"The wide effulgence of [the blazing] a summer noon." In the Life of WALLER, Johnson gives a distinct and animated narrative of public affairs in that variegated period, with strong yet nice touches of character; and having a fair opportunity to display his political principles, does it with an unqualified manly confidence, and satisfies his readers how nobly he might have executed a Tory History of his country. So easy is his style in these Lives, that I | 66 of Milton's great excellence as a poet, where shall we find such a blazon as by the hand of Johnson? I shall select only the following passage concerning “ Paradise Lost:" with what temper Milton surveyed the "Fancy can hardly forbear to conjecture silent progress of his work, and marked his reputation stealing its way in a kind of subterraneous current, through fear and silence. dent, little disappointed, not at all dejected, I cannot but conceive him calm and confirelying on his own merit with steady consciousness, and waiting without impatience, the vicissitudes of opinion, and the impartiality of a future generation." considered as one of the warmest zealots of Indeed even Dr. Towers, who may be The Revolution Society itself, allows, that of the abilities of that great poet, and has "Johnson has spoken in the highest terms bestowed on his principal poetical compositions the most honourable encomiums."* and monarchy as Johnson did, should speak tician, or rather as a daring foe to good powith a just abhorrence of Milton as a polility, was surely to be expected; and to those who censure him, I would recommend complaint of his situation, when by the his commentary on Milton's celebrated as easy as any others; and that a language of which (as Johnson well observes) the lenity of Charles the Second, "a lenity is richer and capable of more beauty of expression, by having a greater variety of sy-he, who had written in justification of the world has had perhaps no other example, do not recollect more than three uncommon or learned words; one, when giving an account of the approach of Waller's mortal disease, he says, "he found his legs grow tumid," by using the expression his legs swelled, he would have avoided this; and there would have been no impropriety in its being followed by the interesting question to his physician, "What that swelling meant?" Another, when he mentions that Pope had emitted proposals; when published, or issued, would have been more readily understood; and a third, when he calls Orrery and Dr. Delany, writers both undoubtedly veracious; when true, honest, or faithful, might have been used. Yet, it must be owned, that none of these are hard or too big words: that custom would make them seem nonimes. His dissertation upon the unfitness of poetry for the awful subjects of our holy religion, though I do not entirely agree with him, has all the merit of originality, with uncommon force and reasoning. Various Readings in the Life of Waller. "Consented to [the insertion of their names] their own nomination. “[After] paying a fine of ten thousand pounds. "Congratulating Charles the Second on his [coronation] recovered right. "He that has flattery ready for all whom the vicissitudes of the world happen to exalt, must be [confessed to degrade his powers] scorned as a prostituted mind. "The characters by which Waller intended to distinguish his writings are [ele. gance] sprightliness and dignity. Blossoms to be valued only as they [fetch] foretell fruits. Images such as the superficies of nature [easily] readily supplies. [His] Some applications [are sometimes] nay be thought too remote and unconsequenial. His images are [sometimes confused] not always distinct." Against his Life of MILTON, the hounds of Whiggism have opened in full cry. But That a man, who venerated the church murder of his Sovereign, was safe under an than he finds himself in danger, fallen on Act of Oblivion." "No sooner is he safe evil days and evil tongues, with darkness and with dangers compassed round. This darkness, had his eyes been better employed, had undoubtedly deserved compassion; but to add unjust. He was fallen, indeed, on evil days; the mention of danger, was ungrateful and the time was come in which regicides could no longer boast their wickedness. But of evil tongues for Milton to complain, required impudence at least equal to his other powers; Milton, whose warmest advocates See "An Essay on the Life, Character, and Writings of Dr. Samuel Johnson," London, 1787; which is very well written, making a proper allowance for the democratical bigotry of its author: whom I cannot however but admire for his liberality in speaking thus of my il lustrious friend: "He possessed extraordinary powers of understanding, which were much cultivated by study, and still more by meditation and