Life of Johnson Volume II Part 70

[933] He had written to Temple six days earlier:--'Second sight pleases my superst.i.tion which, you know, is not small, and being not of the gloomy but the grand species, is an enjoyment; and I go further than Mr.

Johnson, for the facts which I heard convinced me.' _Letters of Boswell_, p. 179. When ten years later he published his _Tour_, he said (Nov. 10, 1773) that he had returned from the Hebrides with a considerable degree of faith; 'but,' he added, 'since that time my belief in those stories has been much weakened.'

[934] This doubt has been much agitated on both sides, I think without good reason. See Addison's _Freeholder, May 4, 1714. _The Freeholder_ was published from Dec. 1715 to June 1716. In the number for May 4 there is no mention of _The Tale of a Tub_; _An Apology for the Tale of a Tub_ (Swift's _Works_, ed. 1803, iii. 20);--Dr. Hawkesworth's Preface to Swift's _Works_, and Swift's Letter to Tooke the Printer, and Tooke's Answer, in that collection;--Sheridan's _Life of Swift_;--Mr.

Courtenay's note on p. 3 of his _Poetical Review of the Literary and Moral Character of Dr. Johnson_; and Mr. Cooksey's _Essay on the Life and Character of John Lord Somers, Baron of Evesham_.

Dr. Johnson here speaks only to the _internal evidence_. I take leave to differ from him, having a very high estimation of the powers of Dr.

Swift. His _Sentiments of a Church-of-England-man_, his _Sermon on the Trinity_, and other serious pieces, prove his learning as well as his acuteness in logick and metaphysicks; and his various compositions of a different cast exhibit not only wit, humour, and ridicule; but a knowledge 'of nature, and art, and life:' a combination therefore of those powers, when (as the _Apology_ says,) 'the authour was young, his invention at the heighth, and his reading fresh in his head,' might surely produce _The Tale of a Tub_. BOSWELL.

[935] 'His _Tale of a Tub_ has little resemblance to his other pieces.

It exhibits a vehemence and rapidity of mind, a copiousness of images and vivacity of diction such as he afterwards never possessed, or never exerted. It is of a mode so distinct and peculiar that it must be considered by itself; what is true of that is not true of anything else which he has written.' Johnson's _Works_, viii. 220. At the conclusion of the _Life of Swift_ (_ib_. 228), Johnson allows him one great merit:--'It was said in a preface to one of the Irish editions that Swift had never been known to take a single thought from any writer, ancient or modern. This is not literally true; but perhaps no writer can easily be found that has borrowed so little, or that in all his excellencies and all his defects has so well maintained his claim to be considered as original.' See _ante_, i. 452.

[936] Johnson in his _Dictionary_, under the article _shave_, quotes Swift in one example, and in the next _Gulliver's Travels_, not admitting, it should seem, that Swift had written that book.

[937] See Boswell's _Hebrides_, Oct. 26, 1773. David Hume wrote of Home's _Agis_:--'I own, though I could perceive fine strokes in that tragedy, I never could in general bring myself to like it: the author, I thought, had corrupted his taste by the imitation of Shakespeare, whom he ought only to have admired.' J.H. Burton's _Hume_, i. 392. About _Douglas_ he wrote:--'I am persuaded it will be esteemed the best, and by French critics the only tragedy of our language.' _Ib_ ii. 17. Hume perhaps admired it the more as it was written, to use his own words, 'by a namesake of mine.' _Ib_ i. 316. _Home_ is p.r.o.nounced _Hume_. He often wrote of his friend as 'Mr. John Hume, _alias_ Home.' A few days before his death he added the following codicil to his will:--'I leave to my friend Mr. John Home, of Kilduff, ten dozen of my old claret at his choice; and one single bottle of that other liquor called port. I also leave to him six dozen of port, provided that he attests, under his hand, signed John _Hume_, that he has himself alone finished that bottle at two sittings. By this concession he will at once terminate the only two differences that ever arose between us concerning temporal matters.'

