recommended to the public, were written by your Lordship. To be fo diftinguished, is an honour which, being very little accustomed to favours from the great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to acknowledge.

·

When, upon fome flight encouragement, I firft vifited your Lordhip, I was overpowered, like the reft of mankind, by the inchantment of your addrefs; and courd not forbear to with that I might boaft myself Le vainqueur du vainqueur de la terre; that I might obtain that regard for which I faw the world contending; but I found my attendance fo little encouraged, that neither pride nor modefty would fuffer me to continue it. When I had once addreffed your Lordship in public, I had exhaulted all the art of pleafing which a retired and uncourtly fcholar can poffefs. I had done all that I could; and no man is well pleafed to have his all neglect ed, be it ever fo little.

"Seven years, my Lord, have now paft, fince I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulfed from your door; during which time I have been pufhing on my work through difficulties, of which it is ufelefs to complain, and have brought it, at laft, to the verge of publication, without one act of affittance, one word of encouragement, or one fimile of favour. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never before.

had a patron

"The fhepherd in Virgil grew at laft acquainted with love, and found

him a native of the rocks.

"Is not a patron, my Lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man ftruggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help? The notice which you have been pleafed to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am folitary, and cannot impart It; till I am known, and do not want

it. I hope it is no very cynical afperity, not to confefs obligations where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling that the public should confider me as owing that to a Patron which Providence has enabled me to do for myself.

Having carried on my work thus far with fo little obligation to any favourer of learning, I fhall not be difappointed though I fhould conclude it, if lefs be poilible, with lefs; for I have been long wakened from that dream of hope, in which I once boaft. ed myself with fo much exultation, "My Lord,

"Your Lordship's most humble,

"Moft obedient fervant,
"SAM. JOHNSON."

In tracing the earlier part of Johnfon's literary life, one cannot but take notice of the cafe and facility with which he wrote. He could apply his mind to any fubject which the occafion of the moment required, and the thoughts which its confideration prompted he had always more than enough of words to exprefs. If there was not always genius or feeling in his compofitions, there was at least a confiderable fhare of fenfe and acutenefs, and in this business-fort of compofition he had one advantage over thofe who write from the voluntary infpiration of particular moments, that

whenever he fat doggedly down to write,' as he expreffed it, he could write. The multiplicity of his performances, the extent of his manufacture (for the phrafe may well be'allowed to this cafe), will furprife the reader. He wrote, like a fpecial plead er of he Inns of Court, whatever he was fee'd to write; Sermons for Clergymen, Dedications for Authors, Prefaces and Accounts of New Works for Bookfellers. His favourite maxim always was, that none but blockheads ever wrote from any other motive than that of getting money; its abfurdity and injuftice are allowed even by Mr

Bofwell;

64

Pouring a little wine upon the table, defcribed every thing with a wet fin"Here were we; here were the Turks," &c. &c. Johnfon liftened with the clofeft attention."

ger:

From this converfation, which we have felected merely from its being of readers a manageable length, our may form a pretty fair idea both of the execution of this work, and of that fort of picture which it exhibits of its fubject.

But they would hardly fuppofe, without our telling them, that among ft the memorabilia of Johofon in these vols. are feveral papers written by him, in caufes depending before the Court of Seffion in Scotland, in which Mr Bofwell was counfel.. For Johnson was a writing machine, whofe powers could act on any given fubject, without being at all disturbed by want either of the knowledge or inclination which other people might think neceffary for treating it., Mott readers, we believe, will be of the fame mind, with regard to thofe legal arguments of the Dr's, with our good Judges of the Court of Seffion, one of whom, Mr Bofwell fays, told him, that giving in fuch papers to them was" cafting pearls before fwine." Tis with a peculiar naiveté that Mr Bofwell introduces this ftory, by faying, that he tells it from his regard for the good law precept fuum cuique tribuito," Give every one his due.

66

This dramatic method of writing may easily account for the fize of the book, and the many unneceffary and unimportant pages which it contains. Nor do we think a view of a character thus exhibited a favourable or a fair one. Who is fo blamelefs in conduct, fo equal in temper, fo guarded in expreffion, as not to do and fay many little things which are faulty and ludicrous? Of all men, perhaps, Johnfon was the most unfit for this over-curious expofure of his life and converfation. With a conftitution

both of body and mind, diftempered,
nervous, and irritable: always open on
the fide of that vanity which the club
of admirers with whom he lived ten-
ded fo much to ftrengthen and in-
creafe, and unrestrained by the nicer
decorums of fociety, which early good
company alone can teach, his weak-
neffes had every incitement to their
not repreffed like
growth, and were
thofe of other men, by the fear of of-
fending, or the defire of concihating
thofe around him.

