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morfels cut out of books as if at random; and when a large extract is made from one place, it furely may be done with very little trouble. One might, I muft acknowledge however, be led from the practice of Reviewers to suppose that they take a pleasure in original writing; for we often find, that inftead of giving an accurate account of what has been done by the author whose work they are reviewing, which is furely the proper bufinefs of a literary journal, they produce fome plaufible and ingenious conceits of their own upon the topicks which have

been difcuffed.

Again talking of the Reviews, Johnfon faid, "I think them very impartial: I do not know an infiance of partiality."-" The Monthly Reviewers (faid he) are not Deifts; but they are Chriftians with as little chriftianity as may be; and are for pulling down all establishments. The Critical Reviewers are for fupporting the conftitution both in Church and State. The Critical Reviewers, I believe, often review without reading the books through; but lay hold of a topick, and write chiefly from their own minds. The Monthly Reviewers are duller men, and are glad to read the books through." Sir Joshua Reynolds faid, that he wondered to find fo much good writing employed in them, when the authors were to remain unknown, and fo could not have the motive

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motive of fame.-JOHNSON. Nay, Sir,

those who write in them write well in order

to be paid well."

He praised Signior Baretti.

"His account

of Italy (faid he) is a very entertaining book; and, Sir, I know no man who carries his head higher in conversation than Baretti. There are ftrong powers in his mind: he has not, indeed, many hooks; but with what hooks he has, he grapples very forcibly."

Mr. B. cenfured a ludicrous fantaftick dialogue between two coach-horses, and other fuch stuff, which Baretti had lately published. Johnson joined and faid, " Nothing odd will do long. Triftram Shandy' did not laft"Mr. B. expreffed a defire to be acquainted with a lady who had been much talked of, and univerfally celebrated for extraordinary address and infinuation. Johnson faid, "Never believe extraordinary characters which you hear of people. Depend upon it, Sir, they are exagge rated. You do not fee one man fhoot a great deal higher than another."-Mr. Burke was mentioned. "Yes (faid Johnson); Burke is an extraordinary man; his ftream of mind is perpetual."-The Doctor's high estimation of the talents of this gentleman was uniform from their early acquaintance. When Mr. Burke was first elected a member of Parliament, and Sir John

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John Hawkins expreffed a wonder at his attaining a feat, Johnfon faid, "Now we who know Mr. Burke know that he will be one of the first men in this country." And once when Johnson was ill, and unable to exert Himfelf as much as ufual without fatigue, Mr. Burke having been mentioned, he faid, "That fellow calls forth all my powers. Were I to fee Burke now it would kill me." So much was he accuftomed to confider conversation as a conteft, and fuch was his notion of Burke as an opponent.

He ufed frequently to obferve, that men might be very eminent in a profeffion without our perceiving any particular power of mind in them in converfation. "It seems ftrange (faid he) that a man fhould fee so far to the right, who fees fo fhort a way to the left. Burke is the only man whofe common converfation correfponds with the general fame which he has in the world. Take whatever topic you pleafe, he is ready to meet you."

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Talking of the wonderful concealment of the author of the letters figned Junius, he said, “I fhould have believed Burke to be Junius, because I know no man but Burke who is capable of writing thefe letters; but Burke fpontaneously denied it to me. The cafe would have been different had I asked him if he was the author; a man fo queftioned, as to an anonymous

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anonymous publication, may think he has a right to deny it *."

* In a work lately published, the following account is given of this writer; who appears to have obtained much more celebrity than the temporary nature of his writings and his virulent acrimony entitled him to.

"The bold affertions and keen invectives with which the papers of Junius abounded throughout contributed greatly to their popularity and fame. They were occafionally attributed to Lord Sackville, to the Right Hon. W. G. Hamilton, to the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, to John Dunning, Esq. and many others; but without the leaft ground or foundation in truth. It is to be obferved of them, that all parties are attacked in them, except the Grenvilles. During their original publication, the writer lived in Norfolk-ftreet, in the Strand, not in affluent circumstances; but he did not write for pecuniary aid. He was a native of Ireland, of an honourable family, and of Trinity College, Dublin. He was at one time intended for the army, and at another for the bar; but private circumftances prevented either taking place. Perhaps no man poffeffed a ftronger memory. He frequently attended Parliament, and the Courts in Westminster Hall; and fometimes he committed to paper the speeches he had heard.When the conteft concerning the Middlefex election had abated, he ceafed to write, which was about the clofe of the year 1771. However, towards the end of the year 1779, he refumed his pen, and wrote a number of political effays, or letters, which he entitled The Whig. They were printed in one of the public papers of that time; they were in number 18; but they died with the other papers of the day. In the year 1791, he went to Madras with Lord Macartney, to whom he had been known in Ireland, and there he died."

The above account, however, we have been affured from authority is not to be relied on. The perfon alluded to was not the author of Junius.

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However Johnson may have cafually talked of Young the poet, yet when he fat, as "an ardent judge zealous to his truft, giving fentence" upon the excellent works of Young, he allowed them the high praife to which they are justly entitled. "The Universal Paffion (fays he) is indeed a very great performance,—his diftichs have the weight of folid fentiment, and his points the sharpness of refiftlefs truth. In his Night Thoughts' he has exhibited a very wide difplay of original poetry, variegated with deep reflections and striking allufions; a wilderness of thought, in which the fertility of fancy fcatters flowers of every hue and of every odour. This is one of the few poems in which blank verfe could not be changed for rhime but with difadvantage. Particular lines are not to be regarded, the power is in the whole, and in the whole there is a magnificence like that afcribed to Chinese plantation, the magnificence of vaft extent and endless diverfity."

Mr. Bofwell goes on to remark, "But there is in this Poem not only all that Johnson fo well brings in view, but a power of the pathetick beyond almost any example that I have feen. He who does not feel his nerves fhaken, and his heart pierced by many paffages in this extraordinary work, particularly by that most affecting

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