in his own hand-writing; and, from internal evidence, I afcribe to him, "To Mifs — on her giving the Authour a gold and filk net-work Purse of her own weaving;t" and, "The happy Life.t"-Most of them have evidently received confiderable additions from his fuperiour pen, particularly "Verfes to Mr. Richardfon, on his Sir Charles Grandifon;" "The Excurfion;""Reflections on a Grave digging in Westminster-Abbey." There is in this collection a poem "On the Death of Stephen Grey, the Electrician ;*” which, on reading it, appeared to me to be undoubtedly Johnson's. I asked Mrs. Williams whether it was not his. "Sir, (faid fhe, with fome warmth,) I wrote that poem before I had the honour of Dr. Johnfon's acquaintance." I, however was fo much impreffed with my firft notion, that I mentioned it to Johnfon, repeating, at the fame time, what Mrs. Williams had faid. His answer was, "It is true, Sir, that she wrote it before fhe was acquainted with me; but he has not told you that I wrote it all over again, except two lines." "The Fountains,t" a beautiful little Fairy tale in profe, written with exquifite fimplicity, is one of Johnson's productions; and I cannot with-hold from Mrs. Thrale the praise of being the authour of that admirable poem, "The Three Warnings." He wrote this year a letter not intended for publication, which has, perhaps, as ftrong marks of his fentiment and style, as any of his compofitions. The original is in my poffeffion. It is addreffed to the late Mr. William Drummond, bookseller in Edinburgh, a gentleman of good family, but small eftate, who took arms for the houfe of Stuart in 1745; and during his concealment in London till the act of general pardon came out, obtained the acquaintance of Dr. Johnson, who justly esteemed him as a very worthy man. It feems, fome of the members of the fociety in Scotland for propagating Christian knowledge had oppofed the scheme of tranflating the holy fcriptures into the Erfe or Gaelick language, from political confiderations of the difadvantage of keeping up the distinction between the Highlanders and the other inhabitants of North-Britain. Dr. Johnson being informed of this, I suppose by Mr. Drummond, wrote with a generous indignation as follows: To Mr. WILLIAM DRUMMOND. "SIR, "I DID not expect to hear that it could be, in an affembly convened for the propagation of Christian knowledge, a question whether any nation uninstructed in religion fhould receive inftruction; or whether that instruction fhould fhould be imparted to them by a translation of the holy books into their own language. If obedience to the will of GOD be neceffary to happiness, and knowledge of his will be neceffary to obedience, I know not how he that with-holds this knowledge, or delays it, can be faid to love his neighbour as himself. He, that voluntarily continues ignorance, is guilty of all the crimes which ignorance produces; as to him, that fhould extinguish the tapers of a light-house, might juftly be imputed the calamities of fhipwrecks. Christianity is the highest perfection of humanity; and as no man is good but as he wishes the good of others, no man can be good in the highest degree, who wishes not to others the largest measures of the greatest good. To omit for a year, or for a day, the most efficacious method of advancing Christianity, in compliance with any purposes that terminate on this fide of the grave, is a crime of which I know not that the world has yet had an example, except in the practice of the planters of America, a race of mortals whom, I fuppofe, no other man wishes to resemble. "The Papifts have, indeed, denied to the laity the use of the bible; but this prohibition, in few places now very rigorously enforced, is defended by arguments, which have for their foundation the care of fouls. To obfcure,. upon motives merely political, the light of revelation, is a practice reserved for the reformed; and, furely, the blackest midnight of popery is meridian sunshine to such a reformation. I am not very willing that any language should be totally extinguished. The fimilitude and derivation of languages afford the most indubitable proof of the traduction of nations, and the genealogy of mankind. They add often physical certainty to historical evidence; and often fupply the only evidence of ancient migrations, and of the revolutions of ages which left no written monuments behind them. Every man's opinions, at least his defires, are a little influenced by his favourite ftudies. My zeal for languages may feem, perhaps, rather overheated, even to those by whom I defire to be well efteemed. To those who have nothing in their thoughts but trade or policy, prefent power, or present money, I should not think it neceffary to defend my opinions; but with men of letters I would not unwillingly compound, by wishing the continuance of every language, however narrow in its extent, or however incommodious for common purposes, till it is repofited in fome verfion of a known book, that it may be always hereafter examined and compared with other languages, and then permitting its difufe. For this purpose, the tranflation of the bible is moft to be defired. It is not certain that the fame method will not preferve the Highland language, for the purposes of learning, and abolish it from 1767. daily use. When the Highlanders read the Bible, they will naturally wish to Etat. 56. have its obfcurities cleared, and to know the history, collateral or appendant. Knowledge always defires increase: it is like fire, which must first be kindled by fome external agent, but which will