Dr. Johnson

DR. JOHNSON.

THIS great dictator in the republic of letters, who raised himself, by the mere strength of his abilities, to the first seat of literary eminence, and continued, during life, to preserve the merited situation, with little envy, and with less opposition, was born on the 7th of September 1709, at Lichfield; where his father was a bookseller and stationer.

He was a prodigy of early understanding; and, while at Lichfield school, preferred books and conversation to the usual puerile amusements.

About the age of fifteen, having paid a long visit to a relation, his schoolmaster refused to receive him again on the foundation; and he went, for some time, to the school of Stourbridge, in Worcestershire. After remaining about two years at home, he was, in October 1728, entered a commoner of Pembroke college, Oxford, and soon highly distinguished himself. He was, however, prevented from remaining long enough for a degree, by the circumstances of his father; who died in 1731, a few months after his return from the university.

In 1732, he was constrained to seek his bread, as an usher at the school of Market Bosworth, in Leicestershire; where he led a most miserable life; till Mr. Hector, an old schoolfellow, kindly invited him to Birmingham. With this gentleman, who was an eminent surgeon, he resided while he translated Father Lobo's Voyage to Abyssinia.

In 1734, he returned to Lichfield; and, the year following, married Mrs. Porter, a mercer's widow, of Birmingham, twenty years older than himself. She had a fortune of eight hundred pounds, and he now opened a boarding academy, at Edial, near Lichfield; where, in a year and a half, he obtained only three pupils, one of whom was Garrick. He, therefore, discontinued his school; and, having written the tragedy of Irene, determined on trying his fortune in London. In this resolution he was joined by his celebrated pupil, who intended to study the law; and, in March 1739, these two extraordinary characters entered the metropolis together. Johnson soon became acquainted with Mr. Cave, the original printer of the Gentleman's Magazine; and, by his recommendation, with several booksellers and literary characters. After having combated innumerable difficulties, the admirable Life of his old companion, Savage, made its appearance, and his fame began rapidly to increase. In 1746, he was engaged to compile his celebrated English Dictionary, which was not completed till May 1755. Mr. Garrick, in the mean time, brought out Irene, in 1749, which was by no means successful. His inestimable Rambler commenced in 1750; in 1753, he lost his wife; in 1758, began the Idler, and wrote Rasselas in a few days, that he might be enabled to visit his dying mother; and, in 1762, the king, to reward his extraordinary merits, granted him a pension of 300l. a year.

In 1765, he published his Shakspeare; but, from that period, till the publication of his Lives of the Poets, in 1778, he had so much indisposition, and his company was so greatly engrossed by Mr. Thrale and his literary lady, that he wrote little else than his few political pamphlets.

He died on the 13th of December 1734, in the 75th year of his age; and was buried in Westminster Abbey, close to the grave of his friend Garrick. A noble monument has since been erected to his memory, in St. Paul's cathedral.

To say, that Dr. Samuel Johnson, who thus excelled in the art of accumulating human wisdom, and in the talent of widely diffusing it to others, had infirmities, and even imperfections; is only to say, that he was a man; but few men have been freer from frailties, and still fewer from vice.

Lith.抄し。

DR. JOHNSON.

In 1734, he returned to Lichfield; and, the year following, married Mrs. Porter, a mercer's widow, of Birmingham, twenty years older than himself. She had a fortune of eight hundred pounds, and he now opened a boarding academy, at Edial, near Lichfield; where, in a year and a half, he obtained only three pupils, one of whom was Garrick. He, therefore, discontinued his school; and, having written the tragedy of Irene, determined on trying his fortune in London. In this resolution he was joined by his celebrated pupil, who intended to study the law; and, in March 1739, these two extraordinary characters entered the metropolis together. Johnson soon became acquainted with Mr. Cave, the original printer of the Gentleman's Magazine; and, by his recommendation, with several booksellers and literary characters. After having combated innumerable difficulties, the admirable Life of his old companion, Savage, made its appearance, and his fame began rapidly to increase. In 1746, he was engaged to compile his celebrated English Dictionary, which was not completed till May 1755. Mr. Garrick, in the mean time, brought out Irene, in 1749, which was by no means successful. His inestimable Rambler commenced in 1750; in 1753, he lost his wife; in 1758, began the Idler, and wrote Rasselas in a few days, that he might be enabled to visit his dying mother; and, in 1762, the king, to reward his extraordinary merits, granted him a pension of 300£ a year.

He died on the 13th of December 1784, in the 75th year of his age; and was buried in Westminster Abbey, close to the grave of his friend Garrick. A noble monument has since been erected to his memory, in St. Paul's cathedral.

To say, that Dr. Samuel Johnson, who thus excelled in the art of accumulating human wisdom, and in the talent of widely diffusing it to others, had infirmities, and even imperfections; is only to say, that he was a man: but few men have been freer from frailties, and still fewer from vice.

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