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tleman's Magazine" for 1785, paid an ele

gant and affectionate tribute to his memory. The " Elegy on the Death of Dr. Johnfon," by Samuel Hobhouse, Efq. 4to, 1785, was diftinguished from the mass of elegiac verses on that occafion; and the juft, difcriminative, and elegant "Poetical Review of the Moral and Literary Character of Dr. Johnfon," by John Courtenay, Efq. M. P. 4to, 1788, was perused with avidity by the admirers of wit and learning, and the real friends of virtue and liberty. His conduct and genius were examined and illuftrated in the rapid "Biographical Sketch of Dr. Johnson," by Thomas Tyers, Efq. in the "Gentleman's Magazine" for 1784; the fprightly and entertaining "Anecdotes of Dr. Johnfon," by Mrs. Piozzi, 8vo, 1785; the candid and judicious "Effay on the Life, Character, and Writings of Dr. Johnson," by Jofeph Towers, LL. D. 8vo, 1786; and the inftructive and inte

refting "Life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D." by James Bofwell, Efq. 2 vols. 4tő, 1791, which are fufficiently known to the world.

His Works were collected and published by Sir John Hawkins, with his " Life," in eleven volumes, 1787. In this edition, the Lives of the Poets are placed first, and several pieces are attributed to Johnson without foundation. In the "Life," too much

1792, with an

foreign matter is intermixed, and Johnfon himself is scarcely visible in the mafs. A new edition was published in 12, vols. 8vo, with an "Effay on his Life and Genius," by Arthur Murphy, Efq., the former "Life" being thought too unwieldy for republication. In this edition, the order obferved in the former edition is inverted, and the feveral pieces are chronologically arranged, omitting thofe attributed to him without foundation. Some of his Prayers are printed, and feveral of his Letters added to the 12th volume. Mr. Murphy has

tory

no new facts to embellish his work; but the task which has been left him, of giving a fhort, yet full, a faithful, yet temperate hifof Johnson, has been ably executed. In the fuccinct review of his writings, Mr. Murphy displays his own learning, judgment, and taste. His Prayers and Meditations were published from his manuscripts, by George Strahan, A. M. Vicar of Iflington, in 8vo, 1785. Letters to and from Samuel Johnson, LL. D. were published by Mrs. Piozzi, in 2 vols. 8vo, 1788. The Sermons. 8vo, 1790, left for publication, by Dr. Taylor, were unquestionably Johnson's; and the fact is now afcertained on the authority of Mr. Hayes, the editor. An imperfect collection of his Poems was published by Kearsley, in 12mo, 1785; and inferted, with confiderable additions, in the edition of "The Works of the English Poets," 1790. They are reprinted in the prefent collection, together with the tragedy of

Irene, and feveral additional pieces collect

ed from Mr. Bofwell's

Life of Johnson,"

and other publications.

Yet

The religious, moral, political, and literary character of Johnson, will be better understood by this account of his life, than by any laboured and critical comments. it may not be fuperfluous here to attempt to collect, into one view, his most prominent excellencies, and distinguishing particularities.

His figure and manner are more generally known than those of almost any other man. His person was large, robust, and unwieldy from corpulency. His carriage was disfigured by fudden emotions which appeared to a common obferver to be involuntary and convulfive. But in the opinion of Sir Joshua Reynolds, they were the consequence of a depraved habit of accompanying his thoughts with certain untoward actions, which feemed as if they were

meant to reprobate fome part of his past conduct. Of his limbs, he is faid never to have enjoyed the free and vigorous ufe. When he walked, it seemed the struggling gait of one in fetters; and when he rode, he appeared to have no command over his horfe. His ftrength, however, was great, and his perfonal courage no lefs fo. Among other instances, which exemplify his poffeffion of both, it is related, that, being once at the Litchfield theatre, he fat upon a chair placed for him befide the fcenes. Having had occafion to quit his feat, he found it occupied, upon his return, by an innkeeper of the town. He civilly demanded that it fhould be reftored to him; but meeting with a rude refufal, he laid hold of the chair, and with it, of the intruder, and flung them both, without further ceremony, into the pit. At another time, having engaged in a fcuffle with four men in the ftreet, he refolutely refused to

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