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Here was one of the many, many instances of his active benevolen ce. At the same time the slow and sonorous solemnity with which, while he bent himself down, he addressed a little thick short-legged boy, contrasted with the boy's aukwardness and awe, could not but excite some ludicrous emotions.

I met him at Drury-Lane play-house in the evening. Sir Joshua Reynolds, at Mrs. Abington's request, had promised to bring a body of wits to her benefit; and having secured forty places in the front boxes, had done me the honour to put me in the group. Johnson sat on the seat directly behind me; and as he could neither see nor hear at such a distance from the stage, he was wrapped up in grave abstraction, and seemed quite in a cloud, amidst all the sunshine of glitter and gaiety. I wondered at his patience in sitting out a play of five acts, and a farce of two. He said very little; but after the prologue to "Bon Too' had been spoken, which he could hear pretty well from the more slow and distinct utterance, he talked on prologue-writing, and observed, "Dryden has written prologues superior to any that David Garrick has written; but David Garrick has written more good prologues than Dryden has done. It is wonderful that he has been able to write such a variety of them."

At Mr. Beauclerk's, where I supped, was Mr. Garrick, whom I made happy with Johnson's praise of his prologues; and I suppose, in gratitude. to him, he took up one of his favourite topics, the nationality of the Scotch, which he maintained in a pleasant manner, with the aid of a little poetical fiction. "Come, come, don't deny it: they are really national. Why now, the Adams are as liberal-minded men as any in the world: but I don't know how it is, all their workmen are Scotch. You are, to be sure, wonderfully free from that nationality; but so it happens, that you employ the only Scotch shoe-black in London." He imitated the manner of his old master with ludicrous exaggeration; repeating, with pauses

and half-whistlings interjected,

"Os homini sublime dedit,-cœlumque tueri

"Jussit,et erectos ad sidera-tollere vultus."

looking downwards all the time, and, while pronouncing the four last words, absolutely touching the ground with a kind of contorted gesticu

lation.

Garrick, however, when he pleased, could imitate Johnson very exactly; for that great actor, with his distinguished powers of expression which were so universally admired, possessed also an admirable talent of mimicry. He was always jealous that Johnson spoke lightly of him. I recollect his exhibiting him to me one day, as if saying, "Davy has some convivial pleasantry about him, but 'tis a futile fellow :" which he uttered perfectly with the tone and air of Johnson.

I cannot too frequently request of my readers, while they peruse my account of Johnson's conversation, to endeavour to keep in mind his deli

berate and strong utterance. His mode of speaking was indeed very impressive; and I wish it could be preserved as music is written, according to the very ingenious method of Mr. Steele, who has shown how the recitation of Mr. Garrick, and other eminent speakers, might be transmitted to posterity in score."

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Next day I dined with Johnson at Mr. Thrale's. He attacked Gray. calling him a dull fellow." BOSWELL. "I understand he was reserved, and might appear dull in company; but surely he was not dull in poetry." JOHNSON. "Sir, he was dull in company, dull in his closet, dull every where. He was dull in a new way, and that made many people think him GREAT. He was a mechanical poet." He then repeated some ludicrous lines, which have escaped my memory, and said, "Is not that GREAT, like his Odes ?" Mrs. Thrale maintained that his Odes were melodious: upon which he exclaimed,

"Weave the warp, and weave the woof;-"

I added, in a solemn tone,

"The winding sheet of Edward's race,

There is a good line.": "Ay, (said he,) and the next line is a good one," (pronouncing it contemptuously ;)

"Give ample verge and room enough,”–

"No, Sir, there are but two good stanzas in Gray's poetry, which are in his Elegy in a country Church-yard." He then repeated the stanza,

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"For who, to dumb forgetfulness a prey, &c.

mistaking one word; for instead of precincts he said confines. He added, "The other stanza I forget."

