ample have contributed. Whether sity and friendship, which I heartily this be more than a pleasing dream, blame myself for not cultivating with or a just opinion of separate spirits, more care. In this, as in many is indeed of no great importance to other cases, I go wrong in opposition us, when we consider ourselves as to conviction; for I think scarce acting under the eye of God: yet any temporal good equally to be desurely there is something pleasing in sired with the regard and familiarity the belief, that our separation from of worthy men, and hope we shall those whom we love is merely cor- be some time nearer to each other, poreal; and it may be a great in- and have a more ready way of pourcitement to virtuous friendship, if it ing out our hearts.

*

can be made probable, that union, I am glad that you still find encouwhich has received the divine ap- ragement to persevere in your publiprobation, shall continue to eternity. cation, and shall beg the favour of There is one expedient, by which six more volumes to add to my foryou may, in some degree, continue mer six, when you can with any conher presence. If you write down venience send them me. Please to minutely what you remember of her present a set in my name to Mr. from your earliest years, you will Ruddiman,t of whom I hear that read it with great pleasure, and re- his learning is not his highest excelceive from it many hints of soothing|lence. recollection, when time shall remove I have transcribed the mottos, and her yet farther from you, and your returned them, I hope not too late, grief shall be matured to veneration. of which I think many very happily To this, however painful for the pre- performed. Mr. Cave has put the sent, I cannot but advise you, as to last in the Magazine, in which I a source of comfort and satisfaction think he did well. I beg of you to in the time to come: for all comfort write soon, and to write often, and and all satisfaction is sincerely wished you by, dear sir, your, &c.

LETTER XXXII.

Dr. Johnson to Mr. Elphinston.

Dear sir,

I CANNOT but confess the failure of my correspondence; but hope the

same regard, which you express for

to write long letters; which I hope in time to repay you, but you must be a patient creditor. I have, however, this of gratitude, that I think of you with regard, when I do not perhaps give the proofs which I ought of piety. Sir, your most obliged and most humble servant, &c.

LETTER XXXIII.

me on every other occasion, will in- Dr. Johnson to the Rev. Dr. Taylor.

Dear sir,

March 18, 1752.

LET me have your company and

cline you to forgive me. I am often, very often ill; and when I am well, am obliged to work; but, indeed, have never much used myself to punctuality. You are, however, not to make such kind of inferences, when I forbear to reply to your kindness; for to which Mr. Elphinston translated the mottos. be assured, I never receive a letter historical and philological works. He died JaA very learned writer, author of several from you without great pleasure, and nuary 1757. a very warm sense of your genero

* This was of the Rambler, at Edinburgh,

See Gent. Mag. Oct. 1752.

your instruction. Do not live away | vant brought me word that you were from me; my distress is great. better. Do you continue to grow Pray desire Mrs. Taylor to inform better? Let my dear little Miss inme what mourning I should buy for form me on a card. I would not my mother and miss Porter, and have you write lest it should hurt bring a note in writing with you. you, and consequently hurt likewise, Remember me in your prayers; dearest madam, your, &c. I am,

for vain is the help of man.

dear sir, &c.

LETTER XXXIV.

Dr. Johnson to Miss Boothby.

January 1, 1755.

I HAVE been lately informed, by Dearest madam, the proprietor of the World, that THOUGH I am afraid your illness two papers, in which my Dictionary leaves you little leisure for the re- is recommended to the public, were ception of airy civilities, yet I can-written by your lordship. To be so not forbear to pay you my congratu- distinguished, is an honour which, lations on the new year; and to de- being very little accustomed to faclare my wishes, that your years to vours from the great, I know not come may be many and happy. In well how to receive, or in what terms this wish, indeed, I include myself, to acknowledge.

who have none but you on whom my When, upon some slight encouheart reposes: yet surely I wish ragement, I first visited your lordship your good, even though your situa- I was overpowered, like the rest of tion were such as should permit mankind, by the enchantment of you to communicate no gratifica- your address; and could not forbear tions to, dearest, dearest madam, to wish that I might boast myself yours, &c.

LETTER XXXV.

Dr. Johnson to Miss Boothby.

le vainqueur du vainqueur de la terre ;* -that I might obtain that regard for which I saw the world contending; but I found my attendance so little encouraged, that neither pride nor modesty would suffer me to continue it. When I had once addressed your lordship in public, I had exhausted all the art of pleasing which a retired and uncourtly scholar can possess. NOBODY but you can recompense I had done all that I could; and no me for the distress which I suffered man is well pleased to have his all on Monday night. Having engaged neglected, be it ever so little.