In the life of Johnson there is another circumstance which renders this mode of relating it rather unfair to others as well as to him. His converfation was almost always polemical; he and his friends met in their fympofium, like gladiators of old in the Arena; not for an amicable communica tion of fentiment, but to exercife their wit and their eloquence in perpetual conteft. The victory was almoft al. ways Johnfon's; but, in relating his victories, Mr B. muft, at the fame time, record the defeats of his opponents, which to fome of them may not be a pleafant recollection.

Mr Bofwell, however, to do him juftice, is perfe@ly difinterefted and impartial. He relates with equal fi delity the buffetings and chaftifements he received himfelf, as thofe which were inflicted on any of the other gentlemen and ladies who fhared in the delights of Johnson's company and In their various jourconverfation. nies and adventures in England and Scotland, poor Mr B. experienced fomewhat of the fate of another equally facetious fquire and companion. He received ftripes like Sancho, but they were not laid on by himself; like Sancho's, however, they were to have their reward; they were to be recorded in a book, and to be tranfmitted, (as Don Quixote fays, for a confolation to his faithful attendant) along with the fame of his illuftrious malter, to diftant pofterity.

M:

friends opinion, qualified with a declaration of his own diffent from it; following the model of the amiable Mrs Candour in the School for Scandal, Every body fays fo, to be fure; but for my part I don't believe a word on't.'

To all thefe criticisms on the prefent performance, there is, however, a fhort and eafy anfwer: Mr Bofwell had kept a journal of Dr Johnfon's converfation, and he gives it to the world, with all its imperfections on its head, He mentions a very proper advice which Mr Colman gave him on his introducing the subject of belief in the fecond fight. Dr Johnson, faid his biographer, is only willing to believe, I do believe. The evidence is enough for me, though not for his great mind. What will not fill a quart bottle will fill a pint bottle. I am filled with belief. Then cork it,' replied Colman.

Mr Bofwell does not feem always to perceive the effect which his narrative will be likely to produce on its readers, in his commendations of Johnson, either as an author or a man. For we do not fufpect him of irony when he quotes the following example, (p. 162.) of that wonderful perfpicuity with which Johnfon has expreffed abstract scientific notions: When the radical idea branches out into parallel ramifications, how can a confecutive feries be formed of fenfes in their own nature collateral.' He certainly is ferious when he tells us, that it has been of late the fashion to depreciate the file of Addifon in comparifon with that of Johnfon. What idea does Mr Bofwell annex to the word Fashion? In this inftance, he probably means by it the opinion of three or four of Dr Johnson's London encomiafts. During the life of the Doctor the word Fashion probably meant But Mr Bofwell is no churl of in Mr Bofwell's Vocabulary the opi- his liquor, fuch as it is; he pours it nion of that great man alone. At that out, froth and dregs and all; and whoperiod, he might have faid it was the ever has money, and inclination for fafhion to prefer Goldsmith as an hifto- the purchase, may procure these two rian to Robertfon, to hold Gray a dull large bottles of it. Double bottles, poet, who had only written eight good Mr Bofwell fomewhere informs his lines in his life, Swift a filly and com- readers, are in Scotland called Magmon-place writer, and Fielding a num Bonums. The Magnum, in the blockhead and a barren fellow. That prefent cafe, every body muft allow ; vanity which, in the beginning of this the Bonum fome faftidious readers may account, we obferved to be the leading be inclined to dispute. weaknefs in Johnfon's character, produced, in one of its worft modifications, this abfurdity in his criticifms. He could allow mediocrity its proportionate praise; but excellence, in whatever department of literature, feldom had his willing fuffrage. Even Mrs Montague, who had done much to conciliate the favour of literary men, because her "Effay on Shakespeare" was a popular performance, did not escape him; and Mr Bofwell, who declares bimfelf one of the admirers of that effay, faithfully records all the contemptuous abufe which Johnfon poured out against it. In this manner, indeed, he often gives his illuftrious

A Tour through Italy; containing full directions for travelling in that interefting country; with ample catalogues of every thing that is curious in architecture, painting, fculpture, &c. By T. Martyn, F. R. S.Kearfley, London, 1791.

The title of this book expreffes fufficiently its contents. It does not profefs to defcribe the manners or cuftoms of the inhabitants of Italy, but to give a diftinct and accurate account of the objects which are best worth the traveller's attention.