afterwards propagate itself. When they once defire to learn, they will naturally have recourse to the nearest language by which that defire can be gratified; and one will tell another that if he would attain knowledge, he must learn English. "This fpeculation may, perhaps, be thought more fubtle than the groffness of real life will easily admit. Let it, however, be remembered, that the efficacy of ignorance has been long tried, and has not produced the confequence expected. Let knowledge, therefore, take its turn; and let the patrons of privation stand awhile aside, and admit the operation of positive principles. "You will be pleased, Sir, to affure the worthy man who is employed in the new translation, that he has my wifhes for his fuccefs; and if here or at Oxford I can be of any use, that I shall think it more than honour to promote his undertaking. "I am forry that I delayed fo long to write. I am, Sir, "Johnson's-court, Fleet-street, Aug. 13, 1766. SAM. JOHNSON." The opponents of this pious fcheme being made afhamed of their conduct, the benevolent undertaking was allowed to go on. The following letters, though not written till the year after, being chiefly upon the fame fubject, are here inferted. "DEAR SIR, To Mr. WILLIAM DRUMMOND. "THAT my letter fhould have had fuch effects as you mention, gives me great pleasure. I hope you do not flatter me by imputing to me more good than I have really done. Those whom my arguments have perfuaded to change their opinion, fhow fuch modefty and candour as deserve great praise. "I hope the worthy tranflator goes diligently forward. He has a higher reward in prospect, than any honours which this world can beftow. I wish I could be useful to him. "The publication of my letter, if it could be of use in a cause to which all other caufes are nothing, I fhould not prohibit. But first, I would have you you confider whether the publication will really do any good; next, whether by printing and diftributing a very small number, you may not attain all that you propofe; and, what perhaps I fhould have faid firft, whether the letter, which I do not now perfectly remember, be fit to be printed. "If you can confult Dr. Robertfon, to whom I am a little known, I fhall be fatisfied about the propriety of whatever he fhall direct. If he thinks that it fhould be printed, I entreat him to revife it; there may, perhaps, be fome negligent lines written, and whatever is amifs, he knows very well how to rectify 3. "Be pleased to let me know, from time to time, how this excellent defign goes forward. "Make my compliments to young Mr. Drummond, whom I hope you will live to fee fuch as you defire him. "I have not lately feen Mr. Elphinfton, but believe him to be profperous. I fhall be glad to hear the fame of you, for I am, Sir, "Your affectionate humble fervant, 1766. Etat. 57. "Johnfon's-court, Fleet-ftreet, April 21, 1767. To the fame. SAM. JOHNSON." SIR, "I RETURNED this week from the country, after an absence of near fix months, and found your letter, with many others, which I fhould have answered fooner, if I had sooner feen them. "Dr. Robertfon's opinion was furely right. Men fhould not be told of the faults which they have mended. I am glad the old language is taught, and honour the translator as a man whom God has distinguished by the high office of propagating his word. "I must take the liberty of engaging you in an office of charity. Mrs. Heely, the wife of Mr. Heely, who had lately fome office in your theatre, is my near relation, and now in great diftrefs. They wrote me word of their fituation fome time ago, to which I returned them an answer which raised hopes of more than it is proper for me to give them. Their reprefentation of their affairs I have difcovered to be fuch as cannot be trufted; and at this diftance, though their cafe requires hafte, I know not how to act. She, or her daughters, may be heard of at Canongate Head. I muft beg, Sir, that you will enquire 3 This paragraph fhews Johnson's real eftimation of the character and abilities of the celebrated Scottish Historian, however lightly, in a moment of caprice, he may have spoken of his works. 1766. after them, and let me know what is to be done. I am willing to go to ten Etat. 57. pounds, and will tranfmit you such a sum, if upon examination you find it likely to be of use. If they are in immediate want, advance them what you think proper. What I could do, I would do for the women, having no great reafon to pay much regard to Heely himself. "I believe you may receive fome intelligence from Mrs. Baker, of the theatre, whofe letter I received at the fame time with yours, and to whom, you see her, you will make my excufe for the seeming neglect of answering her. if "Whatever you advance within ten pounds fhall be immediately returned to you, or paid as you fhall order. I trust wholly to your judgement. "I am, Sir, &c. "London, Johnson's-court, Fleet ftreet, Oct. 24, 1767. SAM. JOHNSON." Mr. Cuthbert Shaw, alike diftinguished by his genius, misfortunes, and misconduct, published this year a poem, called "The Race, by Mercurius. Spur, Efq." in which he whimsically made the living poets of England contend for pre-eminence of fame by running: "Prove by their heels the prowefs of the head." In this poem there was the following portrait of Johnson: "The Nine, with terror ftruck, who ne'er had seen, This is the perfon concerning whom Sir John Hawkins has thrown out very unwarrantable reflections both against Dr. Johnson and Mr. Francis Barber. 5 See an account of him in the European Magazine, January, 1786. |