1760.

Etat. 51.

1761.

"In each bright page fome truth important give,

" And bid to future times thy RAMBLER live."

I take this opportunity to relate the manner in which an acquaintance first commenced between Dr. Johnfon and Mr. Murphy. During the publication of "The Gray's-Inn Journal," a periodical paper which was fuccefffully carried on by Mr. Murphy alone, when a very young man, he happened to be in the country with Mr. Foote; and having mentioned that he was obliged to go to London in order to get ready for the prefs one of the numbers of that Journal, Foote faid to him, "You need not go on that account. Here is a French magazine, in which you will find a very pretty oriental tale; tranflate that, and fend it to your printer." Mr. Murphy having read the tale, was highly pleased with it, and followed Foote's advice. When he returned to town, this tale was pointed out to him in the Rambler, from whence it had been translated into the French magazine. Mr. Murphy then waited upon Johnson, to explain this curious incident. His talents, literature, and gentlemanlike manners, were foon perceived by Johnson, and a friendship was formed which was never broken.

*

Johnfon, who was ever awake to the calls of humanity, wrote this year an Introduction to the proceedings of the Committee for cloathing the French prisoners.

In 1761 Johnson appears to have done little. He was ftill, no doubt, proceeding in his edition of Shakspeare; but what advances he made in it cannot be ascertained. He certainly was at this time not active; for in his fcrupulous examination of himself on Eafter eve, he laments, in his too rigorous mode of cenfuring his own conduct, that his life, fince the communion of the preceding Eafter, had been "diffipated and useless "." He, however, contributed this year the Preface to "Rolt's Dictionary of Trade and Commerce," in which he difplays fuch a clear and comprehenfive knowledge of the fubject, as might lead the reader to think that its authour had devoted all his life to it. I asked him, whether he knew much of Rolt, and of his work. "Sir, (faid he) I never faw the man, and never read the book. The book fellers wanted a Preface to a Dictionary of Trade and Commerce. I knew very well what fuch a Dictionary fhould be, and I wrote a Preface accordingly." Rolt, who wrote a great deal for the bookfellers, particularly a Hiftory of the War, on which, as we have feen, Johnfon himfelf once had thoughts of employing his pen, was, as Johnson told me, a fingular character. Though not in the leaft acquainted with him, he used to say, "I am just come from Sam. Johnson." This was a fufficient fpecimen of his vanity and impudence. But he gave a more

5 Prayers and Meditations, p. 44.

eminent

1761.

eminent proof of it in our fifter kingdom, as Dr. Johnson informed me. When
Akenfide's "Pleasures of the Imagination" firft came out, he did not put Etat. 52.
his name to the poem. Rolt went over to Dublin, published an edition of it,
and put his own name to it. Upon the fame of this he lived for several
months, being entertained at the best tables as "the ingenious Mr. Rolt." His
converfation, indeed, did not discover much of the fire of a poet; but it was
recollected, that both Addison and Thomson were equally dull till excited by
wine. Akenfide having been informed of this impofition, vindicated his right
by publishing the poem with its real authour's name. Several inftances of
fuch literary fraud have been detected. The Reverend Dr. Campbell, of St.
Andrew's, wrote a book on the authenticity of the Gospel Hiftory, the manu-
script of which he sent to Mr. Innys, a clergyman in England, who was his
countryman and acquaintance. Innys published it with his own name to it; and
before the impofition was discovered, obtained confiderable promotion, as a
reward of his merit. The celebrated Dr. Hugh Blair, and his coufin
Mr. George Ballantine, when ftudents in divinity, wrote a poem, entitled
Redemption," copies of which were handed about in manufcript. They
were, at length, very much furprized to fee a pompous edition of it in folio,
dedicated to the Queen, by a Dr. Douglas, as his own.
Some years ago a
little novel, entitled "The Man of Feeling," was affumed by Mr. Eccles, a
young Irish clergyman, who was afterwards drowned near Bath. He had been
at the pains to transcribe the whole book, with blottings, interlineations,
and corrections, that it might be shewn to several people as an original.
It was, in truth, the production of Mr. Henry Mackenzie, an attorney in the
Exchequer at Edinburgh, who is the authour of several other ingenious pieces;
but the belief with regard to Mr. Eccles became fo general, that it was thought
neceffary for Meffieurs Strahan and Cadell to publish an advertisement in the
newspapers, contradicting the report, and mentioning that they purchased
the copy right of Mr. Mackenzie. I can conceive this kind of fraud to be
very easily practised with successful effrontery. The filiation of a literary per-
formance is difficult of proof; feldom is there any witness present at its birth.
A man, either in confidence or by improper means, obtains poffeffion of a copy
of it in manufcript, and boldly publishes it, as his own. The true authour, in
many cafes, may not be able to make his title clear. Johnfon, indeed, from
the peculiar features of his literary offspring, might bid defiance to any attempt
to appropriate them to others:

