Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

cities, and as much of the Highland and insular life as was sufficient for his philosophical contemplation. I had the pleasure of accompanying him during the whole of his journey. He was respectfully entertained by the great, the learned, and the elegant wherever he went ; nor was he less delighted with the hospitality which he experienced in humbler life.

His various adventures, and the force and vivacity of his mind, as exercised during this peregrination, upon innumerable topics, have been faithfully, and, to the best of my abilities, displayed in my “ Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides,” to which, as the public has been pleased to honour it by a very extensive circulation, I beg leave to refer, as to a separate and remarkable portion of his life,

1 which

may

be there seen in detail, and which exhibits 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,
Graced with the naïveté of the sage Montaigne.
Hence not alone are brighter parts display'd,
But e'en the specks of character portray'd :
We see the Rambler with fastidious smile
Mark the lone tree, and note the heath-clad isle ;
But when the heroic tale of Flora 2 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,

Nov. 27, 1773. “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. I

1 The author was not a small gainer by this extraordinary journey; for Dr. Johnson thus writes to Mrs. Thrale, Nov. 3, 1773 : “ Boswell will praise my resolution and perseverance, and I shall in return celebrate bis good humour and perpetual cheerfulness. He has better faculties than I had imagined ; more justness of discernment, and more fecundity of images. It is very convenient to travel with him; for there is no house where he is not received with kindness and respect." Let. 90, to Mrs. Thrale.- MALONE.

“The celebrated Flora Macdonald." See Boswell's “ Tour to the Hebrides."

know Mrs. Boswell wished me well to go ; 1 her wishes have not been disappointed. Mrs. Williams has received Sir A.'s 2 letter.

Make my compliments to all those to whom my compliments may be welcome.

Let the box 3 be sent as soon as it can, and let me know when to expect it.

“Inquire, if you can, the order of the Clans: Macdonald is first, Maclean second ; further I cannot go. Quicken Dr. Webster. 4

I am, Sir,
“Yours affectionately,

“SAM. JOHNSON."

“MR. BOSWELL TO DR. JOHNSON.

Edinburgh, Dec. 2, 1773.

[ocr errors]

*

“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 Cullorlen : 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-standish 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:

1 In this he showed a very acute penetration. My wife paid him the most assiduous and respectful attention, while he was our guest; so that I wonder how he discovered her wishing for his departure. The truth is, that his irregular hours and uncouth habits, such as turning the candles with their heads downwards, when they did not burn bright enough, and letting the wax drop upon the carpet, could not but be disagreeable to a lady. Besides, she had not that high admiration of him which was felt by most of those who knew him; and what was very natural to a female mind, she thought he had too much influence over her husband. She once in a little warmth made, with more point than justice, this remark upon that subject : “ I have seen many a bear led by a man; but I never before saw a man led by a bear."-Boswell. 2 Sir Alexander Gordon, one of the Professors at Aberdeen.--Boswell.

This was a box containing a number of curious things which he had picked up in Scotland, particularly some horn spoons.—Boswell.

4 The Reverend Dr. Alexander Webster, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, a man of distinguished abilities, who had promised him inforniation concerning the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.-BoSWELL.

3

*

[ocr errors]

'Maria Scotorum Regina meliori seculo digna, jus regium 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 Author 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. 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. In the course of his self-examination with retrospect to this year,

he seems to have been much dejected : for he says, January 1, 1774, “ This year has passed with so little improvement, that I doubt whether I have not rather impaired than increased my learning, "I and yet we have seen how he read, and we know how he talked during that period.

He was now seriously engaged in writing an account of our travels in the Hebrides, in consequence of which I had the pleasure of a more frequent correspondence with him.

TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ. “DEAR SIR,

Jan. 29, 1774. “My operations have been hindered by a cough; at least I flatter myself, that if my cough had not come, I should have been further advanced. But I have had no intelligence from Dr. W- [Webster] nor from the Excise-office, nor from you. No account of the little borough. Nothing of the Erse language. I have yet heard nothing of my box.

* You must make haste and gather me all you can, and do it quickly, or I will and shall do without it.

“Make my compliments to Mrs. Boswell, and tell her that I do not love her the less for wishing me away. I gave her trouble enough, and shall be glad, in recompense, to give her any pleasure.

“I would send some porter into the Hebrides, if I knew which way it could be got to my kind friends there. Inquire, and let me know.

1 Prayers and Meditations, p. 129.—Boswell. 2 The ancient Burgh of Prestick in Ayrshire.-Boswell.

Make my compliments to all the Doctors of Edinburgh, and to all my friends, from one end of Scotland to the other.

“Write to me, and send me what intelligence you can : and if anything is too bulky for the post, let me have it by the carrier. I do not like trusting wind and waves.