Dearest madam,

Jan. 3, 1755.

Dr. Lawrence to let me know, at Seven years, my lord, have now whatever hour, the state in which past, since I waited in your outward he left you, I concluded, when he rooms, or was repulsed from your staid so long, that he staid to see my door; during which time I have dearest expire. I was composing

myself as I could to hear what yet

I hoped not to hear, when his ser-earth.

The conqueror of the conqueror of the

LETTER XXXVII.

Dr. Johnson to Miss ******.

Madam,

July 19, 1755.

been pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it at last, to the verge of publication, without one act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favour. Such treatment I did not I KNOW not how liberally your expect, for I never had a patron be- generosity would reward those who should do you any service, when The shepherd in Virgil grew at you can so kindly acknowledge a falast acquainted with Love, and found vour which I intended only to myhim a native of the rocks. self. That accidentally hearing

fore.

Is not a patron, my lord, one who that you were in town, I made haste looks with unconcern on a man to enjoy an interval of pleasure, struggling for life in the water, and, which I found would be short, was when he has reached ground, en- the natural consequence of that selfcumbers him with help? The no- love which is always busy in quest tice which you have been pleased to of happiness; of that happiness take of my labours, had it been ear-which we often miss when we think ly, had been kind; but it has been it near, and sometimes find when we delayed till I am indifferent, and can- imagine it lost. When I had missed not enjoy it; till I am solitary, and you, I went away disappointed; and cannot impart it;t till I am known, did not know that my vexation would and do not want it. I hope it is no be so amply repaid by so kind a letvery cynical asperity not to confess ter. A letter indeed can but imobligations where no benefit has been perfectly supply the place of its received, or to be unwilling that the writer, at least of such a writer as public should consider me as owing you; and a letter which makes me that to a patron, which Providence still more desire your presence, is has enabled me to do for myself. but a weak consolation under the Having carried on my work thus necessity of living longer without far with so little obligation to any fa- you: with this however I must be vourer of learning, I shall not be dis- for a time content, as much content appointed though I should conclude at least as discontent will suffer me; it, if less be possible, with less; for for Mr. Baretti being a single being in I have been long wakened from that this part of the world, and entirely dream of hope, in which I once boast-clear from all engagements, takes ed myself with so much exultation, the advantage of his independence, my lord, your lordship's most hum- and will come before me; for which ble, most obedient servant.

if I could blame him, I should punish him; but my own heart tells me that he only does to me, what, if I * The following note is subjoined by Mr. Langton.-Dr. Johnson, when he gave me this could, I should do to him.

in the letter that no assistance has been re

I hope Mrs.

-

when she came

copy of his letter, desired that I would annex to it his information to me, that whereas it is said to her favourite place, found her ceived,' he did once receive from lord Chester-house dry, and her woods growing, field the sum of ten pounds; but as that was so and the breeze whistling, and the inconsiderable a sum, he thought the mention of it could not properly find place in a letter of the birds singing, and her own heart dancing. And for you, madam, whose heart cannot yet dance to such music, I know not what to hope; in

kind that this was.

In this passage Dr. Johnson evidently alludes to the loss of his wife.

VOL. IV. Nos. 51 & 52.

D

deed I could hope every thing that| Continue, my dearest, your prayers would please you, except that per- for me, that no good resolution may haps the absence of higher pleasures be vain. You think, I believe, better is necessary to keep some little place of me than I deserve. I hope to be vacant in your remembrance for, in time what I wish to be; and what madam, your, &c. I have hitherto satisfied myself too readily with only wishing.

LETTER XXXVIII.

Dr. Johnson to Miss Boothby.

Dec. 30, 1755.

Your billet brought me what I much wished to have, a proof that I am still remembered by you at the hour in which I most desire it.

The doctor is anxious about you. Dear madam, He thinks you too negligent of yourIr is again midnight, and I am self; if you will promise to be cauagain alone. With what meditation tious, I will exchange promises, as shall I amuse this waste hour of we have already exchanged injuncdarkness and vacuity? If I turn tions. However, do not write to me my thoughts upon myself, what do I more than you can easily bear; do perceive but a poor helpless being, not interrupt your ease to write at reduced by a blast of wind to weak-all.

ness and misery? How my present Mr. Fitzherbert sent to-day to of distemper was brought upon me I fer me some wine; the people about can give no account, but impute it me say I ought to accept it; I shall to some sudden succession of cold therefore be obliged to him if he will to heat; such as in the common send me a bottle.

road of life cannot be avoided, and There has gone about a report that against which no precaution can be I died to-day, which I mention, lest taken. you should hear it and be alarmed.

