LETTER XXII,

To THE DUKE OF ARGY L E.

MY LORD,

THAT kindnefs which difpofed your Grace to fupply me with the hoife, which I have now returned, will make you pleased to hear that he has carried me well.

By my diligence in the little commiffion with which I was honoured by the Duchefs, I will endeavour, to fhew how highly I value the fayours which I have received, and how much I defire to be thought,

MR. BOSWELL has this day fhewn me a letter, in which you complain of a paffage in "the Journey to the Hebrides." My meaning is mistaken. I did not intend to fay that you had perfonally made any ceffion of the rights of your houfe, or any acknowledgment of the fuperiority of M'Leod of Dunvegan. I only defigned to express what I thought generally ad

mitted that the houfe of Rafay allowed the fuperiority of the house of Dunvegan. Even this I now find to be erroneous, and will therefore omit or retract it in the next edition.

Though what I had faid had been true, if it had been difagreeable to you, I fhould have wifhed it unfaid; for it is not my business to adjust precedence. As it is mistaken, I find myfelf difpofed to correct it, both by my respect for you, and my reverence for truth,

As I know not when the book will be reprinted, I have defired Mr. Bofwell to anticipate the correction in the Edinburgh Papers *. This is all that can be done.

I hope I may now venture to defire that my compliments may be made, and my gratitude expreffed, to Lady Rafay, Mr. Malcolm, M'Leod, M'Donald, M'Queen, and all the Gentlemen and all the Ladies whom I faw in the Inland of Rafay; a place which I remember with too much pleasure and too much kindnefs, not to be forry that my ignorance, or hafty perfuafion, fhould for a fingle moment, have violated its tranquillity.

I beg you all to forgive an undefigned and involuntary injury, and to confider me as, SIR,

Your most obliged, and

London, May 6, 1775.

moft humble fervant,

SAM. JOHNSON.

The following was Dr. Johnfon's Advertisement.-The author of The Journey to the Western Islands having related that the M'Leods of Rafay acknowledge the chieftainfhip or fuperiority of the McLeods of Skie, finds that he has been mifinformed or mistaken. He means in a future edition to correct his error, and wishes to be told of more, if more have been discovered.

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LETTER

LETTER

Το

SIR,

XXIV,

London, 7th July, 1777,

TO the Collection of English Poets I have recommended the volume of Dr. Watts to be added. His name has been long held by me in veneration; and I would not willingly be reduced to tell of him, only, that he was born and died. Yet, of his life I know very little; and therefore must pass him in a manner very unworthy of his character, unless fome of his friends will favour me with the neceffary information. Many of them must be known to you; and by your influence perhaps I may obtain fome inftruction. My plan does not exact much; but I wish to diftinguifh Watts; a man who never wrote but for a good purpose. Be pleased to do for me what you can.

HAVING myself fuffered what you are now fuffering, well know the weight of your diftrefs, how

much

much need you have of comfort, and how little comfort can be given. A lofs, fuch as yours, lacerates the mind, and breaks the whole fyftem of purpofes and hopes, It leaves a difmal vacuity in life, which affords. nothing on which the affections can fix, or to which endeavour may be directed. All this I have known, and it is now, in the viciffitude of things, your turn to know it.

But in the condition of mortal beings, one must lose another. What would be the wretchednefs of life, if there was not fomething always in view, fome Being, immutable and unfailing, to whofe mercy man may have recourfe. Τὸν πρῶτον κινἕνα ἀκίνητον.

Here we must reft. The greatest Being is the most benevolent. We must not grieve for the dead as men without hope, because we know they are in his hands. We have, indeed, not leifure to grieve long, because we are haftening to follow them. Your race and mine have been interrupted by many obftacles, but we must humbly hope for an happy end,

MR. WILLIAM SHAW, the Gentleman from whom you will receive this, is a ftudious and literary

Vicar of St. Nicholas, Rochefter,

man;

man; he is a stranger, and will be glad to be introduced into proper company; and he is my friend, and any civility you fhall fhew him will be an obligation on,

NOT many days ago Dr. L. fhewed me a letter, in which you make kind mention of me; I hope therefore you you will not be difpleafed that I endeavour to preferve your good will by fome obfervations which your letter fuggefted to me,

You are afraid of falling into fome improprieties in the daily fervice, by reading to an audience that requires no exactness. Your fear, I hope, fecures you from danger. They who contract abfurd habits, are fuch as have no fear. It is impoffible to do the fame thing very often without fome peculiarity of manner; but that manner may be good or bad, and a little care will at least preferve it from being bad; to make it very good, there muft, I think, be fomething of natural or cafual felicity which cannot be taught.

Your prefent method of making your fermons feems very judicious. Few frequent preachers can be fup

pofed