“I am, dear Sir, your most, &c.,

“SAM. JOHNSON.”

TO THE SAME.

“ DEAR SIR,

London, Feb. 7, 1774. In a day or two after I had written the last discontented letter, I received my box, which was very welcome. But still I must entreat you to hasten Dr. Webster, and continue to pick up what you can that may be useful.

“Mr. Oglethorpe was with me this morning, you know his errand. He was not unwelcome.

“ Tell Mrs. Boswell that my good intentions towards her still continue. I should be glad to do anything that would either benefit or please her.

“ Chambers is not yet gone, but so hurried or so negligent, or so proud, that I rarely see him. I have indeed, for some weeks past, been very ill of a cold and cough, and have been at Mrs. Thrale's, that I might be taken care of. I am much better ; novæ redeunt in prælia vires; but I am yet tender, and easily disordered. How happy it was that neither of us were ill in the Hebrides.

The question of Literary Property is this day before the Lords. Murphy drew up the Appellants' case, that is, the plea against the perpetual right. I have not seen it, nor heard the decision. I would not have the right perpetual.

“I will write to you as anything occurs, and do you send me something about my Scottish friends. I have very great kindness for them. Let me know likewise how fees come in, and when we are to see you.

“I am, Sir, yours affectionately,

“SAM. JOHNSON." He at this time wrote the following letters to Mr. Steevens, his able associate in editing Shakspeare :

TO GEORGE STEEVENS, ESQ., HAMPSTEAD. 'SIR,

Feb. 7, 1774. “If I am asked when I have seen Mr. Steevens, you know what answer I must give; if I am asked when I shall see him, I wish you would tell me what

to say

If you have · Lesley's History of Scotland,' or any other book about Scotland, except Boetius and Buchanan, it will be a kindness if you send them to,

“Sir, your humble servant,

'SAM. JOHNSON."

TO THE SAME.

[ocr errors]

Feb. 21, 1774. “We are thinking to augment our Club, and I am desirous of nominating you, if you care to stand the ballot, and can attend on Friday nights at least

twice in five weeks : less than this is too little, and rather more will be expected. Be pleased to let me know before Friday.

I am, Sir, your most, &c.,

• SAM. JOHNSON."

TO THE SAME.

SIR,

March 5, 1774. “ Last night you became a member of the Club; if you call on me on Friday, I will introduce you. A gentleman proposed after you, was rejected. I thank you for Neander,1 but wish he were not so fine. I will take care of him.

I am, Sir,
“ Your humble servant,

" Sam. JOHNSON.”

TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ. “ DEAR SIR,

March 5, 1774. “ Dr. Webster's informations were much less exact and much less determinate than I expected : they are, indeed, much less positive than, if he can trust his own book, 2 which he laid before me, he is able to give. But I believe it will always be found, that he who calls much for information will advance his work but slowly.

I am, however, obliged to you, dear Sir, for your endeavours to help me, and hope, that between us something will some time be done, if not on this, on some occasion.

“ Chambers is either married or almost married to Miss Wilton, a girl of sixteen, exquisitely beautiful, whom he has, with his lawyer's tongue, persuaded to take her chance with him in the East.

“We have added to the club, Charles Fox, Sir Charles Bunbury, Dr. Fordyce, and Mr. Steevens.

“ Return my thanks to Dr. Webster. Tell Dr. Robertson I have not much to reply to his censure of my negligence: and tell Dr. Blair, that since he has written hither what I said to him, we must now consider ourselves as even, forgive one another, and begin again. I care not how soon, for he is a very pleasing man. Pay my compliments to all my friends, and remind Lord Elibank of his promise to give me all his works.

I hope Mrs. Boswell and little Miss are well.—When shall I see them again? She is a sweet lady, only she was so glad to see me go, that I have almost a mind to come again, that she may again have the same pleasure.

“Inquire if it be practicable to send a small present of a cask of porter to Dunvegan, Rasay, and Col. I would not wish to be thought forgetful of civilities.

I am, Sir, your humble servant,

SAM. JOHNSON."

[ocr errors]

1 See the Catalogue of Mr. Steevens's Library, No. 265:-"Neandri (Mich.) Opus aureum, Gr. et Lat. 2 tom. 4to. corio turcico, foliis deauratis. Lipsiæ, 1577;"- This was doubtless the book which appears to have been lent by Mr. Steevens to Dr. Johnson.MALONE.

2 A manuscript account drawn by Dr. Webster of all the parishes in Scotland, ascertaining their length, breadth, number of inhabitants, and distinguishing Protestants and Roman Catholics. This book had been transmitted to government, and Dr. Johnson saw a copy of it in Dr. Webster's possession.—Boswell.

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »