[ 4 ]

myself in forming such a pleasing expectation :
the few incidents, and those in general very tri-
vial, added to the inelegacy of style, and a
dull disgusting fameness, which pervades the
whole, made me at first dubious of its authen-
ticity; especially as I could not find in the seve-
ral parts, which relate immediately to yourself,
as being your own sentiments, that boldness of
thought, nor that manliness of expression
which characterize the History of Corfica.
The extemporal speeches of Dr. Johnson, so
far as they are confident with experimental
knowledge, are certainly worth preferring; yet
I cannot think them equal to what might have
been reasonably expected from a man, so ha-
bituated to reflection, and who poffessed such
an association of ideas, that one might suppose
he could never have been at a loss to speak with
fluency, and uncommon pathos, on any subject.
In the most pertinent and the most sententious
remarks, contained in the Journal, we can dif-
cover no particular energy of language, nor phi-
lological penetration into human nature, which
you

[ 5 ]

you, Sir, have oftentatiously asferted, were
peculiarly conspicuous in the Doctor at all
times. However advantageously his abilities
may appear, on a comparison with those of
his contemporaries, I will venture to main-
tain, that he would have been a much greater
man, had he never left his * closet to join
the convivial circle of witty and polite ge-
niuſes. A natural melancholy and moroſe-
neſs, which were rather increafed than leſſened
by intense study, with a voice at once rough and
displeasing to the ear, were circumftances not in
the leaſt calculated to make a favourable impreſ-
fion on the minds of others: yet under all these
difadvantages, he was frequently in company
with men of the firſt rank in literature; and de-
fervedly eſteemed, not for his agreeable ſallies
of wit in conversation, but on account of his
valuable productions, which will convey his
name to the lateſt poſterity.

I would

* The author would not be underftood, as wifhing the
Doctor had ſecluded himself from all ſocial, but critical, con-
verse.

[ 8 ]

happy combination of words, which having a
certain affinity with each other, produce the most
agreeable and the most exquisite feelings the
mind is capable of enjoying. The gift of po-
etry is the dispensation of Heaven; it is coeval
with our birth, and can never be eradicated.
The spirit of the true bard is naturally endued
with a vigorous faculty of generating vivid con-
ceptions: it glows with a celestial fire, which nor
the keen winds of contempt, nor the cold damps
of poverty have power to extinguish. Many a
person has mistaken "a strong impulse for a
natural genius," and been led away with a false
notion of excellence, till time and a fatal expe-
rience have evinced his error, and rectified his
opinion. That this was literally the case with
Dr. Johnson I will not fully affirm; neither will
I admit of his being a poet by nature. Had his
abilities in poetry been equal to his judgement
in criticism, he would have rivalled even the
Grecian bard: but that torpid languor, which
crept through his frame, and gave a fullen
gloominess to his features, checked the verfat-
lity

[ 9 ]

lity of his fancy; and he crouched when he
should have foared, and grew dull when he strove
to please. I shall add nothing farther relative to
his poetical character at present, but turn my
attention to the Journal. To note every particular
passage that is objectionable would be tedious,
I shall therefore confine myself to a few only.

In page 78, when speaking of emigrating to
America, the Doctor said, "a man of any in-
tellectual enjoyment would not easily go and
immerse himself and his posterity for ages in
barbarism." Such a remark from a man of such
extensive knowledge is truly ridiculous. Did
the Doctor imagine the natives of America were,
like the wild Indians, strangers to the arts of a
civilized people, having nothing to denote their
being rationals, but their figure and their
voice? or did he forget that a nation, rapidly
rising to perfection in arts, manners, manufac-
tures and commerce, was the best place for a
man of abstracted thinking to exert his abili-
ties, and display his knowledge, in the several

B

depar-

[ 12 ]

narrow in sentiment, and so wanting in respect,
towards that country.

