dr. Priestley. Injustice to Dr. Johnson, I declare my firm belief that he never did. My illustrious friend was particularly resolute in not giving countenance to men whose writings he considered as pernicious to society. I was present at Oxford when Dr. Price, even before he had rendered himself so generally obnoxious by his zeal for the French Revolution, came into a company where Johnson was, who instantly left the room. Much more would he have reprobated Dr. Priestley.
Whoever wishes to see a perfect delineation of this Literary Jack of all Trades, may find it in an ingenious tract, entitled, ‘A SMALL WHOLE-LENGTH OF DR. PRIESTLEY,’ printed for Rivingtons, in St. Paul’s Church-Yard.
a Mrs. Anna Williams.
a My worthy friend, Mr. John Nichols, was present when Mr. Henderson, the actor, paid a visit to Dr. Johnson; and was received in a very courteous manner. See Gent. Mag. June, 1791.
I found among Dr. Johnson’s papers, the following letter to him, from the celebrated Mrs. Bellamy: –
‘To DR. JOHNSON.
‘SIR, – The flattering remembrance of the partiality you honoured me with, some years ago, as well as the humanity you are known to possess, has encouraged me to solicit your patronage at my Benefit.
‘By a long Chancery suit, and a complicated train of unfortunate events, I am reduced to the greatest distress; which obliges me, once more, to request the indulgence of the publick.
‘Give me leave to solicit the honour of your company, and to assure you, if you grant my request, the gratification I shall feel, from being patronized by Dr. Johnson, will be infinitely superiour to any advantage that may arise from the Benefit; as I am, with the profoundest respect, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
‘No. 10 Duke-street, St. James’s, May 11, 1783.’ ‘G. A. Bellamy.’
I am happy in recording these particulars, which prove that my illustrious friend lived to think much more favourably of Players than he appears to have done in the early part of his life.
b Piozzi Letters, vol. ii. p. 328.
c Ib., p. 342.
a A few copies only of this tragedy have been printed, and given to the authour’s friends.
b Dr. Johnson having been very ill when the tragedy was first sent to him, had declined the consideration of it.
a ‘I could have borne my woes; that stranger Joy
Wounds while it smiles: – The long imprison’d wretch,
Emerging from the night of his damp cell,
Shrinks from the sun’s bright beams; and that which flings
Gladness o’er all, to him is agony.’
a I was in Scotland when this Club was founded, during all the winter. Johnson, however, declared I should be a member, and invented a word upon the occasion: ‘Boswell (said he) is a very clubable man.’ When I came to town I was proposed by Mr. Barrington, and chosen. I believe there are few societies where there is better conversation or more decorum. Several of us resolved to continue it after our great founder was removed by death. Other members were added; and now, above eight years since that loss, we go on happily.
RULES.
‘To-day deep thoughts with me resolve to drench
In mirth, which after no repenting draws.’ – Milton.1147
‘The club shall consist of four-and-twenty.
‘The meetings shall be on the Monday, Thursday, and Saturday of every week; but in the week before Easter there shall be no meeting.
‘Every member is at liberty to introduce a friend once a week, but not oftener.
‘Two members shall oblige themselves to attend in their turn every night from eight to ten, or to procure two to attend in their room.
‘Every member present at the Club shall spend at least sixpence; and every member who stays away shall forfeit three-pence.
‘The master of the house shall keep an account of the absent members; and deliver to the President of the night a list of the forfeits incurred.
‘When any member returns after absence, he shall immediately lay down his forfeits; which if he omits to do, the President shall require.
‘There shall be no general reckoning, but every man shall adjust his own expences.
‘The night of indispensable attendance will come to every member once a month. Whoever shall for three months together omit to attend himself, or by substitution, nor shall make any apology in the fourth month, shall be considered as having abdicated the Club.
‘When a vacancy is to be filled, the name of the candidate, and of the member recommending him, shall stand in the Club-room three nights. On the fourth he may be chosen by ballot; six members at least being present, and two-thirds of the ballot being in his favour; or the majority, should the numbers not be divisible by three.
‘The master of the house shall give notice, six days before, to each of those members whose turn of necessary attendance is come.
‘The notice may be in these words: – “Sir, On – the – of – will be your turn of presiding at the Essex-Head. Your company is therefore earnestly requested.”
‘One penny shall be left by each member for the waiter.’