You know Des

"I think, there

Of the fallaciousness of hope, and You see that I think my death may the uncertainty of schemes, every alarm you; which for me is to think day gives some new proof; but it is very highly of earthly friendship. I seldom heeded, till something rather believe it arose from the death of one felt than seen awakens attention. of my neighbours. This illness, in which I have suffer- Cartes's argument. ed something and feared much more, fore I am.” It is as good a consehas depressed my confidence and quence, "I write, therefore I am elation; and made me consider all alive." I might give another, "I that I have promised myself, as less am alive, therefore I love miss Boothcertain to be attained or enjoyed. I by" but that I hope our friendship have endeavoured to form resolutions may be of far longer duration than of a better life; but I form them life. I am, dearest madam, with sinweakly, under the consciousness of cere affection, your, &c.

an external motive. Not that I conceive a time of sickness a time im

proper for recollection and good purposes, which I believe diseases and

LETTER XXXIX.

Dec. 30.

calamities often sent to produce, but From Dr. Johnson to Miss Boothby. because no man can know how little his performance will answer to his promises; and designs are nothing in human eyes till they are realized by execution.

My sweet angel,

I HAVE read your book, I am afraid you will think without any great im

provement; whether you can read my the doctor as mine. Physicians do notes I know not. You ought not to not love intruders: yet do not take be offended: I am, perhaps, as sin-it without his leave. But do not be cere as the writer. In all things that easily put off, for it is, in my opinion, terminate here I shall be much guid- very likely to help you, and not likeed by your influence, and I should ly to do you harm; do not take too take or leave by your direction; but much in haste; a scruple once in I cannot receive my religion from three hours, or about five scruples any human hand. I desire, however, a-day, will be sufficient to begin, or to be instructed, and am far from less if you find any aversion. I think thinking myself perfect. using sugar with it might be bad; if

I beg you to return the book when syrup, use old syrup of quinces : but you have looked into it. I should even that I do not like. I should not have written what is in the mar- think better of conserve of sloes.gin, had I not had it from you, or Has the doctor mentioned the bark? had I not intended to show it you. in powder you could hardly take it;

It affords me a new conviction, perhaps you might take the infusion. that in these books there is little Do not think me troublesome. I new except new forms of expression; am full of care. I love you and howhich may be sometimes taken, even nour you; and am very unwilling to by the writer, for new doctrines. I lose you. A Dieu je vous recomsincerely hope that God, whom you mende. I am, madam, your, &c. so much desire to serve aright, will My compliments to my dear Miss. bless you, and restore you to health, if he sees it best. Surely no human understanding can pray for any thing temporal, otherwise than conditional

LETTER XL.

ly. Dear angel, do not forget me. Dr. Johnson to James Boswell, Esq. My heart is full of tenderness.

Dear Sir,

It has pleased God to permit me [Not dated, but written about the 15th of March.} to be much better; which I believe will please you.

I AM ashamed to think that since Give me leave, who have thought I received your letter I have passed much on medicine, to propose to you so many days without answering it. an easy, and I think a very probable I think there is no great difficulty remedy for indigestion and lubricity in resolving your doubts. The reaof the bowels. Dr. Lawrence has sons for which you are inclined to told me your case. Take an ounce visit London, are, I think, not of of dried orange-peel, finely powdered, sufficient strength to answer the obdivide it into scruples, and take one jections. That you should delight to scruple at a time in any manner; the come once a year to the fountain of best way is perhaps to drink it in a intelligence and pleasure is very naglass of hot red-port, or to eat it first, tural; but both information and pleaand drink the wine after it. If you sure must be regulated by propriety. mix cinnamon or nutmeg with the Pleasure, which cannot be obtained powder, it were not worse; but it will but by unreasonable or unsuitable be more bulky, and so more trouble- expense, must always end in pain : some. This is a medicine not dis- and pleasure, which must be enjoyed gusting, not costly, easily tried, and, at the expense of another's pain, can if not found useful, easily left off. never be such as a worthy mind can fully delight in.

I would not have you offer it to