In page 129 you tell us, “the Doctor would not hear Principal Robertson preach, unless he got up into a tree,” alledging in justification of his obftinacy, that “he would not give a fanction by his preference to a Presbyterian affembly.” However bigoted he might be in his religious, as well as political principles, to treat with so much contempt the established mode of worship of a people among whom he was travelling, and from whom he received every mark of esteem, was not only repugnant to politicians and good breeding, in which he ought to have shewn himself an exemplary; but was likewise a positive insult to the country; and reflects great difgrace on him, as a scholar, a gentleman, and a Christian. Had he attended their religious assemblies in general, I should never have thought his preference an honour; fince there may be found of that perfuafion some, whose learning and piety may be equalled,
but

[ 13 ]

but never excelled. I expected the Doctor would have convinced us by a liberality of conduct, that his mind was superior to all those triennial distinctions, which fet mankind at variance; but my expectations were too fanguine: he could detect the failings of others, without being guarded against them himself; and preach with much more ease than he could practice.

In page 131 you say, “Mr. M’Aulay gave us a letter of introduction to Mr. Ferne, master of the stores of Fort St. George. He shewed it to me: it recommended two celebrated gentlemen, no les than Dr. Johnson, author of his Dictionary, and Mr. Bofwell, known at Edinburgh by the name of Paoli. He said, he hoped I had no objection to what he had written; if I had, he would alter it. I thought it a pity to check his effusions, and acquiesced; taking care, however, to feel the letter, that it might not appear, that I had read it.” Here, Sir, you have given us a proof of your egregious vanity, in permitting the contents of this letter

to

[ 16 ]

She deferved praisefinstead of contempt; for the
question was sufficient to alarm any woman of
delicacy and uncorrupted simplicity. And you,
Sir, might have spared yourself the trouble of
examining the place where her bed stood: the
adventure "was ridiculous;" the discovery not
in the least interesting; and the relation itself is
flat and infupid. We are not, like children,
amused with every little circumstance that oc-
curs, and lost in admiration when a tale is told,
or a few words jumbled together of more found
than meaning; we look for something of im-
portance, that is either pleasing or surprising.
When gentlemen of abilities travel for in-
formation, we expect to find them return well
flored with valuable acquisitions; and not with
a journal fwelled with a circumstantial detail
of minute and petty occurrences, inferior to
what may be found in " the history of Tom
" Thumb," or " Goody Two Shoes." The
defire of being pleafed, and acquiring a greater
degree of knowledge is as prevalent in the ge-
nerality of readers as in authors: and though
the

[ 17 ]

the latter may sometimes find themselves hurt
at the cool reception their works meet with,
yet if they have any intrinsic merit, pofterity
will award them their due share of praise: but
when the former purchase a book, to receive
entertainment or instruction; and find nothing
in it but a dull and tedious recital of childish
transactions; they will with a warm, but just,
indignation cast the book aside; and confider
the author as having offered an insult to their
understandings. If this should happen to be
the case with your readers, I would have you
tell them, that of a Scotchman they may al-
ways have water gruel in perfection, but few
rich soups well seasoned with attic salt. Your
account of Prince Edward, after the battle of
Culloden, is generally interesting; and I think
this part, and the few more passages in the
Journal which deserve attention, if thrown to-
gether, would make a very pretty twelve-penny
pamphlet. It is curious to observe what a
happy promptitude some people discover, in
conceiving a great deal where there is but lit-

C

tle

[ 20 ]

Doctor fairly owned he could not explain. To appear an advocate for a practice, at which humanity shudders, and which religion itself forbids, may perhaps subject me to censure: yet as there is a principle of honour in man, that ennobles his actions, and gives a dignity to his nature, so for him to suffer with passive submission an infringement on that principle, is rendering himself a mere nonentity. If I am insulted by a gentleman, I am bound in justice to myself and my friends to challenge him; this alone restores the honour of my family; and if he refuse to accept the offer, I may then think myself amply revenged in having it in my power to declare to the world, his want of two of the best and most respectable principles of the human mind, honour and courage: but if, on the contrary, he should embrace my offer, he then, in fact, makes me some concession for the affront I had received, and we stand upon an equality in defence of our mutual courage and honour. If a man will not risque his life in defence of these, we may safely fay he is ignorant

[ 21 ]

ignorant of their true value, and pronounces him a very despicable being.

