ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS IN VOL. II. Page 3, note 1,-line last, for his entering, read-for entering. 30, note 1, 199, note, 214, note 2, . 216, Instead of the reference there, read-post, pp. 54, 187, and 225. add BOSWELI., but see the letter in the Appendix. for etiam is, read etiamsi. for December, read-September. for tranquilly, read-tranquillity. Perhaps the Scotch nonjuring Bishop Campbell was the person meant. See vol. iii. p. 53. add-Lord St. Helens has since confirmed to the editor, on the authority of his father, an eyewitness, Dr. Johnson's failure at the Society of Arts. This friend was Mr. Cullen, advocate, son of the celebrated physician, afterwards a judge, by the name of Lord Cullen. for seat, read-great. for 1824, read— 1822. add-Colonel Cecil was probably the well-known Jacobite of that name. add [Mr. Malone's note is absurd. Mr. Hallam very, justly observes, that Dr. Johnson clearly for booksellers, read-publishers. 217, L. 5, and note 1, The gentleman was probably Mr. Fitzherbert, who 257, note, 293, note 2,-1. last, for Scotarem, read-Scotorum. 318, note, 323, note 1, 325, note 2, 346, note 2, 348, note 1, 478, note 2, for Guy, read-Grey. for 239, read_245. for probably, read-certainly. for Cushel, read—Cashel. dele [ED.] and substitute-BoSWELL. add-no doubt from the same root as gladius. The editor sees reason to believe that Edward, the second viscount, sometimes called "the French Lord Powerscourt," was here meant, and not his nephew Richard. 182, note 1; 270, note, 1. 9; 271, note; 424, note, add-BosWELL. THE LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL. D. IN 1764 and 1765 it should seem that Dr. Johnson was so busily employed with his edition of Shakspeare as to have had little leisure for any other literary exertion, or, indeed, even for private correspondence1. He did not favour me with a single letter for more than two years, for which it will appear that he afterwards apologised. Notwithstanding his long silence, I never omitted to write to him, when I had any thing worthy of communicating. I generally kept copies of my letters to him, that I might have a full view of our correspondence, and never be at a loss to understand any reference in his letters. He kept the greater part of mine very carefully; and a short time before his death was attentive enough to seal them up in bundles, and order them to be delivered to me, which was accordingly done. Amongst them I found one, of which I had not made a copy, and which I own I 1 [This trait is amusing: Mr. Boswell concludes that because Johnson did not, for two years, write to him, he wrote to nobody, and was exclusively occupied with his Shakspeare, though we have seen, that, in those years, he found time to pay visits to his friends in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, and at Cambridge and Winchester. He also visited Brighton. If Mr. Boswell had been those two years in London, there can be no doubt that he would have found Johnson by no means absorbed in Shakspeare.—En.] VOL. II. B read with pleasure at the distance of almost twenty years. It is dated November, 1765, at the Palace of Pascal Paoli, in Corte, the capital of Corsica, and is full of generous enthusiasm. After giving a sketch of what I had seen and heard in that island, it proceeded thus: "I dare to call this a spirited tour. I dare to challenge your approbation." This letter produced the following answer, which I found on my arrival at Paris. "A MR. MR. BOSWELL, chez Mr. Waters, Banquier, à Paris. "Johnson's-court, Fleet-street, 14 Jan. 1766. "DEAR SIR,-Apologies are seldom of any use. We will delay till your arrival the reasons, good or bad, which have made me such a sparing and ungrateful correspondent. Be assured, for the present, that nothing has lessened either the esteem or love with which I dismissed you at Harwich. Both have been increased by all that I have been told of you by yourself, or others; and when you return, you will return to an unaltered, and, I hope, unalterable friend. "All that you have to fear from me is the vexation of disappointing me. No man loves to frustrate expectations which have been formed in his favour; and the pleasure which I promise myself from your journals and remarks is so great, that perhaps no degree of attention or discernment will be sufficient to afford it. "Come home, however, and take your chance. I long to see you, and to hear you; and hope that we shall not be so long separated again. Come home, and expect such welcome as is due to him, whom a wise and noble curiosity has led, where perhaps no native of this country ever was before. "I have no news to tell you that can deserve your notice; nor would I willingly lessen the pleasure that any novelty may give you at your return. I am afraid we shall find it difficult to keep among us a mind which has been so long feasted with variety. But let us try what esteem and kindness can effect. "As your father's liberality has indulged you with so long a ramble, I doubt not but you will think his sickness, or even his desire to see you, a sufficient reason for hastening your return. The longer we live, and the more we think, the higher value we learn to put on the friendship and tenderness of parents and of friends. Parents we can have but once; and he promises himself too much, who enters life with the expecta- [“ DR. JOHNSON TO MRS. LUCY PORTER. “DEAR MADAM,-The reason why I did not answer your letters was that I can please myself with no answer. I was loath that Kitty should leave the house till I had seen it once more, and yet for some reasons I cannot well come during the session of parliament'. I am unwilling to sell it, yet hardly know why. If it can be let, it should be repaired, and I purpose to let Kitty have part of the rent while we both live; and wish that you would get it surveyed, and let me know how much money will be necessary to fit it for a tenant. I would not have you stay longer than is convenient, and I thank you for your care of Kitty. "Do not take my omission amiss. I am sorry for it, but know not what to say. You must act by your own prudence, and I shall be pleased. Write to me again; I do not design to neglect you any more. It is great pleasure for me to hear from you; but this whole affair is painful to me. I wish you, my dear, many happy years. Give my respects to Kitty. I am, dear madam, your most affectionate humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON."] Pearson [We find in a letter from Dr. Warton to his bro- ED. ther some account of Johnson and his society at this period. "DR. WARTON TO MR. WARTON. "22d Jan. 1766. Mem. of Dr. "I only dined with Johnson, who seemed cold and indif- W. p. [The reasons which confined him to London, during the session of parliament, may be suspected to have had some connexion with his engagement in politics with Hamilton; and it must be confessed, that Mr. Hamilton's declaration, (ante, vol. i. p. 505.), that he could not explain what these allusions meant, looks like the evasion of a question which that gentleman did not wish, perhaps did not feel himself authorised, to answer unreservedly. It seems clear, that Johnson was employed by or with Hamilton in some course of political occupation, which obliged him to be in town during the session of parliament, and which Johnson thought likely to be of such continuance and importance, as to require his preparing his entering upon it by the solemnity of a prayer.-En.] 2 [This slight coolness between Johnson and Joseph Warton was probably not serious. A subsequent difference, which arose out of a dispute at Sir Joshua Reynolds's table, was more lasting.-ED.] 312. |