JOHNSON TO DR. HEBERDEN. "Lichfield, 13th October, 1784 Though I doubt not but Dr. Brocklesby would communicate to you any incident in the variation of my health which appeared either curious or important, yet I think it time to give you some account of myself. "Not long after the first great efflux of the water, I attained as much vigour of limbs and freedom of breath, that without rest or intermission, I went with Dr. Brocklesby to the top of the painters' Academy. This was the greatest degree of health that I have obtained, and this, if it could continue, were perhaps sufficient; but my breath soon failed, and my body grew weak. "At Oxford (in June) I was much distressed by shortness of breath, so much that I never attempted to scale the Library: the water gained upon me, but by the use of squills was in a great measure driven away. "In July I went to Lichfield, and performed the journey with very little fatigue in the common vehicle, but found no help from my native air. I then removed to Ashbourne, in Derbyshire, where for some time I was oppressed very heavily by the asthma; and the dropsy had advanced so far, that I could not without great difficulty button me at my knees. * * * "No hydropical humour has been lately visible. The relaxation of my breath has not continued as it was at first, but neither do I breathe with the same angustia and distress as before the remission. The summary of my state is this: "I am deprived, by weakness and the asthma, of the power of walking beyond a very short space. "I draw my breath with difficulty upon the least effort, but not with suffocation or pain. "The dropsy still threatens, but gives way to medicine. "The summer has passed without giving me any strength. "My appetite is, I think, less keen than it was, but not so abated as that its decline can be observed by any but myself. "Be pleased to think on me sometimes. I am, Sir, your most obliged and most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." -MS. II. MALONE'S NOTE ON CERTAIN QUOTATIONS.1 THE words occur (as Mr. Bindley observes to me) in the first Eclogue of Mantuanus, "De Honesto Amore," &c. "Id commune malum; semel insanivimus omnes." With the following elucidation of the other saying-Quos Deus (it should rather be, Quem Jupiter) vult perdere, prius dementat Mr. Boswell was furnished by Mr. Richard How, of Apsley, in Bedfordshire, as communicated to that gentleman by his friend, Mr. John Pitts, late rector of Great Brickhill, in Buckingham: "Perhaps no scrap of Latin whatever has been more quoted than this. It occasionally falls even from those who are scrupulous even to pedantry in their Latinity, and will not admit a word into their compositions which has not the sanction of the first age. The word demento is of no authority, either as a verb active or neuter. After a long search, for the purpose of deciding a bet, some gentlemen of Cambridge found it among the fragments of Euripides, in what edition I do not recollect, where it is given as a translation of a Greek Iambic : Ον Θεος θελει απολέσαι, πρωτ' αποφρεναι. "The above scrap was found in the handwriting of a suicide of fashion, Sir D. O., some years ago, lying on the table of the room where he had destroyed himself. The suicide was a man of classical acquirements: he left no other paper behind him." Another of these proverbial sayings, "Incidit in Scyllam, cupiens vitare Charybdim," I, some years ago, in a note on a passage in "The Merchant of Venice," traced to its source. It occurs (with a slight variation) in the "Alexandreis" of Philip Gualtier (a poet of the thirteenth century), which was printed at Lyons in 1558. Darius is the person addressed : 1 See antè, p. 292. : No such line among the Fragments of Euripides; for Euripides wrote Greek, and this is not Greek.-Editor. Rex periture, fugam? nescis, heu ! perdite, nescis Quem fugias: hostes incurris dum fugis hostem; Incidis in Scyllam, cupiens vitare Charybdim." The author of this line was first ascertained by Galleottus Martius, who died in 1476, as is observed in Menagiana, vol. iii. p. 130, edit. 1762. For an account of Philip Gaultier, see Vossius de Poet. Latin., p. 254, fol. 1697. A line, not less frequently quoted than any of the preceding, was suggested for inquiry, several years ago, in a note on "The Rape of Lucrece :" "Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris." But the author of this verse has not, I believe, been discovered.MALONE. III. MALONE'S NOTE REGARDING THE REV. JAMES COMPTON. THE reader will recollect, that in the year 1775, when Dr. Johnson visited France, he was kindly entertained by the English Benedictine monks at Paris. One of that body, the Rev. James Compton, in the course of some conversation with him at that time, asked him, if any of them should become converts to the protestant faith, and should visit England, whether they might hope for a friendly reception from him to which he warmly replied, "that he should receive such a convert most