In page 283-4, the Doctor tells us that "Gratitude is a fruit of great cultivation, " and is not found among gros people." If, Sir, by gros people, he mean the poor, I must beg leave to diffent from his opinion—gratitude is the spontaneous effusions of a heart flexible of a benefit received; and is more complicitous in that class of people, than in any other: oblige a poor man, and he will never forget the kindnesses; his prayers will be perpetually affecting to the throne of Heaven for your welfare; and even his children will rive up and call you blessed. I was happy to find you differing in sentiment with the Doctor on that head: you would have done well to have combated him in other particulars; then we might have had two volumes instead of one; and hnought Dilly (for I cannot suppose that you derive any advantage from the sale of the book) would have pocketed double the sum that

[ 24 ]

to do honour to his memory, by judiciously
selecting the best and most striking of his sen-
tences, but with a design to show his own affi-
duity, in exhibiting the Doctor in the most
glaring colours of inconsistency. If, Sir, you
examine this with attention, I am certain you
will find it a true picture in miniature; and
your own conscience, like the prophet Nathan,
will exclaim, "Thou art the man." Were
there many men to be found as found in me-
mory and as sterile in imagination as yourself,
we should have volume upon volume of coffee-
house chat, or amorous tête à tête, and
the prices of waste paper would, of course, be
confiderably reduced; this, though it would
be a fortunate circumstance to a set of industri-
ous tradesmen in town, yet it would be a dread-
ful calamity to the book sellers in general; their
shops would be continually filled with petty-
fogging authors, inquiring the fate of their
respective performances; and a man of good
sense would be ashamed to be seen amongst
them, left he should likewise be looked upon

as

[ 25 ]

as one of the votaries of dulnefs. In short, Sir,
on re-confidering the supposed cafe, it appears
to be in a great manner realized; and I am happy
to inform you, that there is a large body of
authors failing down the stream of Contempt, to
shoot the gulph of Oblivion; and you need be un-
der no apprehension of wanting good company.
With your present octavo frigate you will be fully
able to keep along-fide of them: and when you
launch forth in your mighty * quarto or second-
rate ship, which has been upon the stocks these
twenty years, and is composed of the best ma-
terials, you may possibly overtake your coun-
tryman, Mr. M'P--rf--n, who, no doubt, will
be very glad to see you. Indeed, Sir, I con-
gratulate you on your intended expedition;
and you have my best wishes for your safe ar-
rival on the Lethean shore; and my hearty
prayers that you may remain there in humble
quietude. Here, methinks, you will say I

* Mr. Bofwell intends giving the Public the life of Dr. Johnson, in one vol. quarto, the materials of which he has been collecting for twenty years past. Oh rare J-m-my B-tw-ll! Vide Ben Johnson's bust in Westminster Abbey.

D

am

[ 28 ]

ceding victims. The mill being now in full
play, it was thought expedient to provide more
subjects: accordingly a very worthy member of
the House of Commons was hauled into the
hopper, and sacrificed without mercy: the
gloomy Night Bard was also summoned; and
though he happily escaped, by the assistance
of * Brunetta and Stella, yet he received a
confusion on the head, which made him dizzy
ever after. Several others were afterwards
defined to the fame fate, particularly the pious
Mr. Hervey: he, poor man, was cast in, with
his sublime Meditations; and though we neither
heard nor saw any thing of him after, still,
to our utter astonishment, his favourite performance,
by some mysterious process, was changed
to one of the finest rhapsodies on a pudding,
that was ever produced in any language, or ever
will be. The several parts are described with so
much simplicity and classical elegance, that
with a little application, you, Sir, will be one
of the first pudding-makers in the world: and

* Vide page 333. if

[ 29 ]

if His Majesty should think proper to constitute
you one of his worthy domestics, I have not a
doubt of your being found a very useful and
quiet being.