65

[TO understand the following tale, which is extracted from the " Popular Tales of the Germans," it is neceffary to premife, that Number Nip is a cant name given to a fpirit fuppofed to haunt the giant mountains in Silefia. This fpirit having been croffed in love, retired for a long time from the world, but at laft returned to thofe mountains with an intention of wreaking his vengeance on the human race. Our extract reprefents him apoftrophifing mankind at the moment of his return.]

VI.earthworm the fpirit cried, as he lifted up his eyes, and beheld from the lofty pinnacle of the rock the fpires of churches and cloifters rifing from the bofont many a city; "thou ftill crawleft, I fee, in the vale below. Thy craft and cunning has once made mock of me now thou shalt pay for thy triumph; I will pinch and plague thee, till thou quake at the mention of the mountain fpirit."

He had fcarce uttered thefe words, when his ear was ftruck with the found of human voices at a diflance. Three young companions were chatting as they crofled the nountain; the boldest of them crying out ince Tantly, Number-Nip, come down! Number-Nip, thou thief, that ficalet help lefs girls!" The fcandalous chronicle had faithfully preferved the love-affair of the Spirit; and as it had paffed from mouth to mouth, it had gained, as is ufually the cafe, a number of falfe additions: every travel ler that paffed the mountain entertained his fellow with the particulars. A thoufand ftories of apparitions had been invented, to the great terror and difmay of the fainthearted wanderer, though they were totally groundlefs; and the free-thinkers, wits, and philofophers, who in broad day-light, and in a large company, have no faith in ghofts, and even prefume to make merry at their expence, were accustomed, either from the defire of fhewing their courage, or in mere wantonnefs, to invoke the Ghome by his nick-name, and make very free with his conduct. It had never been known that any of thefe infults had been revenged by the patient and long-suffering spirit; and no wonder, for he could not hear a word of them in the depths of the earth where he held his refidence. He was now fo much the more ftruck at hearing the whole reproachful tale fo comprehenfively repeated; and down he came roaring like a whirlwind through the gloomy foreft of firs, with a full intention to ftrangle the poor wretch on the fpot, for making fo free with his hiftory, though it was entirely without any defign to give offence: but he feasonably bethought himself, that fo exemplary and open a correction would raise a great alarm

i out-cry in the country, which might de

ter travellers from paffing the mountain, whence he would lofe all opportunity of playing his projected pranks upon mankind. He therefore fuffered the infolent bawler and his companions to pafs quietly along for the prefent, with a firm refolution, however, tot to fuffer him to be at the trouble of calling upon him in vain.

At the next cross road our merry-maker parted from his meffmates, and for this time arrived at Hirschberg with a found fkin bat an invifible attendant followed him to his inn, that he might know where to find him again in due feafon. NumberNip returned upon his footsteps to the mountain, thinking all the while upon the means of gratifying his revenge. On the road he chanced to meet a rich Ifraelite, travelling alfo towards Hirschberg; whom he immediately determined to employ as the inftrument of his vengeance. He therefore joined the Jew in the fhape of the wahton fpark that had infulted him. NumberNip entered into a friendly converfation with the ftranger; and, in the mean time, took an opportunity to lead him infenfibly out of the way. When they found themfelves entangled among the thickets, the Jew was alaimed at feeling himself seized by the beard, which the ruffian piteously tore, threw him on the ground, tied his hands and feet, and robbed him of a purse full of gold and jewels. The foot-pad having moreover, by way of a farewell benediction, bestowed a flower of blows and kicks upon him, went his way, leaving the poor plundered Jew in utter defpair of his life, and actually half dead among the brambles.

When Aaron had a little recovered from his fright, and perceived that there was yet life remaining in him, he began to whine and to call aloud for help, for he was afraid of being starved to death in that remote wilderness. His outcries foon brought to the fpot where he lay a refpectable gravelooking perfonage, in appearance a burgess of fome of the neighbouring towns. Hav ing enquired into the caufe of his diftreis, and how he came to lie bound fo far out of the road, he kindly took the cords from his hands and feet, and performed all the of fices of humanity which the good Samaritan, in the gofpel, fhewed to the man who had fallen among thieves. He recruited his fpirits with an exhilarating cordial, which he, by good luck, happened to have in his pocket, accompanied him back to the highway as obligingly as the angel did young Tobias, till he had brought him to the door of the inn at Hirschberg; where, after giving him a piece of money for his immediate neceffities, he took his leave. How was the Jew thunder-ftruck at feeing, on his entrance, the very ruffian who had robbed

and