Johnson’s definition of a Club in this sense, in his Dictionary, is, ‘An assembly of good fellows, meeting under certain conditions.’
a I sent it to Mr. Pitt, with a letter, in which I thus expressed myself: ‘My principles may appear to you too monarchical: but I know and am persuaded, they are not inconsistent with the true principles of liberty. Be this as it may, you, Sir, are now the Prime Minister, called by the Sovereign to maintain the rights of the Crown, as well as those of the people, against a violent faction. As such, you are entitled to the warmest support of every good subject in every department.’ He answered: – ‘I am extremely obliged to you for the sentiments you do me the honour to express, and have observed with great pleasure the zealous and able support given to the Cause of the Publick in the work you were so good to transmit to me.’
b From his garden at Prestonfield, where he cultivated that plant with such success, that he was presented with a gold medal by the Society of London for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce.
a Who had written him a very kind letter.
a To which Johnson returned this answer: –
‘To THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL OF PORTMORE.
‘DR. JOHNSON acknowledges with great respect the honour of Lord Portmore’s
notice. He is better than he was; and will, as his Lordship directs, write to Mr. Langton.
‘Bolt-court, Fleet-street, April 13, 1784.’
a The eminent painter, representative of the ancient family of Homfrey (now Humphry) in the west of England; who, as appears from their arms which they have invariably used, have been, (as I have seen authenticated by the best authority,) one of those among the Knights and Esquires of honour who are represented by Holinshed as having issued from the Tower of London on coursers apparelled for the justes, accompanied by ladies of honour, leading every one a Knight, with a chain of gold, passing through the streets of London into Smithfield, on Sunday, at three o’clock in the afternoon, being the first Sunday after Michaelmas, in the fourteenth year of King Richard the Second. This family once enjoyed large possessions, but, like others, have lost them in the progress of ages. Their blood, however, remains to them well ascert
ained; and they may hope, in the revolution of events, to recover that rank in society for which, in modern times, fortune seems to be an indispensable requisite.
b Son of Mr. Samuel Paterson.
a Upon this subject there is a very fair and judicious remark in the life of Dr. Abernethy, in the first edition of the Biographia Britannica, which I should have been glad to see in his Life which has been written for the second edition of that valuable work. ‘To deny the exercise of a particular providence in the Deity’s government of the world is certainly impious: yet nothing serves the cause of the scorner more than an incautious forward zeal in determining the particular instances of it.’
In confirmation of my sentiments, I am also happy to quote that sensible and elegant writer Mr. Melmoth, in Letter VIII {XLVIII} of his collection, published under the name Fitzosborne. ‘We may safely assert, that the belief of a particular Providence is founded upon such probable reasons as may well justify our assent. It would scarce, therefore, be wise to renounce an opinion which affords so firm a support to the soul, in those seasons wherein she stands in most need of assistance, merely because it is not possible, in questions of this kind, to solve every difficulty which attends them.’
b I was sorry to observe Lord Monboddo avoid any communication with Dr. Johnson. I flattered myself that I had made them very good friends (see Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd edit., p. 67), but unhappily his Lordship had resumed and cherished a violent prejudice against my illustrious friend, to whom I must do the justice to say, there was on his part not the least anger, but a good-humoured sportiveness. Nay, though he knew of his Lordship’s indisposition towards him, he was even kindly; as appeared from his inquiring of me after him, by an abbreviation of his name, ‘Well, how does Monny?’
a Verses on the death of Mr. Levett.
a Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd edit., p. 20 {15 Aug.}.
b I have since heard that the report was not well-founded; but the elation discovered by Johnson in the belief that it was true, shewed a noble ardour for literary fame.
a After all, I cannot but be of opinion, that as Mr. Langton was seriously requested by Dr. Johnson to mention what appeared to him erroneous in the character of his friend, he was bound, as an honest man, to intimate what he really thought, which he certainly did in the most delicate manner; so that Johnson himself, when in a quiet frame of mind, was pleased with it. The texts suggested are now before me, and I shall quote a few of them. ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.’ Matt. v. 5. – ‘I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called; with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love.’ Ephes. v. {iv.} 1, 2. – ‘And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.’ Col. iii. 14. – ‘Charity suffereth long and is kind; charity envieth not, charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up; doth not behave itself unseemly, is not easily provoked.’ 1 Cor. xiii. 4, 5.
a The Peace made by that very able statesman, the Earl of Shelburne, now Marquis of Lansdown, which may fairly be considered as the foundation of all the prosperity of Great Britain since that time.
b In the first edition of my Work, the epithet amiable was given. I was sorry to be obliged to strike it out; but I could not in justice suffer it to remain, after this young lady had not only written in favour of the savage Anarchy with which France has been visited, but had (as I have been informed by good authority), walked, without horrour, over the ground at the Thuillieries, when it was strewed with the naked bodies of the faithful Swiss Guards, who were barbarously massacred for having bravely defended, against a crew of ruffians, the Monarch whom they had taken an oath to defend. From Dr. Johnson she could now expect not endearment but repulsion.