_Ib_ ii. 506. Sir Walter Scott wrote in his _Diary_ in 1827:--'I finished the review of John Home's works, which, after all, are poorer than I thought them. Good blank verse, and stately sentiment, but something luke-warmish, excepting _Douglas_, which is certainly a masterpiece. Even that does not stand the closet. Its merits are for the stage; and it is certainly one of the best acting plays going.'

Lockhart's _Scott_, ix. 100.

[938] Sheridan, says Mr. S. Whyte (_Miscellanea Nova_, p. 45), brought out _Douglas_ at the Dublin Theatre. The first two nights it had great success. The third night was as usual to be the author's. It had meanwhile got abroad that he was a clergyman. This play was considered a profanation, a faction was raised, and the third night did not pay its expenses. It was Whyte who suggested that, by way of consolation, Sheridan should give Home a gold medal. The inscription said that he presented it to him 'for having enriched the stage with a perfect tragedy.' Whyte took the medal to London. When he was close at his journey's end, 'I was,' he writes, 'stopped by highwaymen, and preserved the medal by the sacrifice of my purse at the imminent peril of my life.'

[939]

'No merit now the dear Nonjuror claims, Moliere's old stubble in a moment flames.'

The _Nonjuror_ was 'a comedy thrashed out of Moliere's _Tartuffe_.' _The Dunciad_, i. 253.

[940] See _post_, June 9, 1784; also Macaulay's _England_, ch. xiv. (ed.

1874, v. 94), for remarks on what Johnson here says.

[941] See _ante_, i. 318, where his name is spelt _Madden_.

[942] This was not merely a cursory remark; for in his _Life of Fenton_ he observes, 'With many other wise and virtuous men, who at that time of discord and debate (about the beginning of this century) consulted conscience [whether] well or ill informed, more than interest, he doubted the legality of the government; and refusing to qualify himself for publick employment, by taking the oaths [by the oaths] required, left the University without a degree.' This conduct Johnson calls 'perverseness of integrity.' [Johnson's _Works_, viii. 54.

The question concerning the morality of taking oaths, of whatever kind, imposed by the prevailing power at the time, rather than to be excluded from all consequence, or even any considerable usefulness in society, has been agitated with all the acuteness of casuistry. It is related, that he who devised the oath of abjuration, profligately boasted, that he had framed a test which should 'd.a.m.n one half of the nation, and starve the other.' Upon minds not exalted to inflexible rect.i.tude, or minds in which zeal for a party is predominant to excess, taking that oath against conviction may have been palliated under the plea of necessity, or ventured upon in heat, as upon the whole producing more good than evil.

At a county election in Scotland, many years ago, when there was a warm contest between the friends of the Hanoverian succession, and those against it, the oath of abjuration having been demanded, the freeholders upon one side rose to go away. Upon which a very sanguine gentleman, one of their number, ran to the door to stop them, calling out with much earnestness, 'Stay, stay, my friends, and let us swear the rogues out of it!' BOSWELL. Johnson, writing of the oaths required under the Militia Bill of 1756, says:--'The frequent imposition of oaths has almost ruined the morals of this unhappy nation, and of a nation without morals it is of small importance who shall be king.' _Lit. Mag_. 1756, i. 59.

[943] Dr. Harwood sent me the following extract from the book containing the proceedings of the corporation of Lichfield: '19th July, 1712.

Agreed that Mr. Michael Johnson be, and he is hereby elected a magistrate and brother of their incorporation; a day is given him to Thursday next to take the oath of fidelity and allegiance, and the oath of a magistrate. Signed, &c.'--'25th July, 1712. Mr. Johnson took the oath of allegiance and that he believed there was no transubstantiation in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper before, &c.'--CROKER.

[944] A parody on _Macbeth_, act ii. sc. 2.