A young lady who had married a man much her inferior in rank being mentioned, a question arose how a woman's relations should behave to her in such a situation; and, while I recapitulate the debate, and recollect what has since happened, I cannot but be struck in a manner that delicacy forbids me to express. While I contended that she ought to be treated with an inflexible steadiness of displeasure, Mrs. Thrale was all for mildness and forgiveness, and, according to the vulgar phrase, "making the best of a bad bargain." JOHNSON. "Madam, we must distinguish. Were I a man of rank, I would not let a daughter starve who had made a mean marriage; but having voluntarily degraded herself from the station which she was originally entitled to hold, I would support her only in that which she herself had chosen; and would not put her on a level with my other daughters. You are to consider, Madam, that it is our duty to maintain the subordination of civilized society; and when there is a gross and shameful deviation from rank, it should be punished so as to deter others from the same perversion."

After frequently considering this subject, I am more and more con firmed in what I then meant to express, and which was sanctioned by the authority, and illustrated by the wisdom, of Johnson; aud I think it of the utmost consequence to the happiness of society, to which subordination is absolutely necessary. It is weak, and contemptible, and unworthy in a parent to relax in such a case. It is sacrificing general advantage to private feelings. And let it be considered, that the claim of a daughter who has acted thus, to be restored to her former situation, is either fantastical or unjust. If there be no value in the distinction of rank, what does she suffer by being kept in the situation to which she has descended? If there be a value in that distinction, it ought to be steadily maintained. If indulgence be shown to such conduct, and the offenders know that in a longer or shorter time they shall be received as well as if they had not contaminated their blood by a base alliance, the great check upon that inordinate caprice which generally occasions low marriages, will be removed, and the fair and comfortable order of im proved life will be miserably disturbed,

Lord Chesterfield's letters being mentioned, Johnson said, "It was not to be wondered at that they had so great a sale, considering that they were the letters of a statesman, a wit, one who had been so much in the mouths of mankind, one long accustomed virûm volitare per ora.”

On Friday, March 31, I supped with him and some friends at a tavern. One of the company attempted, with two much forwardness, to rally him on his late appearance at the theatre; but had reason to repent of his temerity. "Why, Sir, did you go to Mrs. Abington's benefit ? Did you see?" Johnson. "No, Sir." "Did you hear?"

Johnson.

"No, Sir." "Why then, Sir, did you go?' Johnson. "Because, Sir, she is a favourite of the public; and when the public cares the thousandth part for you that it does for her, I will go to your benefit too."

Next morning I won a small bet from lady Diana Beauclerk, by asking him as to one of his particularities, which her Ladyship laid I durst not do. It seems he had been frequently observed at the Club to put into his pocket the Seville oranges, after he had squeezed the juice of them into the drink which he made for himself. Beauclerk and Garrick talked of it to me, and seemed to think that he had a strange unwillingness to be discovered. We could not divine what he did with them; and this was the bold question to be put. I saw on his table the spoils of the preceding night, some fresh peels nicely scraped and cut into peices. "O, Sir, (said I,) I now partly see what you do with the squeezed oranges which you put into your pocket at the Club." Johnson. "I have a great love for them." Boswell. "And pray, Sir, what do you do with them? You scrape them it seems, very neatly, and what next?" Johnson. "Let them dry, Sir." Boswell. "And what next?" Johnsou. Nay, Sir, you shall know their fate no further." Boswell. "Then the world must be left in the dark. It must be said (assuming a mock solemnity), he scraped them, aud let them dry, but what he did No. 6. 3 F

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with them next, he never could be prevailed upon to tell." Johuson. "Nay, Sir, you should say it more emphatically: he could not be prevailed upon, even by his dearest friends, to tell.”

He had this morning received his diploma as Doctor of Laws from the University of Oxford. He did not vaunt of his new dignity, but I understood he was highly pleased with it. I shall here insert the progress and completion of that high academical honour, in the same manner as I have traced his obtaining that of Master of Arts.

To the Reverend Dr. FOTHERGILL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, to be communicated to the Heads of Houses, and proposed in convocation.

