MR. BOSWELL TO DR. JOHNSON.

"Edinburgh, Jan. 27, 1775.

"You rate our lawyers here too high, when you call them great masters of the law of nations.

"As for myself, I am ashamed to say I have read little and thought little on the subject of America. I will be much obliged to you, if you will direct me where I shall find the best information of what is to be said on both sides. It is a subject vast in its present extent and future consequences. The imperfect hints which now float in my mind, tend rather to the formation of an opinion that our Government has been precipitant and severe in the resolutions taken against the Bostonians. Well do you know that I have no kindness for that race. But nations, or bodies of men, should, as well as individuals, have a fair trial, and not be condemned on character alone. Have we not express contracts with our colonies, which afford a more certain foundation of judgment, than general political speculations on the mutual rights of States and their provinces or colonies? Pray let me know immediately what to read, and I shall diligently endeavour to gather for you any thing that I can find. Is Burke's speech on American taxation published by himself? Is it authentic? remember to have heard you say, that you had never considered East India affairs: though, surely, they are of much importance to Great Britain. Under the recollection of this, I shelter myself from the reproach of ignorance about the Americans. If you write upon the subject, I shall certainly understand it. But, since you seem to expect that I should know something of it, without your instruction, and that my own mind should suggest something, I trust you will put me in the way.

I

"What does Becket mean by the Originals of Fingal and other poems of Ossian, which he advertises to have lain in his shop?"

harassed, terrified, and overpowered, by the insults, menaces, and clamours of her rebellious subjects, sets her hand, with tears and confusion, to a resignation of the kingdom."

B.

MACPHERSON'S OSSIAN'

73

"DEAR SIR,

"TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

"You sent me a case to consider, in which I have no facts but what are against us, nor any principles on which to reason. It is in vain to try to write thus without materials. The fact seems to be against you; at least I cannot know nor say any thing to the contrary. I am glad that you like the book so well. I hear no more of Macpherson. I shall long to know what Lord Hailes says of it. Lend it him privately. I shall send the parcel as soon as I can. Make my compliments to Mrs. Boswell. I am, Sir, &c.

<< Jan. 28, 1775."

"SAM. JOHNSON.

MR. BOSWELL TO DR. JOHNSON.

'Edinburgh, Feb. 2, 1775.

"As to Macpherson, I am anxious to have from yourself a full and pointed account of what has passed between you and him. It is confidently told here, that before your book came out he sent to you, to let you know that he understood you meant to deny the authenticity of Ossian's poems; that the originals were in his possession; that you might have inspection of them, and might take the evidence of people skilled in the Erse language; and that he hoped, after this fair offer, you would not be so uncandid as to assert that he had refused reasonable proof. That you paid no regard to his message, but published your strong attack upon him; and then he wrote a letter to you, in such terms as he thought suited to one who had not acted as a man of veracity. You may believe it gives me pain to hear your conduct represented as unfavourable, while I can only deny what is said, on the ground that your character refutes it, without having any information to oppose. Let me, I beg it of you, be furnished with a sufficient answer to any calumny upon this occasion.

"Lord Hailes writes to me (for we correspond more than we talk together), 'As to Fingal, I see a controversy arising, and purpose to keep out of its way. There is no doubt that I might mention some circumstances; but I do not choose to commit them to paper.'1 What his opinion is, I do not know.

He

1 His Lordship however (we are told by Mr. Blakeway) so far changed his mind as to declare his opinion in one of the notes

says, 'I am singularly obliged to Dr. Johnson for his active and useful criticisms. Had he given some strictures on the general plan of the work, it would have added much to his favours.' He is charmed with your verses on Inchkenneth, says they are very elegant, but bids me tell you he doubts whether

"Legitimas faciunt pectora pura preces,'1

be according to the rubric: but that is your concern; for, you know, he is a Presbyterian.'

"TO DR. LAWRENCE.2

"Feb. 7, 1775.

"SIR, "ONE of the Scotch physicians is now prosecuting a Corporation that in some public instrument have styled him Doctor of Medicine instead of Physician. Boswell desires, being advocate for the Corporation, to know whether Doctor of Medicine is not a legitimate title, and whether it may be considered as a disadvantageous distinction. I am to write to-night; be pleased to tell me. I am, Sir, your most, &c.

"TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

"MY DEAR BOSWELL,

"SAM. JOHNSON."

