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SOLD BY COLLINS, KEESE & CO., NEW YORK; OTIS, BROADERS & CO., BOSTON ;
THOMAS, COWPERTHWAIT & CO., PHILADELPHIA.

1843.

KH 35

HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY SHELDON FUND

JULY 10, 1940

THE

LIFE

OF

SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL. D.

I PASSED many hours with him on the 17th, [May], of which I find all my memorial is, "much laughing." It should seem he had that day been in a humour for jocularity and merriment, and upon such occasions I never knew a man laugh more heartily. We may suppose that the high relish of a state so different from his habitual gloom produced more than ordinary exertions of that distinguishing faculty of man, which has puzzled philosophers so much to explain. Johnson's laugh was as remarkable as any circumstance in his manner. It was a kind of good-humoured growl. Tom Davies described it drolly enough: "He laughs like a rhinoceros."

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66

4 18

"I am not sorry that you read Boswell's journal. Is it not a merry piece? There is much in it about poor me. Do not buy C- -'s2 Travels; they are dulier than T- 's 3. W too fond of words, but you may read him. I shall take care that Adair's account of America may be sent you, for I shall have it of my own.

"Beattie has called once to see me. He lives grand at the archbishop's."]

"TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

"27th May, 1775.

"DEAR SIR, I make no doubt but you are now safely lodged in your own habitation, and have told all your adventures to Mrs. Boswell and Miss Veronica. Pray teach Veronica to love me. Bid her not mind mamma.

"Mrs. Thrale has taken cold, and been very much disordered, but I hope is grown well. Mr. Langton went yesterday to Lincolnshire, and has invited Nicolaida 5 to follow him. Beauclerk talks of going to Bath. I am to set out on Monday; so there is nothing but dispersion.

"I have returned Lord Hailes's entertaining sheets, but must stay till I come back for more, because it will be inconvenient to send them after me in my vagrant state.

"I promised Mrs. Macaulay that I

2 [Probably "Chandler's Travels in Asia Minor."-ED.]

3 [Probably "Travels through Spain and Portugal in 1772 and 1775, by Richard Twiss, Esq." -ED.]

4 [Probably "Cursory Remarks made in a Tour through some of the Northern Parts of Europe, by Nathaniel Wraxall, jun."—ED.]

5 A learned Greek.-BOSWELL. [Mr. Langton was an enthusiast about Greek.-ED.]

6 Wife of the Reverend Mr. Kenneth Macaulay, author of "The History of St. Kilda.”— BOSWELL.

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would try to serve her son at Oxford. I have not forgotten it, nor am unwilling to perform it. If they desire to give him an English education, it should be considered whether they cannot send him for a year or two to an English school. If he comes immediately from Scotland, he can make no figure in our Universities. The schools in the north, I believe, are cheap, and when I was a young man, were eminently good. "There are two little books published by the Foulis, Telemachus and Collins's Poems, each a shilling; I would be glad to have them.

"Make my compliments to Mrs. Boswell, though she does not love me. You see what perverse things ladies are, and how little fit to be trusted with feudal estates. When she mends and loves me, there may be more hope of her daughters.

"I will not send compliments to my friends by name, because I would be loth to leave any out in the enumeration. Tell them, as you see them, how well I speak of Scotch politeness, and Scotch hospitality, and Scotch beauty, and of every thing Scotch, but Scotch oat-cakes and Scotch prejudices.

"Let me know the answer of Rasay, and the decision relating to Sir Allan1. I am, my dearest sir, with great affection, your most obliged and most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON."

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"Here I am, and how to get away I do not see, for the power of departure, otherwise than in a post-chaise, depends upon accidental vacancies in passing coaches, of which all but one in a week pass through this place at three in the morning. After that one I have sent, but with little hope; yet I shall be very unwilling to stay here another week."

"[Oxford], 7th June, 1775. "C[oulson] and I am pretty well again. I grudge the cost of going to LichfieldFrank and I-in a post-chaise-yet I think of thundering away to-morrow. So you will write your next dear letter to Lichfield."

"Lichfield, 10th June, 1775. "On Thursday I took a post-chaise, and intended to have passed a day or two at Birmingham, but Hector had company in his house, and I went on to Lichfield, where I know not how long I shall stay."

"Lichfield, 11th June, 1775.

“Lady Smith is settled here at last, and sees company in her new house. I went on Saturday. Poor Lucy Porter has her hand in a bag, so unabled by the gout that she cannot dress herself. I go every day to Stowehill; both the sisters 5 are now at home. I sent Mrs. Aston a Taxation,' and sent it to nobody else, and Lucy borrowed it. Mrs. Aston, since that, inquired by a messenger when I was expected. I can tell nothing about it,' said Lucy: when he is to be here, I suppose she 'll know.' Every body remembers you all. You left a good impression behind you. I hope you

3 [Mr. Coulson, of University College. See ante, vol. i. p. 493.-ED.]

4 [See ante, vol. i. p. 452.-ED.] 5 Mrs. Gastrell and Miss Aston.-ED.] 6 A copy of his pamphlet, "Taxation no Tyranny."-ED.]

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