reflection. His memory was remarkably retentive, his imagination uncommonly vigorous, and his judgment keen and penetrating. He had a strong sense of the importance of religion; his piety was sincere, and sometimes ardent; and his zeal for the interests of virtue was often manifested in his conversation and in his writings. The same energy which was displayed in his literary productions was exhibited also in his conversation, which was various, striking, and instructive; and perhaps no man ever equalled him for nervous and pointed repartees. "His Dictionary, his moral Essays, and his productions in polite literature, will convey useful instruction and elegant entertainment, as long as the language in which they are written shall be understood." 66 must allow, that he never spared any aspe- | In the life of Milton, Johnson took occasion to maintain his own and the general opinion of the excellence of rhyme over blank verse, in English poetry; and quotes this opposite illustration of it by "an ingenious critic," that it seems to be verse only to the eye. The gentleman whom he thus characterises, is (as he told Mr. Seward) Mr. Lock, of Norbury Park, in Surrey, whose knowledge and taste in the fine arts is universally celebrated; with whose ele. gance of manners the writer of the present work has felt himself much impressed, and to whose virtues a common friend, who has known him long, and is not much addicted to flattery, gives the highest testimony. Various Readings in the Life of MILTON. "I cannot find any meaning but this which [his most bigoted advocates] even kindness and reverence can give. "[Perhaps no] scarcely any man ever wrote so much, and praised so few. "A certain [rescue] preservative from oblivion. "Let me not be censured for this digression, as [contracted] pedantic or paradoxical. "Socrates rather was of opinion, that what we had to learn was how to [obtain and communicate happiness] do good and avoid evil. "Its elegance [who can exhibit?] is less masterly execution of the Life of DRYDEN, which we have seen was one of Johnson s literary projects at an early period, and which it is remarkable, that after desisting from it, from a supposed scantiness of materials, he should, at an advanced age, have exhibited so amply. His defence of that great poet against the illiberal attacks upon him, as if his embracing the Roman Catholic communion had been a time-serving measure, is a piece of reasoning at once able and candid. Indeed, Dryden himself, in his "Hind and Panther," hath given such a picture of his mind, that they who know the anxiety for repose as to the awful subject of our state beyond the grave, though they may think his opinion ill-founded, must think charitably of his sentiment : "BUT, gracious GOD, how well dost thou provide Whom thou hast promis'd never to forsake. In drawing Dryden's character, Johnson has given, though I suppose unintentionally, some touches of his own. Thus: "The power that predominated in his intellectual operations was rather strong reason than quick sensibility. Upon all occasions that were presented, he studied rather than felt; and produced sentiments not such as Nature enforces, but meditation supplies. With the simple and elemental passions as they spring separate in the mind, he seems not much acquainted. He is, therefore, with all his variety of excellence, not often pathetic;¶ and had so little sensibility of the power of effusions purely natural, that he did not esteem them in others."-It may indeed be observed, that in all the numerous writings of Johnson, whether in prose or verse, and even in his Tragedy, of which the subject is the distress of an unfortunate Princess, there is not a single passage that ever drew a tear. disputation, [matter] thoughts flowed in on either side. "The abyss of an un-ideal [emptiness] vacancy. "These, like [many other harlots,] the harlots of other men, had his love, though not his approbation. It seems strange, that two such men as Johnson and Warburton, who lived in the same age and country, should not only not have been in any degree of intimacy, but been almost personally unacquainted. But such instances, though we must wonder at them, are not rare. If I am rightly inform "He [sometimes displays] descends to dis-ed, after a careful inquiry, they never met play his knowledge with pedantic ostenta tion. “French words which [were then used in] had then crept into conversation." The Life of Pope was written by Johnson con amore, both from the early possession which that writer had taken of his mind, and from the pleasure which he must have felt, in for ever silencing all attempts to lessen his poetical fame, by demonstrating his excellence, and pronouncing the following triumphant eulogium: -"After all this, it is surely superfluous to answer the question that has once been asked, Whether Pope was a poet? otherwise than by asking in return, if Pope be not a poet, where is poetry to be found? To circumscribe poetry by a definition, will only shew the narrowness of the definer; though a definition which shall exclude Pope, will not easily be made. Let us look round upon the present time, and back upon the past; let us inquire to whom the voice of mankind has decreed the wreath of poetry; let their productions be examined, and their claims stated, and the pretensions of Pope will be no more disputed." I remember once to have heard Johnson say, "Sir, a thousand years may elapse before there shall appear another man with a power of versification equal to that of Pope." That power must undoubtedly be allowed its due share in enhancing the value of his captivating composition. Johnson who had done liberal justice to Warburton in his edition of Shakspeare, which was published during the life of that powerful writer, with still greater liberality, took an opportunitity, in the life of Pope, of paying the tribute due to him when he was no longer in "high place," but numbered with the dead. • Of Johnson's conduct towards Warburton, a very honourable notice is taken by the Editor of "Tracts by Warburton, and a Warburtonian, not admitted into the Collection of their respective Works." After an able and fond, though not undistinguishing," consideration of Warburton's character, he says, "In two immortal works, Johnson has stood forth in the foremost rank of his admirers. By the testimony of such a man, impertinence must be abashed, and malignity itself must be softened. Of literary merit, Johnson, as we all know, was a sagacious, but a most severe judge. Such was his discernment, that he pierced into the most secret springs of human actions; and such was his integrity that he always weighed the moral characters of his fellow-creatures in the balance of the sanctuary.' He was too courageous to propitiate a rival, and too proud to trucle to a superior. Warburton he knew, as I know him, and as every man of sense and virtue would wish to be known,-I mean, both from his own writings, and from the writings of those who dissented from his principles, er who envied his reputation. But, as to favours, he but once, which was at the house of Mrs. French, in London, well known for her elegant assemblies, and bringing eminent characters together. The interview proved to be mutually agreeable. I am well informed, that Warburton said of Johnson, "I admire him, but I cannot bear his style:" and that Johnson being told of this, said, "That is exactly my case as to him.' The manner in which he expressed his admiration of the fertility of Warburton's genius and of the variety of his materials, was, "The table is always full, Sir. He brings things from the north, and the south, and from every quarter. In his "Divine Legation," you are always entertained. He carries you round and round without carrying you forward to the point; but then you have no wish to be carried forward." He said to the Reverend Mr. Strahan, "Warburton is perhaps the last man who has written with a mind full of reading and reflection." It is remarkable, that in the Life of Broome, Johnson takes notice of Dr. Warburton using a mode of expression which he himself used, and that not seldom, to the had never received or asked any from the bishop of Gloucester: and, if my memory fails me not, he had seen him only once, when they met almost without design, conversed without much effort, and parted without all the ardour of sympathetic genius, Johnson had done any lasting impresion of hatred or affection. Yet, with that spontaneously and ably, which, by some writers, had been before attempted injudiciously, and which, by others, from whom more successful attempts night have been expected, has not hitherto been done at all. He spoke well of Warburton, without insulting those whom tions of this extraordinary man, while he endeavoured Warburton despised. He suppressed not the imperfecto do justice to his numerous and transcendental excellencies. He defended him when living, amidst the clamours of his enemies; and praised him when dead, amidst the silence of his friends." Having availed himself of this editor's eulogy on my departed friend, for which I warmly thank him, let me not suffer the lustre of his reputation, honestly acquired by profound learning and vigorous eloquence, to be tarnished by a charge of illiberality. He has been accused of invidiously dragging again into light certain writings of a person respectable by his talents, his learning, his station, and his age, which were published a great many years ago, and have since, it is said, been silently given up by their author. But when it is considered that these writings