THE LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON - All 6 Volumes in One Edition. James BoswellЧитать онлайн книгу.
as striking a view of his powers in conversation, as his works do of his excellence in writing. Nor can I deny to myself the very flattering gratification of inserting here the character which my friend Mr. Courtenay has been pleased to give of that work:
‘With Reynolds’ pencil, vivid, bold, and true,
So fervent Boswell gives him to our view:
In every trait we see his mind expand;
The master rises by the pupil’s hand;
We love the writer, praise his happy vein,
Grac’d with the naiveté of the sage Montaigne.
Hence not alone are brighter parts display’d,
But e’en the specks of character pourtray’d:
We see the Rambler with fastidious smile Mark the lone tree, and note the heath-clad isle; But when th’ heroick tale of Flora’s[786] charms, Deck’d in a kilt, he wields a chieftain’s arms: The tuneful piper sounds a martial strain, And Samuel sings, “The King shall have his ain.”’
During his stay at Edinburgh, after his return from the Hebrides, he was at great pains to obtain information concerning Scotland; and it will appear from his subsequent letters, that he was not less solicitous for intelligence on this subject after his return to London.
‘To JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.
‘DEAR SIR,
‘I came home last night, without any incommodity, danger, or weariness, and am ready to begin a new journey. I shall go to Oxford on Monday[787]. I know Mrs. Boswell wished me well to go[788]; her wishes have not been disappointed. Mrs. Williams has received Sir A’s[789] letter.
‘Make my compliments to all those to whom my compliments may be welcome.
‘Let the box[790] be sent as soon as it can, and let me know when to expect it.
‘Enquire, if you can, the order of the Clans: Macdonald is first,
Maclean second; further I cannot go. Quicken Dr. Webster[791].
‘I am, Sir,
‘Yours affectionately,
‘SAM. JOHNSON.’
‘Nov. 27, 1773.’
‘MR. BOSWELL TO DR. JOHNSON.
‘Edinburgh, Dec. 2, 1773.
‘You shall have what information I can procure as to the order of the Clans. A gentleman of the name of Grant tells me, that there is no settled order among them; and he says, that the Macdonalds were not placed upon the right of the army at Culloden[792]; the Stuarts were. I shall, however, examine witnesses of every name that I can find here. Dr. Webster shall be quickened too. I like your little memorandums; they are symptoms of your being in earnest with your book of northern travels.
‘Your box shall be sent next week by sea. You will find in it some pieces of the broom bush, which you saw growing on the old castle of Auchinleck. The wood has a curious appearance when sawn across. You may either have a little writing-stand made of it, or get it formed into boards for a treatise on witchcraft, by way of a suitable binding.’
*
‘MR. BOSWELL TO DR. JOHNSON.
‘Edinburgh, Dec. 18, 1773.
*
‘You promised me an inscription for a print to be taken from an historical picture of Mary Queen of Scots being forced to resign her crown, which Mr. Hamilton at Rome has painted for me. The two following have been sent to me:
“Maria Scotorum Regina meliori seculo digna, jus regiitm civibus seditiosis invita resignat.”
“Cives seditiosi Mariam Scotorum Reginam sese muneri abdicare invitam cogunt.”
‘Be so good as to read the passage in Robertson, and see if you cannot give me a better inscription. I must have it both in Latin and English; so if you should not give me another Latin one, you will at least choose the best of these two, and send a translation of it.’
*
His humane forgiving disposition was put to a pretty strong test on his return to London, by a liberty which Mr. Thomas Davies had taken with him in his absence, which was, to publish two volumes, entitled, Miscellaneous and fugitive Pieces, which he advertised in the newspapers, ‘By the Authour of the Rambler.’ In this collection, several of Dr. Johnson’s acknowledged writings, several of his anonymous performances, and some which he had written for others, were inserted; but there were also some in which he had no concern whatever[793]. He was at first very angry, as he had good reason to be. But, upon consideration of his poor friend’s narrow circumstances, and that he had only a little profit in view, and meant no harm, he soon relented, and continued his kindness to him as formerly[794].
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