"MR VICE-CHANCELLOR AND GENTLEMEN,

"The honour of the degree of M. A. by diploma, formerly conferred Upon Mr. SAMUEL JOHNSON, in consequence of his having eminently distinguished himself by the publication of a series of Essays, excellently calculated to form the manners of the people, and in which the cause of religion and morality has been maintained and recommended by the strongest powers of argument and elegance of language, reflected an equal degree of lustre upon the University itself.

"The many learned labours which have since that time employed the attention and displayed the abilities of that great man, so much to the advancement of literature and the benefit of the community, render him worthy of more distinguished honours in the Republic of letters: and I persuade myself, that I shall act agreeably to the sentiments of the whole University, in desiring that it may be proposed in Convocation to coufer on him the degree of Doctor in Civil Law by diploma, to which I readily give my consent; and am,

"Mr. Vice-Chancellor and Gentlemen,
"Your affectionate friend and servant,

"Downing-street, March 23, 1775."

"NORTH."

DIPLOMA.

"CANCELLARIUS, Magistri, et Scholares Universitatis Oxoniensis omnibus ad quos presentes Literæ pervenerint, salutem in Domino Sempiternam.

"SCIATIS, virum illustrem, Samuelem Johnson, in omni humaniorum literarum genere eruditum, omniumque seientiarum comprehensione felicissimum, scriptis suis, ad popularium mores formandos summá verborum elegantiú ac sententiarum gravitate compositis, ita olim inclaruisse, ut dignus videretur cui ab Academia sua eximia quædam laudis præmia

deferentur, quique venerabilem Magistrorum Ordinem summâ cum dignitate cooptaretur :

“ Cùm verò eundem clarissimum virum tot posted tantique labores, in patriâ præsertim lingua ornanda et stabilienda feliciter impensi, ita insigniverint, ut in Lilerarum Republica Princeps jam et Primaríus jure habeatur; Nos, Cancellarius, Magistri, et Scholares Universitatis Oxoniensis, quò talis virí merita pari honoris remuneratione exæquentur, et perpetuum suae simullaudis, nostraeque ergà literas propensissimæ voluntatis extet monumentum, in solenni Convocatione Doctorum et Magistrorum Regentium, et non Regentium, praedictum Samuelem Johnson Doctorum in Jure Civili renunciavimus et constituimus, eumque virtute praesentis Diplomatis singulis juribus, privilegiis et honoribus, ad istum grddum quaqua pertinentibus, frui et gaudere jussimus. In cujus rei tes timonium commune Universitatis Oxoniensis sigillum præsentibus apponi fecimus.

"Datum in Dome nostrae Convocationis die tricesimo Mensis Martii, Anno Domini Millesimo septingentesimo, septuagesimo, quinto."

"Viro Reverendo Thomae Fothergill, S. T. P. Universitatis Oxoniensis Vice-Cancellario..

"S. P. D.

"SAM JOHNSON.

"MULTIS non est opus, ut testimonium quo, te præside, Oxonienses nomen meum posteris commendârunt, quali animo acceperim compertum faciam. Nemo sibi placens non lætatur; nemo sibi non placet, qui vobis, literarum arbitris, placere potuit. Hoc tamen habet incommodi tantum beneficium quod mihi nunquam posthac sine vestræ famæ detrimento vel labi liceat vel cessare; semperque sit timendum, ne quod mihi tam eximiæ laudi est, vobis aliquando fiat opprobrio. Vale."

"7. Id. Apr. 1775."

He revised some sheets of Lord Hailes's "Annals of Scotland," and wrote a few notes on the margin with red ink, which, he bade me tell his Lordship, did not sink into the paper, and might be wiped off with a wet spouge, so that he did not spoil his manuscript. I observed to him that there were very few of his friends so accurate as that I could venture to put down in writing what they told me as his sayings. Johnson. "Why should you write down my sayings ?" Boswell. I write them when they are good?" Johnson. "Nay, you may as well write down the sayings of any one else that are good." But where, I might with great propriety have added, can I find such?

I visited him by appointment in the evening, and we drank tea with Mrs. Williams. He told me that he had been in the company of a gentleman whose extraordinary travels had been much the subject of conver

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