were not sins of youth, but deliberate works of one well-advanced in life, overflowing at once with flattery to a great man of great interest in the Church, and with unjust and acrimonious abuse or two men of eminent merit; and that, though it would have been unreasonable to expect an humiliating recantation, no apology whatever has been made in the cool of the evening, for the oppressive fervour of the heat of the day; no slight relenting indication has appeared in any note, or any corner of later publications; is it not fair to understand him as 'superciliously persevering? When he allows the shafts to remain in the wounds, and will not stretch forth a lenient hand, is it wrong, is it not generous to become an indignant avenger ? great offence of those who did not know | and was exceedingly gay and entertaining him. Having occasion to mention a note, stating the different parts which were executed by the associated translators of "The Odyssey," he says, "Dr. Warburton told me, in his warm language, that he thought the relation given in the note a lie. The language is warm indeed; and, I must own, cannot be justified in consistency with a decent regard to the established forms of speech." Johnson had accustomed himself to use the word lie, to express a mistake or an error in relation; in short, when the thing was not so as told, though the relator did not mean to deceive. When he thought there was intentional falsehood in the relator, his expression was, "He lies, and he knows he lies." Speaking of Pope's not having been known to excel in conversation, Johnson observes, that, "traditional memory retains no sallies of raillery, or sentences of observation; nothing either pointed or solid, wise or merry; and that one apophthegm only is recorded." In this respect, Pope differed widely from Johnson, whose conversation was, perhaps, more admirable than even his writings, however excellent. Mr. Wilkes has, however, favoured me with one repartee of Pope, of which Johnson was not informed. Johnson, after justly censuring him for having" nursed in his mind a foolish disesteem of Kings," tells us, "yet a little regard shewn him by the Prince of Wales melted his obduracy; and he had not much to say when he was asked by his Royal Highness, How he could love a Prince, while he disliked Kings ?" The answer which Pope made, was, "The young lion is harmless, and even playful; but when his claws are full grown he becomes cruel, dreadful, and mischievous." But although we have no collection of Pope's sayings, it is not therefore to be concluded, that he was not agreeable in social intercourse; for Johnson has been heard to say, that," the happiest conversation is that of which nothing is distinctly remembered, but a general effect of pleasing impression." The late Lord Somerville,* who saw much of great and brilliant life, told me, that he had dined in company with Pope, and that after dinner the little man, as he called him, drank his bottle of Burgundy, [James Lord Somerville who died in 1766. M.] Let me here express my grateful remembrance of Lord Somerville's kindness to me, at a very early period. He was the first person of high rank that took particular notice of me in the way most flattering to a young man fondly ambitious of being distinguished for his literary talents; and by the honour of his encouragement made me think well of myself, and aspire to deserve it better. He had a happy art of communicating his varied knowledge of the world, in short remarks and anecdotes, with a quiet pleasant gravity that was exceedingly engaging. Never shall I forget the hours which I enjoyed with him at his apartments in the Royal Palace of Holy-Rood House, and at his seat near Edinburgh, which he him. self had formed with an elegant taste. I cannot withhold from my great friend a censure of at least culpable inattention, to a nobleman, who, it has been shewn, behav. ed to him with uncommon politeness. He says, "Except Lord Bathurst, none of Pope's noble friends were such as that a good man would wish to have his intimacy with them known to posterity." This will not apply to Lord Mansfield, who was not ennobled in Pope's life time; but Johnson should have recollected, that Lord Marchmont was one of those noble friends. He includes his Lordship along with Lord Bolingbroke, in a charge of neglect of the papers which Pope left by his will; when, in truth, as I myself pointed out to him, before he wrote that poet's life, the papers were "committed to the sole care and judgement of Lord Bolingbroke, unless he (Lord Bolingbroke) shall not survive me ;" so that Lord Marchmont had no concern whatever with them. After the first edition of the Lives, Mr. Malone, whose love of justice is equal to his accuracy, made, in my hearing, the same remark to Johnson; yet