"But Shakspeare's magick could not copied be,
"Within that circle none durft walk but he."

1761.

Ætat. 52.

He this year lent his friendly affiftance to correct and improve a pamphlet written by Mr. Gwyn, the architect, entitled "Thoughts on the Coronation of George III."

Johnson had now for fome years admitted Mr. Baretti to his intimacy; nor did their friendship cease upon their being feparated by Baretti's revifiting his native country, as appears from Johnson's letters to him.

To Mr. JOSEPH BARETTI, at Milan.

"YOU reproach me very often with parfimony of writing: but you may discover by the extent of my paper, that I design to recompence rarity by length. A fhort letter to a diftant friend is, in my opinion, an infult like that of a flight bow or curfory falutation;-a proof of unwillingness to do much, even where there is a neceffity of doing fomething. Yet it must be remembered, that he who continues the fame courfe of life in the fame place, will have little to tell. One week and one year are very like another. The filent changes made by time are not always perceived; and if they are not perceived, cannot be recounted. I have rifen and laid down, talked and mufed, while you have roved over a confiderable part of Europe: yet I have not envied my Baretti any of his pleasures, though, perhaps, I have envied others his company; and I am glad to have other nations made acquainted with the character of the English, by a traveller who has fo nicely infpected our manners, and so successfully studied our literature. I received your kind letter from Falmouth, in which you gave me notice of your departure for Lisbon; and another from Lifbon, in which you told me, that you were to leave Portugal in a few days. To either of thefe how could any answer be returned? I have had a third from Turin, complaining that I have not anfwered the former. Your English style ftill continues in its purity and vigour. With vigour your genius will fupply it; but its purity must be continued by close attention. To ufe two languages familiarly, and without contaminating one by the other, is very difficult; and to ufe more than two, is hardly to be hoped. The praifes which fome have received for their multiplicity of languages, may be fufficient to excite induftry, but can hardly generate confidence..

"I know not whether I can heartily rejoice at the kind reception which you have found, or at the popularity to which you are exalted. I am willing that your merit should be distinguished; but cannot wish that affections may

your

be gained. I would have you happy wherever you are: yet I would have you wish to return to England. If ever you vifit us again, you will find the kindnefs of your friends undiminished. To tell you how many enquiries are made

after

you

after you, would be tedious, or if not tedious, would be vain; because you
may be told in a very few words, that all who knew
well;
wifh
you
and
all that you embraced at your departure, will carefs you at your return: there-
fore do not let Italian academicians nor Italian ladies drive us from your
thoughts. You may find among us what you will leave behind, foft fmiles and
eafy fonnets. Yet I shall not wonder if all our invitations should be rejected:
for there is a pleasure in being confiderable at home, which is not eafily refifted.