I shall now take my leave of you with re-
marking, that I cannot help admiring the man-
ner of your selecting materials for your mill.
You paid no respect to friendship, good nature,
and common civility: these are virtues you
were totally ignorant of. Your intimate ac-
quaintance, and even the ladies, were the ob-
jects of your infatiable rapacity, as well as
those who neither knew, nor wished to have the
honour of knowing you.

I here subjoin an elegy, which a friend of
mine (perforating the Doctor) wrote on the
lofs of his large oak stiek*.

I am, Sir,

Your most obedient,

And most humble servant,

VERAX.

London,
October 27, 1785.

* Vide page 398.

ELEGY.

Books printed for J. DEBRETT, opposite Burlington-Houfe, Piccadilly.

THE PARLIAMENTARY REGISTER, No. XI. of the laft, being the Second Session, of the Sixteenth Parliament of Great Britain. Containing an accurate, full, and impartial Account of all the Debates, of the laft Session, collated with the Notes and Papers of several Gentlemen, who have very obligingly communicated the fame.

\*\* At the desire of several Persons of distinguished Abilities and Rank, this work was undertaken. The favourable Reception it has met with during the whole of the two laft Parliaments, not only demands the most grateful Acknowledgements of the Editors, but encourages them to a Continuation of the fame through the present Parliament. For this Purpose, and to prevent Misrepresentation, they beg Leave again to solicit the Affirmance of their former Friends, and every other Gentleman. A strict Attention will be paid to all their Commands and Favours; nor will any Affiduity or Care be wanting to preserve that Truth and Accuracy, for which this Work has hitherto been distinguished.

The PARLIAMENTARY REGISTER of the former Session complete, being the FIRST of the PRESENT PARLIAMENT. Containing, amongst a great Number of interesting Debates, the Debates on Mr. Pitt's India Bill; on the Affairs of the Eaft-India Company; on the Parliamentary Reform; on the Westminister Election; the REPORT at length of the PRIVY COUNCIL, concerning the INTERCOURSE between the CONTINENT of AMERICA and the WEST-INDIA ISLANDS, which is no where else printed for sale, &c. &c. &c. in two vols. Price 15s. half bound and lettered.

The PARLIAMENTARY REGISTER of the laft Parliament complete, viz. from 1780 to 1784, in Fourteen Volumes. Price 5l. 8s. half bound.

The PARLIAMENTARY REGISTER of the former Parliament, from 1774 to 1780, in Seventeen Volumes. Price 6l. 6s. half bound and lettered.

The NEW FOUNDLING HOSPITAL FOR WIT: Being a Collection of fugitive Pieces in Prose and Verse, not in any other Collection. A new Edition, considerably improved and enlarged; in which are inserted several curious Pieces, by Lady Craven, the Marquis of Carmarthen, the Earls of Carlisle, Charlemont, Nugent, Buchanan, Chesterfield, Chatham, De la War; the Lord Townshend, Palmerston, Mulgrave, Holland, Lyttelton, Harvey; the Right Hon. C. J. Fox, Right Hon. Col. Fitzpatrick, Right Hon. C. Yorke; Countefs Temple, Lady M. W. Montague; Mrs. Greville, Mifs Carter, Mrs. Lenox, the Hon. H. Walpole, and T. Luttrell; Sir William Draper, Sir J. Moore, Sir W. Jones, Sir W. Young, Sir C. H. Williams; J. Wilkes, D. Garrick, R. B. Shevidan, R. Tickell, G. Ellis, J. Courtenay, J. S. Hall, C. Whitefoord, G. Colman, R. Cumberland, C. Anstey, W. Hayley, S. Jenyns, B. Thornton, Esqr's. Doctors B. Franklin, Armstrong, Heartie; Capt. E. Thompson, &c. &c. &c. together with several Pieces, now first printed from the Authors' Manuscripts. The Whole carefully revised, arranged, and corrected, in Six Volumes. Price 18s. few'd.