a Dr. Newton in his Account of his own Life, after animadverting upon Mr. Gibbon’s History, says, ‘Dr. Johnson’s Lives of the Poets afforded more amusement; but candour was much hurt and offended at the malevolence that predominates in every part. Some passages, it must be allowed, are judicious and well written, but make not sufficient compensation for so much spleen and ill humour. Never was any biographer more sparing of his praise, or more abundant in his censures. He seemingly delights more in exposing blemishes, than in recommending beauties; slightly passes over excellencies, enlarges upon imperfections, and not content with his own severe reflections, revives old scandal, and produces large quotations from the forgotten works of former criticks. His reputation was so high in the republick of letters, that it wanted not to be raised upon the ruins of others. But these Essays, instead of raising a higher idea than was before entertained of his understanding, have certainly given the world a worse opinion of his temper. – The Bishop was therefore the more surprized and concerned for his townsman, for he respected him not only for his genius and learning, but valued him much more for the more amiable part of his character, his humanity and charity, his morality and religion.’ The last sentence we may consider as the general and permanent opinion of Bishop Newton; the remarks which precede it must, by all who have read Johnson’s admirable work, be imputed to the disgust and peevishness of old age. I wish they had not appeared, and that Dr. Johnson had not been provoked by them to express himself, not in respectful terms, of a Prelate, whose labours were certainly of considerable advantage both to literature and religion.
a Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd edit. p. 371 {25 Oct.}.
b The Rev. Mr. Agutter has favoured me with a note of a dialogue between Mr. John Henderson and Dr. Johnson on this topick, as related by Mr. Henderson, and it is evidently so authentick that I shall here insert it: – Henderson. ‘What do you think, Sir, of William Law?’ JOHNSON. ‘William Law, Sir, wrote the best piece of Parenetick Divinity;1161 but William Law was no reasoner.’ Henderson. ‘Jeremy Collier, Sir?’ JOHNSON. ‘Jeremy Collier fought without a rival, and therefore could not claim the victory.’ Mr. Henderson mentioned Kenn and Kettlewell; but some objections were made; at last he said, ‘But, Sir, what do you think of Lesley?’ JOHNSON. ‘Charles Lesley I had forgotten. Lesley was a reasoner, and a reasoner who was not to be reasoned against.’
a I have inserted the stanza as Johnson repeated it from memory; but I have since found the poem itself, in The Foundling Hospital for Wit, printed at London, 1749. It is as follows: –
‘Epigram, occasioned by a religious dispute at Bath.
On Reason, Faith, and Mystery high,
Two wits harangue the table;
B–y believes he knows not why.
N– swears ’tis all a fable.
Peace, coxcombs, peace, and both agree,
N–, kiss thy empty brother;
Religion laughs at foes like thee,
And dreads a friend like t’other.’1164
a Waller, in his Divine Poesie, Canto first, has the same thought finely expressed: –
‘The Church triumphant, and the Church below,
In songs of praise their present union show;
Their joys are full; our expectation long,
In life we differ, but we join in song;
Angels and we assisted by this art,
May sing together, though we dwell apart.’
b The Sermon thus opens: – ‘That there are angels and spirits good and bad; that at the head of these last there is one more considerable and malignant than the rest, who, in the form, or under the name of a serpent, was deeply concerned in the fall of man, and whose head, as the prophetick language is, the son of man was one day to bruise; that this evil spirit, though that prophecy be in part completed, has not yet received his death’s wound, but is still permitted, for ends unsearchable to us, and in ways which we cannot particularly explain, to have a certain degree of power in this world hostile to its virtue and happiness, and sometimes exerted with too much success; all this is so clear from Scripture, that no believer, unless he be first of all spoiled by philosophy and vain deceit,1165 can possibly entertain a doubt
of it.’
Having treated of possessions, his Lordship says, ‘As I have no authority to affirm that there are now any such, so neither may I presume to say with confidence, that there are not any.’
‘But then with regard to the influence of evil spirits at this day upon the souls of men, I shall take leave to be a great deal more peremptory. – (Then, having stated the various proofs, he adds,) All this, I say, is so manifest to every one who reads the Scriptures, that if we respect their authority, the question concerning the reality of the demonick influence upon the minds of men is clearly determined.’
Let it be remembered, that these are not the words of an antiquated or obscure enthusiast, but of a learned and polite Prelate now alive; and were spoken, not to a vulgar congregation, but to the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s-Inn. His Lordship in this sermon explains the words, ‘deliver us from evil,’ in the Lord’s Prayer, as signifying a request to be protected from ‘the evil one,’ that is the Devil. This is well illustrated in a short but excellent Commentary by my late worthy friend, the Reverend Dr. Lort, of whom it may truly be said, Multis ille bonis flebilis occidit.1166 It is remarkable that Waller, in his Reflections on the several Petitions, in that sacred form of devotion, has understood this in the same sense: – ‘Guard us from all temptations of the FOE.’
The Life of Samuel Johnson Page 194