for

"By conducting Mr. Southwell to Venice, you fulfilled, I know, the original contract: yet I would wish you not wholly to lose him from your notice, but to recommend him to fuch acquaintance as may best fecure him from fuffering by his own follies, and to take fuch general care both of his fafety and his interest as may come within your power. His relations will thank you for any fuch gratuitous attention: at least they will not blame your any evil that may happen, whether they thank you or not for any good. "You know that we have a new King and a new Parliament. Of the new Parliament Fitzherbert is a member. We were fo weary of our old King, that we are much pleased with his fucceffor; of whom we are so much inclined to hope great things, that most of us begin already to believe them. The young man is hitherto blameless; but it would be unreasonable to expect much from the immaturity of juvenile years, and the ignorance of princely education. He has been long in the hands of the Scots, and has already favoured them more than the English will contentedly endure. But, perhaps, he scarcely knows whom he has diftinguished, or whom he has difgufted.

"The Artists have inftituted a yearly exhibition of pictures and ftatues, in imitation, as I am told, of foreign Academies. This year was the second exhibition. They please themselves much with the multitude of fpectators, and imagine that the English school will rife in reputation. Reynolds is without a rival, and continues to add thoufands to thousands, which he deferves, among other excellencies, by retaining his kindness for Baretti. This exhibition has filled the heads of the Artifts and lovers of art. Surely life, if it be not long, is tedious, fince we are forced to call in the affiftance of fo many trifles to rid us of our time, of that time which never can return.

"I know my Baretti will not be satisfied with a letter in which I give him no account of myself: yet what account fhall I give him? I have not, fince the day of our feparation, fuffered or done any thing confiderable. The only change in my way of life is, that I have frequented the theatre more than in former seasons. But I have gone thither only to escape from myself. We have had many new farces, and the comedy called The Jealous Wife,' which, though not written with much genius, was yet fo well adapted to the ftage, and

1761.

Etat, 52.

$762.

and fo well exhibited by the actors, that it was crowded for near twenty nights. I am digreffing from myself to the playhouse; but a barren plan must be filled with epifodes. Of myfelf I have nothing to fay, but that I have hitherto lived without the concurrence of my own judgement; yet I continue to flatter myself, that, when you return, you will find me mended. I do not wonder that, where the monaftick life is permitted, every order finds votaries, and every monaftery inhabitants. Men will fubmit to any rule, by which they may be exempted from the tyranny of caprice and of chance. They are glad to supply by external authority their own want of conftancy and refolution, and court the government of others, when long experience has convinced them of their own inability to govern themselves. If I were to vifit Italy, my curiofity would be more attracted by convents than by palaces; though I am afraid that I should find expectation in both places equally disappointed, and life in both places fupported with impatience and quitted with reluctance, That it must be so foon quitted, is a powerful remedy against impatience; but what fhall free us from reluctance? Those who have endeavoured to teach us to die well, have taught few to die willingly; yet I cannot but hope that a good life might end at last in a contented death.

"You fee to what a train of thought I am drawn by the mention of myfelf. Let me now turn my attention upon you. I hope you take care to keep an exact journal, and to register all occurrences and obfervations; for your friends here expect fuch a book of travels as has not been often seen. You have given us good fpecimens in your letters from Lisbon. I wish you had ftaid longer in Spain, for no country is lefs known to the reft of Europe; but the quickness of your difcernment must make amends for the celerity of your motions. He that knows which way to direct his view, fees much in a little time.

"Write to me very often, and I will not neglect to write to you; and I may, perhaps, in time get fomething to write: at least, you will know by my letters, whatever else they may have or want, that I continue to be "Your most affectionate friend,

"London, June 10, 1761.

SAM. JOHNSON."

An inquiry into the state of foreign countries was an object that seems at all times to have interested Johnfon. Hence Mr. Newbery found no great difficulty in perfuading him to write the Introduction to a collection of voyages and travels published by him under the title of "The World Difplayed." The first volume appeared in 1759, and the remaining volumes in fubfequent years. In 1762 he wrote for the Reverend Dr. Kennedy, Rector of Bradley in Derbyshire, in a train of very courtly elegance, a Dedication to the King*