cordially." In consequence of this conversation, Mr. Compton, a few years afterwards, having some doubts concerning the religion in which he had been bred, was induced, by reading the 110th Number of "The Rambler" (on REPENTANCE), to consider the subject more deeply; and the result of his inquiries was, a determination to become a protestant. With this view, in the summer of 1782, he returned to his native country, from whence he had been absent from his sixth to his thirty-fifth year; and on his arrival in London, very scantily provided with the means of subsistence, he immediately repaired to Bolt Court, to visit Dr. Johnson; and having informed him of his desire to be admitted into the Church of England, for this purpose solicited his aid to procure for him an introduction to the Bishop of London, Dr. Lowth. At the time of his first visit, Johnson was so much indisposed, that he could allow him only a short conversation of a few minutes; but he desired him to call again in the course of the following week. When Mr. Compton visited him a second time, he was perfectly recovered from his indisposition; received him with the utmost cordiality; and not only undertook the management of the business in which his friendly interposition had been requested, but with great kindness exerted himself in this gentleman's favour, with a view to his future subsistence, and immediately supplied him with the means of present support. Finding that the proposed introduction to the Bishop of London had from some accidental causes been deferred, lest Mr. Compton, who then lodged at Highgate, should suppose himself neglected, he wrote him the following note : "SIR, "October 6, 1782. "I have directed Dr. Vyse's letter to be sent to you, that you may know the situation of your business. Delays are incident to all affairs; but there appears nothing in your case of either superciliousness or neglect. Dr. Vyse seems to wish you well. I am, &c., "SAM. JOHNSON." Mr. Compton having, by Johnson's advice, quitted Highgate, and settled in London, had now more frequent opportunities of visiting his friend, and profiting by his conversation and advice. Still, however, his means of subsistence being very scanty, Dr. Johnson kindly promised to afford him a decent maintenance, until by his own exertions he should be able to obtain a livelihood; which benevolent offer he accepted, and lived entirely at Johnson's expense till the end of January, 1783; in which month, having previously been introduced to Bishop Lowth, he was received into our communion in St. James's parish church. In the following April, the place of under-master of St. Paul's school having become vacant, his friendly protector did him a more essential service, by writing the following letter in his favour, to the Mercers' Company, in whom the appointment of the undermaster lay : "GENTLEMEN, "Bolt Court, Fleet Street, April 19, 1783. "At the request of the Reverend Mr. James Compton, who now solicits your votes to be elected under-master of St. Paul's school, I testify with great sincerity, that he is, in my opinion, a man of abilities sufficient, and more than sufficient, for the duties of the office for which he is a candidate. I am, &c., "SAM. JOHNSON." Though this testimony in Mr. Compton's favour was not attended with immediate success, yet Johnson's kindness was not without effect; for his letter procured Mr. Compton so many well-wishers in the respectable company of mercers, that he was honoured, by the favour of several of its members, with more applications to teach Latin and French than he could find time to attend to. In 1796, the Rev. Mr. Gilbert, one of his majesty's French chaplains, having accepted a living in Guernsey, nominated Mr. Compton as his substitute at the French chapel of St. James's; which appointment, in April, 1811, he relinquished for a better in the French chapel at Bethnal Green. By the favour of Dr. Porteus, the late excellent Bishop of London, he was also appointed, in 1802, chaplain of the Dutch chapel at St. James's; a station which he still holds.-MALONE. IV. MR. CROKER'S TREATMENT OF "ON Monday, May 26 (1783), I found him at tea, and the celebrated Miss Burney, the author of 'Evelina' and 'Cecilia' with him.” 1 To this simple statement of Boswell, Mr. Croker appended a note (1831-1847), which did not redound to his credit, and which has proved a scandal to those who would preserve literature from the intrusion of unworthy personalities. "It was stated and believed," wrote Mr. Croker, "that she was only seventeen, when she surprised the world by her 'Evelina'; it now appears that she was near twenty-seven-an important difference." It now appears, since, we suppose, the publication of an article in the "Quarterly Review," April, 1833, reviewing Madame d'Arblay's Memoirs of her father, Dr. Burney. In that article Madame d'Arblay was charged with the deliberate suppression of every fact bearing on the determination of the question of her See antè, p. 325. |