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of regular and correct compofition are not unfavourable to that quick unpremeditated elocution, which is fo much admired, and fo useful in animated debate. This at least is certain, that of the many perfons eminent for literary abilities, who have had feats in parliament, none have gained a reputation for eloquence commenfurate with their talents and information; and of Johnfon, in particular, it is reported upon the authority of Sir William Scott, that he had feveral times tried to speak in the Society of Arts, &c. but "had found that he could not get on." It was observed by the late Henry Flood, Efq. who was himself an eminent orator, that "Johnson having been long used to fententious brevity, and the fhort flights of converfation, might have failed in that continued and expanded kind of argument, which is requifite in stating complicated matters in public fpeaking."

In 1772, he produced no literary performance. His only publication in 1773, was a new edition of his Dictionary, with additions and corrections. In the autumn of 1773, he gratified a "wish which he had fo long entertained, that he scarcely remembered how it was formed, of visiting the Hebrides, or Western Islands of Scotland." He was accompanied by Mr. Bofwell," whofe acuteness," he afterwards obferved, "would help his inquiry, and whose gaiety of conversation, and civility of manners, were fufficient to counteract the inconveniencies of travel in countries lefs hofpitable than those they were to pass.”

His ftay in Scotland was from the 18th of Auguft, till the 22d of November, when he fet out on his return to London. His various adventures, and the force and vivacity of his mind, as exercised during his tour, have been defcribed by Mr. Bofwell, in his "Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides,"

8vo, 1786, in a style that shows he poffeffed, in an eminent degree, the skill to give connection to mifcellaneous matter, and vivacity to the whole of his narrative.

At the approach of the general election, in 1774, he published a short political pamphlet, intituled, The Patriot; addressed to the Electors of Great Britain, 8vo, not with any visible application to Mr. Wilkes, but to teach the people to reject the leaders of oppofition, who called themselves patriots. It was called for, he tells us, by his political friends, on Friday, and was written on Saturday.

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The firft effort of his pen, in 1775, was

Proposals for publishing by subscription, the works of Mrs. Charlotte Lennox, in 3 vols. 4to." which was foon fucceeded by a pamphlet, intituled, Taxation no Tyranny, An Anfwer to the Refolutions and Address of the American Congrefs, 8vo. The scope of the argument was, that diftant colonies

which had in their aflemblies a legislature of their own, were, notwithstanding, liable to be taxed in a British Parliament, where they had neither peers in one house, nor reprefentatives in the other. The principle has been long abandoned; but Johnson was of opinion, that this country was strong enough to enforce obedience; When," fays he an Englishman is told that the Americans fhoot up like a hydra, he naturally confiders how the hydra was destroyed." The event has fhown how much he was mistaken, This pamphlet was written at the defire of the ministry, and in fome places corrected by them. It contained the fame positive affertions, sarcastical feverity, extravagant ridicule, and arbitrary principles, with his former political pieces, and the groffest and most virulent abuse of the Americans.

These pamphlets were published on his own account, and were afterwards collect

ed by him into a volume, under the title of Political Tracts, by the author of the Rambler, 8vo, 1775.

In the month of March this year, he was gratified by the title of Doctor of Laws, conferred on him by the University of Oxford, at the folicitation of Lord North. In September he vifited France, for the firft time, with Mr. and Mrs. Thrale, and Mr. Baretti; and returned to England in about two months after he quitted it. Foote, who happened to be in Paris at the fame time, faid, that the French were perfectly aftonished at his figure and manner, and at his dress; which was exactly the fame with what he was accuftomed to in London his brown clothes, black ftockings, and plain fhirt. Of the occurrences of this tour, he kept a journal, in all probability with a defign of writing an account of it. The world has to regret, that from

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