he omitted to correct the erroneous statement. + These particulars I mention, in the belief that there was only forgetfulness in my friend; but I owe this much to the Earl of Marchmont's reputation, who, were there no other memorials, will be immortalized by that line of Pope, in the verses on his Grotto: "And the bright flame was shot through Marchmont's soul." "His hopes and fears, his joys and sorrows [were like those of other mortals] acted strongly upon his mind. 66 Eager to pursue knowledge and attentive to accumulate] retain it. "A mind [excursive] active, ambitious, and adventurous. "In its [noblest] widest searches still longing to go forward. "He wrote in such a manner as might expose him to few [neglects] hazards. "The [reasonableness] justice of my determination. "A [favourite] delicious employment of the poets. More terrific and more powerful [beings] phantoms perform on the stormy ocean. The inventor of [those] this petty [beings] nation. The [mind] heart naturally loves truth." In the Life of ADDISON we find an unpleasing account of his having lent Steele a hundred pounds, and "reclaimed his loan by an execution." In the new edition of the Biographia Britannica, the authenticity of this anecdote is denied. But Mr. Ma down in despondency, and think it utterly The last paragraph of this note is of great importance; and I request that my readers It will be afterwards referred to in this work. may consider it with particular attention. Various Readings in the Life of ADDISON. however, one of our earliest examples of cor"[But he was our first example] He was. rectness. "And [overlook] despise their masters. "His instructions were such as the [state] character of his [own time] readers made [necessary] proper. lone has obliged me with the following noterary concerning it : Many persons having doubts concerning this fact, I applied to Dr. Johnson, to learn on what authority he asserted it. He told me, he had it from Savage, who lived in intimacy with Steele, and who mentioned, that Steele told him the story with tears in his eyes.-Ben Victor, Dr. Johnson said, likewise informed him of this remarkable transaction, from the relation of Mr. Wilkes, the comedian, who was also an intimate of Steele's.-Some, in defence of Addison, have said, that the act was done with the good-natured view of rousing Steele, and correcting that profusion which always made him necessitous. If that were the case, (said Johnson,) and that he only wanted to alarm Steele, he would afterwards have returned the money to his friend, which t is not pretended he did.'- This, too, (he added.) might be retorted by an advocate or Steele, who might allege, that he did not epay the loan intentionally, merely to see whether Addison would be mean and ungeerous enough to make use of legal process o recover it. But of such speculations here is no end: we cannot dive into the earts of men; but their actions are open > observation.' "I then mentioned to him that some peole thought that Mr. Addison's character as so pure, that the fact, though true, ought › have been suppressed. He saw no reason r this. If nothing but the bright side of aracters should be shewn, we should sit [The late Mr. Burke informed me, in 1792, that ty Dorothea Primrose, who died at a great age, I nk in 1768, and had been well acquainted with Steele, d him the same story. M.] "His purpose was to [diffuse] infuse litecuriosity by gentle and unsuspected conveyance [among] into the gay, the idle, and the wealthy. "Framed rather for those that [wish] are learning to write. "Domestic [manners] scenes." In his Life of PARNELI, I wonder that Johnson omitted to insert an Epitaph which he had long before composed for that amiable man, without ever writing it down, but which he was so good as, at my request, to dictate to me, by which means it has been preserved. "Hic requiescit THOMAS PARNELL, S. T. P. Ut neque sacerdoti suavitas poetæ, Nec poetæ sacerdotis sanctitas, deesset." Various Readings in the Life of PARNELL. "About three years [after] afterwards. [Did not much want] was in no great need of improvement. 66 clouded with that which took away all his "But his prosperity did not last long [was powers of enjoying either profit or pleasure, the death of his wife, whom he is said to have lamented with such sorrow, as hastened his end. ]+ His end, whatever was the cause, was now approaching. "In the Hermit, the [composition] narrative, as it is less airy, is less pleasing." In the Life of BLACKMORE, we find that I should have thought that Johnson, who had felt the severe affliction from which Parnell never recovered, would have preserved this passage. [He omitted it, doubtless, because he afterwards learnt that, however he might have lamented his wife, his end M.7 was hastened by other means. |