[945] Lord Southampton asked Bishop Watson of Llandaff 'how he was to bring up his son so as to make him get forwards in the world. "I know of but one way," replied the Bishop; "give him parts and poverty." "Well then," replied Lord S., "if G.o.d has given him parts, I will manage as to the poverty."' H. C. Robinson's _Diary_, i. 337. Lord Eldon said that Thurlow promised to give him a post worth about 160 a year, but he never did. 'In after life,' said Eldon, 'I inquired of him why he had not fulfilled his promise. His answer was curious:--"It would have been your ruin. Young men are very apt to be content when they get something to live upon; so when I saw what you were made of, I determined to break my promise to make you work;" and I dare say he was right, for there is nothing does a young lawyer so much good as to be half starved.' Twiss's _Eldon_, i. 134.

[946] In New Street, near Gough Square, in Fleet Street, whither in February 1770 the King's printinghouse was removed from what is still called Printing House Square. CROKER. Dr. Spottiswoode, the late President of the Royal Society, was the great-grandson of Mr. Strahan.

[947] See _post_, under March 30, 1783.

[948] Johnson wrote to Dr. Taylor on April 8 of this year:--'I have placed young Davenport in the greatest printing house in London, and hear no complaint of him but want of size, which will not hinder him much. He may when he is a journeyman always get a guinea a week.' _Notes and Queries_, 6th S., v. 422. Mr. Jewitt in the _Gent. Mag_. for Dec.

1878, gives an account of this lad. He was the orphan son of a clergyman, a friend of the Rev. W. Langley, Master of Ashbourne School (see _post_, Sept. 14, 1777). Mr. Langley asked Johnson's help 'in procuring him a place in some eminent printing office.' Davenport wrote to Mr. Langley nearly eight years later:--'According to your desire, I consulted Dr. Johnson about my future employment in life, and he very laconically told me "to work hard at my trade, as others had done before me." I told him my size and want of strength prevented me from getting so much money as other men. "Then," replied he, "you must get as much as you can."' The boy was nearly sixteen when he was apprenticed, and had learnt enough Latin to quote Virgil, so that there was nothing in Johnson's speech beyond his understanding.

[949] Seven years afterwards, Johnson described this evening. Miss Monckton had told him that he must see Mrs. Siddons. 'Well, Madam,' he answered, 'if you desire it, I will go. See her I shall not, nor hear her; but I'll go, and that will do. The last time I was at a play, I was ordered there by Mrs. Abington, or Mrs. Somebody, I do not well remember who; but I placed myself in the middle of the first row of the front boxes, to show that when I was called I came.' Mme. D' Arblay's _Diary_, ii. 199. At Fontainebleau he went--to a comedy (_post_, Oct. 19, 1775), so that it was not 'the last time he was at a play.'

[950] 'One evening in the oratorio season of 1771,' writes Mrs. Piozzi (Anec. 72), 'Mr. Johnson went with me to Covent Garden theatre. He sat surprisingly quiet, and I flattered myself that he was listening to the music. When we were got home he repeated these verses, which he said he had made at the oratorio:--

"In Theatre, March 8, 1771.

Tertii verso quater orbe l.u.s.tri, Quid theatrales tibi, Crispe, pompae?

Quam decet canos male literates Sera voluptas!

Tene mulceri fidibus canoris?

Tene cantorum modulis stupere?

Tene per pictas, oculo elegante, Currere formas?

Inter aequales, sine felle liber, Codices veri studiosus inter Rectius vives. Sua quisque carpal Gaudia gratus.

Lusibus gaudet puer otiosis, Luxus oblectat juvenem theatri, At seni fluxo sapienter uti Tempore restat."'

(_Works_, i. 166.)

[951] _Bon Ton, or High Life above Stairs_, by Garrick. He made King the comedian a present of this farce, and it was acted for the first time on his benefit-a little earlier in the month. Murphy's _Garrick_, pp.

330, 332

[952] 'August, 1778. An epilogue of Mr. Garrick's to _Bonduca_ was mentioned, and Dr. Johnson said it was a miserable performance:--"I don't know," he said, "what is the matter with David; I am afraid he is grown superannuated, for his prologues and epilogues used to be incomparable."' Mme. D'Arblay's _Diary_, i. 64.

