1771, Alnwick lately, and had good accounts of him from Etat. 62. Dr. Percy. In his religious record of this year, we obferve that he was better than usual, both in body and mind, and better fatisfied with the regularity of his conduct. But he is ftill " trying his ways" too rigorously. He charges himself with not rifing early enough; yet he mentions what was furely a fufficient excufe for this, fuppofing it to be a duty feriously required, as he all his life appears to have thought it. "One great hindrance is want of reft; my nocturnal complaints grow lefs troublefome towards morning; and I am tempted to repair the deficiencies of the night." Alas! how hard would it be if this indulgence were to be imputed to a fick man as a crime. In his retrospect on the following Eafter-eve, he says, " When I review the last year, I am able to recollect fo little done, that shame and forrow, though perhaps too weakly, come upon me." Had he been judging of any one else in the fame circumftances, how clear would he have been on the favourable fide, How very difficult, and in my opinion almost conftitutionally impoffible it was for him to be raised early, even by the ftrongest refolutions, appears from a note in one of his little paper-books, (containing words arranged for his Dictionary,) written, I fuppofe, about 1753: "I do not remember that fince I left Oxford, I ever rofe early by mere choice, but once or twice at Edial, and two or three times for the Rambler." I think he had fair ground enough to have quieted his mind on 1772. this fubject, by concluding that he was phyfically Etat. 63. incapable of what is at best but a commodious regulation. In 1772 he was altogether quiefcent as an authour; but it will be found, from the various evidences which I fhall bring together, that his mind was acute, lively, and vigorous. To Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS., "DEAR SIR, "Be pleased to fend to Mr. Banks, whofe place of refidence I do not know, this note, which I have fent open, that, if you please, you may read it. "When you fend it, do not use your own feal. "I am, Sir, Feb. 27, 1772. "Your most humble fervant, SAM. JOHNSON." TO JOSEPH BANKS, Efq. "Perpetua ambitá bis terra præmia lactis "Hæc habet altrici Capra fecunda Jovis"." "SIR, "I RETURN thanks to you and to Dr. Solander for the pleasure which I received in yesterday's 9 Thus tranflated by a friend. "In fame fcarce fecond to the nurse of Jove, "This Goat, who twice the world had travers'd round, Deferving both her master's care and love, 66 Eafe and perpetual pafture now has found.” converfation. 1772. Etat. 63. converfation. I could not recollect a motto for your Goat, but have given her one. You, Sir, may perhaps have an epick poem from fome happier pen than, Sir, "Your most humble fervant, "Johnfon's-court, Fleet ftreet, Feb. 27, 1772; SAM. JOHNSON." To Dr. JOHNSON. "MY DEAR SIR, "IT is hard that I cannot prevail on you to write to me oftener. But I am convinced that it is in vain to expect from you a private correfpondence with any regularity. I muft, therefore, look upon you as a fountain of wifdom, from whence few rills are communicated to a diftance, and which must be approached at its fource, to partake fully of its virtues. "I am coming to London foon, and am to appear in an appeal from the Court of Seffion in the Houfe of Lords. A fchoolmaster in Scotland was, by a court of inferiour jurisdiction, deprived of his office, for being somewhat severe in the chastisement of his fcholars. The Court of Seffion confidering it to be dangerous to the intereft of learning and education, to leffen the dignity of teachers, and make them afraid of too indulgent parents, inftigated by the complaints of their children, reftored him. His enemies have appealed to the House of Lords, though the falary is only twenty pounds a year. I was Counfel for him here. I hope 1772. hope there will be little fear of a reverfal; but I must beg to have your aid in my plan of fupport- tat. 63. ing the decree. It is a general question, and not a point of particular law. "I am, &c. "JAMES BOSWell.” To JAMES BOSWELL, Esq. "DEAR SIR, "THAT you are coming fo foon to town I am very glad; and still more glad that you are coming as an advocate. I think nothing more likely to make your life pafs happily away, than that consciousness of your own value which eminence in your profeffion will certainly confer. If I can give you any collateral help, I hope you do not fufpect that it will be wanting. My kindness" for you has neither the merit of fingular virtue, nor the reproach of fingular prejudice. Whether to love you be right or wrong, I have many on my fide: Mrs. Thrale loves you, and Mrs. Williams loves you, and what would have inclined me to love you, if I had been neutral before, you are a great favourite of Dr. Beattie. "Of Dr. Beattie I fhould have thought much, but that his lady' puts him out of my head: fhe is a very lovely woman. "The The first and fecond volumes of this edition having, in order to fupply the publick demand speedily, been put to press at the fame time, the paffage to which the following letter from my friend Dr. Beattie alludes (fee Vol. II. p. 3,) was printed off before 1772. "The ejection which you come hither to oppofe, Atat. 63. appears very cruel, unreasonable, and oppreffive. I fhould think there could not be much doubt of your fuccefs. before his letter reached me; which however will, I hope, ferve the purpose fufficiently by being inferted here. MY DEAR SIR, To JAMES BOSWELL, Efq. Edinburgh, May 3, 1792. "AS I suppose your great work will foon be reprinted, I beg leave to trouble you with a remark on a paffage of it, in which I am a little mifrepresented. Be not alarmed; the misrepresentation is not imputable to you. Not having the book at hand, I cannot specify the page, but I suppose you will easily find it. Dr. Johnson says, speaking of Mrs. Thrale's family, "Dr. Beattie sunk upon us that he was married, or words to that purpofe. I am not sure that I understand sunk upon us, which is a very uncommon phrase: but it seems to me to imply, (and others, I find, have understood it in the fame sense) ftudiously concealed from us his being married. Now, Sir, this was by no means the cafe. I could have no motive to conceal a circumftance, of which I never was nor can be afhamed; and of which Dr. Johnson feemed to think, when he afterwards became acquainted with Mrs. Beattie, that I had, as was true, reason to be proud. So far was I from concealing her, that my wife had at that time almost as numerous an acquaintance in London as I had myself; and was, not very long after, kindly invited and elegantly entertained at Streatham by Mr. and Mrs. Thrale. My request, therefore, is, that you would rectify this matter in your new edition. You are at liberty to make what use you please of this letter. My best wishes ever attend you and your family. Believe me to be, with the utmost regard and esteem, dear Sir, "Your obliged and affectionate humble fervant, I have from my refpect, for Dr. Beattie, and regard to his extreme fenfibility, inferted the foregoing letter, though I cannot but wonder at his confidering as any imputation a plirase commonly used among the best friends. |