"I AM surprised that, knowing as you do the disposition of your countrymen to tell lies in favour of each other, you can be at all affected by any reports that circulate among them. Macpherson never in his life offered me a sight of any original, or of any evidence of any kind; but thought only of intimidating me

affixed to his Collection of Old Scottish Poetry, that "To doubt the authenticity of those poems is a refinement in scepticism indeed."

1 The line in Johnson's own draft of the verses (as seen by Croker) runs: Legitimas faciunt pura labella preces; as printed in his works it stands, Sint pro legitimis pura labella sacris. The alteration is in Langton's handwriting, who appears to have edited his friend's Latin verses for the press.

2 The learned and worthy Dr. Lawrence, whom Dr. Johnson respected and loved as his physician and friend. B.

3 My friend has, in this letter, relied upon my testimony, with a confidence of which the ground has escaped my recollection. B.

MACPHERSON'S OSSIAN'

75

by noise and threats, till my last answer,-that I would not be deterred from detecting what I thought a cheat, by the menaces of a ruffian-put an end to our correspondence.

"The state of the question is this. He, and Dr. Blair, whom I consider as deceived, say, that he copied the poem from old manuscripts. His copies, if he had them, and I believe him to have none, are nothing. Where are the manuscripts? They can be shewn if they exist, but they were never shewn. De non existentibus et non apparentibus, says our law, eadem est ratio. No man has a claim to credit upon his own word, when better evidence, if he had it, may be easily produced. But, so far as we can find, the Erse language was never written till very lately for the purposes of religion. A nation that cannot write, or a language that was never written, has no manuscripts.

"But whatever he has he never offered to shew. If old manuscripts should now be mentioned, I should, unless there were more evidence than can be easily had, suppose them another proof of Scotch conspiracy in national falsehood.

"Do not censure the expression; you know it to be true.

"Dr. Memis's question is so narrow as to allow no speculation; and I have no facts before me but those which his advocate has produced against you.

"I consulted this morning the President of the London College of Physicians, who says, that with us, Doctor of Physic (we do not say Doctor of Medicine) is the highest title that a practiser of physic can have; that Doctor implies not only Physician, but teacher of physic; that every Doctor is legally a Physician; but no man, not a Doctor, can practise physic but by licence particularly granted. The Doctorate is a licence of itself. It seems to us a very slender cause of prosecution.

"I am now engaged, but in a little time I hope to do all you would have. My compliments to Madam and Veronica. I am, Sir, your most humble servant,

"February 7, 1775."

"SAM. JOHNSON.

What words were used by Mr. Macpherson in his letter to the venerable Sage, I have never heard; but they are generally said to have been of a nature very different from the language of literary contest. Dr. Johnson's answer appeared in the newspapers of the day, and has since been frequently republished; but not with perfect

accuracy. I give it as dictated to me by himself, written down in his presence, and authenticated by a note in his own handwriting, "This, I think, is a true copy.'

"MR. JAMES MACPHERSON,

"I RECEIVED your foolish and impudent letter. Any violence offered me I shall do my best to repel; and what I cannot do for myself, the law shall do for me. I hope I shall not be deterred from detecting what I think a cheat by the menaces of a ruffian.

"What would you have me retract? I thought your book an imposture; I think it an imposture still. For this opinion I have given my reasons to the public, which I here dare you to refute. Your rage I defy. Your abilities, since your Homer,2 are not so formidable and what I hear of your morals inclines me to pay regard not to what you shall say, but to what you shall prove. You may print this if you will.

"SAM. JOHNSON."

Mr. Macpherson little knew the character of Dr. Johnson, if he supposed that he could be easily intimidated; for no man was ever more remarkable for personal courage. He had, indeed, an awful dread of death, or rather, "of something after death;" and what rational man, who seriously thinks of quitting all that he has ever known, and going into a new and unknown state of being, can be without that dread? But his fear was from reflection; his courage natural. His fear, in that one instance, was the result of philosophical and religious consideration. He feared death, but he feared nothing else, not even what might occasion death. Many instances of his resolution may be mentioned. One day, at Mr. Beauclerk's house in the country, when two large dogs were fighting, he went up to them, and beat them till they separated; and at another time, when told of the

1 I have deposited it in the British Museum. B. This, like all the MSS. which Boswell says he had deposited there, excepting the copy of the letter to Lord Chesterfield, is not in the Museum.

2 Macpherson published, in 1773, a prose translation of the Iliad in two volumes quarto.