[953] 'Scottish brethren and architects, who had bought Durham Yard, and erected a large pile of buildings under the affected name of the Adelphi. These men, of great taste in their profession, were attached particularly to Lord Bute and Lord Mansfield, and thus by public and private nationality zealous politicians.' Walpole's _Memoirs of the Reign of George III_. iv. 173. Hume wrote to Adam Smith in June 1772, at a time where there was 'a universal loss of credit':--'Of all the sufferers, I am the most concerned for the Adams. But their undertakings were so vast, that nothing could support them. They must dismiss 3000 workmen, who, comprehending the materials, must have expended above 100,000 a year. To me the scheme of the Adelphi always appeared so imprudent, that my wonder is how they could have gone on so long.' J. H.

Burton's _Hume_, ii, 460. Garrick lived in the Adelphi.

[954] 'Man looks aloft, and with erected eyes, Beholds his own hereditary skies.' DRYDEN, Ovid, _Meta_. i. 85.

[955] Hannah More (_Memoirs_, i. 213) says that she was made 'the umpire in a trial of skill between Garrick and Boswell, which could most nearly imitate Dr. Johnson's manner. I remember I gave it for Boswell in familiar conversation, and for Garrick in reciting poetry.'

[956] 'Gesticular mimicry and buffoonery Johnson hated, and would often huff Garrick for exercising it his presence.' Hawkins's _Johnson_, p. 386.

[957] In the first two editions Johnson is represented as only saying, 'Davy is futile.'

[958] My n.o.ble friend Lord Pembroke said once to me at Wilton, with a happy pleasantry and some truth, that 'Dr. Johnson's sayings would not appear so extraordinary, were it not for his _bow-wow way_.' The sayings themselves are generally of sterling merit; but, doubtless, his _manner_ was an addition to their effect; and therefore should be attended to as much as may be. It is necessary however, to guard those who were not acquainted with him, against overcharged imitations or caricatures of his manner, which are frequently attempted, and many of which are second-hand copies from the late Mr. Henderson the actor, who, though a good mimick of some persons, did not represent Johnson correctly.

BOSWELL.

[959] See '_Prosodia Rationalis_; or, an Essay towards establis.h.i.+ng the Melody and Measure of Speech, to be expressed and perpetuated by peculiar Symbols.' London, 1779. BOSWELL.

[960] I use the phrase _in score_, as Dr. Johnson has explained it in his _Dictionary_:--'A _song in_ SCORE, the words with the musical notes of a song annexed.' But I understand that in scientific property it means all the parts of a musical composition noted down in the characters by which it is established to the eye of the skillful.

BOSWELL. It was _declamation_ that Steele pretended to reduce to notation by new characters. This he called the _melody_ of speech, not the harmony, which is the term in _score_ implies. BURNEY.

[961] Johnson, in his _Life of Gray_ (_Works_, viii. 481), spoke better of him. 'What has occurred to me from the slight inspection of his _Letters_, in which my understanding has engaged me, is, that his mind had a large gap; that his curiosity was unlimited, and his judgment cultivated.' Horace Walpole (_Letters_, ii 128) allowed that he was bad company. 'Sept. 3, 1748. I agree with you most absolutely in your opinion about Gray; he is the worst company in the world. From a melancholy turn, from living reclusely, and from a little too much dignity, he never converses easily; all his words are measured and chosen, his writings are admirable; he himself is not agreeable.'

[962] In the original, 'Give ample room and verge enough.' In the _Life of Gray_ (_Works_, vii. 486) Johnson says that the slaughtered bards 'are called upon to "Weave the warp, and weave the woof," perhaps with no great propriety; for it is by crossing the _woof_ with the _warp_ that men weave the _web_ or piece; and the first line was dearly bought by the admission of its wretched correspondent, "Give ample room and verge enough." He has, however, no other line as bad.' See _ante_, i. 402.

[963] This word, which is in the first edition, is not in the second or third.

[964] '_The Church-yard_ abounds with images which find a mirror in every mind, and with sentiments to which every bosom returns an echo.

The four stanzas, beginning "Yet even these bones," are to me original.

I have never seen the notions in any other place; yet he that reads them here persuades himself that he has always felt them. Had Gray written often thus, it had been vain to blame, and useless to praise him.'