The bounds of knowledge marks, and points the way Impressive truth, in splendid fiction drest', The lively image, the deep-searching thought, See that sublime and beautiful tale, "The Prince of Abyssinia," and "Th Rambler," No. 65, 204, &c. &c.—COURTENAY. 2 "The world is disposed to call this a discovery of Dr. Franklin's (from his pa inserted in the "Philosophical Transactions,") but in this they are much mistake Pliny, Plutarch, and other naturalists were acquainted with it.-“Ea natura est ut lucem afferat, ac tranquillat omnia, etiam mare, quo non aliud elementum in cabilius." Memoirs of the Society of Manchester.-COURTENAY. 3 Dr. Johnson's extraordinary facility of composition is well known from many cumstances. He wrote forty pages of the "Life of Savage" in one night. He ar posed seventy lines of his "Imitation of the Tenth Satire of Juvenal," and wrote the down from memory, without altering a word. In the prologue on opening Drury. theatre, he changed but one word, and that in compliment to Mr. Garrick. Some his "Ramblers" were written while the printer's messenger was waiting to carry copy to the press. Many of the "Idlers" were written at Oxford; Dr. Johnson c began his task only just in time not to miss the post, and sent away the reading it over.-COURTENAY. withat paper 4 The dignified and affecting letter written by him to the king in the name of Dodd, after his condemnation, is justly and, I believe, universally admired. His nevolence, indeed, was uniform and unbounded. I have been assured, that he often been so much affected by the sight of several unfortunate women, whom he seen almost perishing in the streets, that he has taken them to his own house; them attended with care and tenderness; and, on their recovery, clothed, and pise them in a way of life to earn their bread by honest industry.-COURTENAY. ante, vol. v. p. 219. Such a circumstance may have happened once, but it is abs to represent it as habitual as Mr. Courtenay has done. Dr. Johnson's house pe was without the superintendence of a respectable lady, who, of course, would not har tolerated any frequent practice of such irregular charity.-ED.] Snatch'd from disease, and want's abandon'd crew, But hark, he sings! the strain even Pope admires; The rapid strains scarce claim'd a second thought; And with a Roman's ardour think and write. While Sky's wild rocks resound his Thralia's name.— "London," a Satire, and "The Vanity of Human Wishes," are both imitated om Juvenal. On the publication of "London" in 1738, Mr. Pope was so much ruck by it, that he desired Mr. Dodsley, his bookseller, to find out the author. odsley having sought him in vain for some time, Mr. Pope said he would very soon deterré. Afterwards Mr. Richardson, the painter, found out Mr. Johnson, and Mr. ope recommended him to Lord Gower.-COURTENAY. See the prologue spoken by Mr. Garrick in 1747, on the opening of Drury-lane eatre. COURTENAY. 3 Inter ignota strepitus loquela." Ode to Mrs. Thrale.-COURTENAY. [See nte, vol. ii. p. 388.-ED.] How few distinguish'd of the studious train And strength and skill compel the foe to yield.-- Even in old age with placid mien rejoice In every trait we see his mind expand; The tuneful piper sounds a martial strain, And Samuel sings, "The king shall have his ain:" A gracious pension only saves the third !— "A good continued speech (says Bacon in his Essays') without a good speech of interlocution, shows slowness; and a good reply, or second speech, without a good settled speech, showeth shallowness and weakness. As we see in beasts, that those th are weakest in the course, are yet nimblest in their turn; as it is betwixt the greyhe and the hare." If this observation be just, Dr. Johnson is an exception to the ru for he was certainly as strong "in the course, as nimble in the turn;" as ready "reply," as in "C a settled speech."-COURTENAY. [See ante, vol. ii. p. 127. Lord St. Helens has since informed the editor, that his father, Mr. Fitzherbert, bai confirmed to him the account of Johnson's failure at the Society of Arts.-ED.] The celebrated Flora Macdonald. See Boswell's Tour.-COURTENAY. 3 See note 1, p. 450.-COURTENAY. By nature's gifts ordain'd mankind to rule, To fame's proud cliff he bade our Raphael rise; Ingenious Hawkesworth to this school we owe, 2 Here early parts accomplish'd Jones sublimes, To friends around his philosophick throne; And lucid vigour mark'd the general style: As Nile's proud waves, swol'n from their oozy bed, 1 Dr. Burney's "History of Musick" is equally distinguished for elegance and perspicuity of style, and for scientific knowledge.-COURTENAY. Sir William Jones produced that learned and ingenious work, "Poeseos Asiaticæ Commentarii," at a very early age.-COURTENAY. 3 "The Hindu God, to whom the following poem is addressed, appears evidently the same with the Grecian Eros and the Roman Cupido. His favourite place of resort is a large tract of country round Agra, and principally the plains of Matra, where Krishen also and the nine Gopia, who are clearly the Apollo and Muses of the Greeks, usually spend the night with music and dance." Preface to the Hymn to Camdeo, translated from the Hindu language into Persian, and re-translated by Sir William Jones. There can be little doubt, considering the antiquity and early civilization of Hindostan, that both the philosophy and beautiful mythology of the Greeks were drawn from that part of Asia.-COURTENAY. Till gathering force, they more and more expand, Thus sings the Muse, to Johnson's memory just, 1 When Dr. Johnson repeated to Mr. Boswell Goldsmith's beautiful eulogium on the English nation, his eyes filled with tears. See the Dissertation on the Bravery of the English common Soldiers, at the end of the "Idler."--COURTENAY. [This imputation is very unjust. Dr. Johnson never seemed to hope" for the restoration of papal authority or the advance of the Roman catholic religion, though he very naturally and properly respected the latter, as one of the great classes of christianity. ED.] 3 It is observable, that Dr. Johnson did not prefix a dedication to any one of his various works. COURTENAY. ["His character lifted him into so much consequence, that it occasioned several respectable writers to dedicate their works to him. This was to receive more reverence than he paid." Tyers. Gent. Mag. Feb. 1785, p. 86. ED.] The papers in the "Adventurer," signed with the letter T, are commonly attri buted to one of Dr. Johnson's earliest and most intimate friends, Mr. Bathurst; but there is good reason to believe that they were written by Dr. Johnson, and given by him to his friend. At that time Dr. Johnson was himself engaged in writing the "Rambler," and could ill afford to make a present of his labours. The various other pieces that he gave away have bestowed fame, and probably fortune, on several persons. To the great disgrace of some of his clerical friends, forty sermons, which he himself tells us he wrote, have not yet been deterrés.-COURTENAY. [See on both the points alluded to in this note ante, vol. i. p. 211; vol. iv. p. 531; vol. i. p. 307; and vol. iv. pp. 32 and 170.-ED.] 5 "Who noble ends by noble means obtains."---Pore. |