Townley, of the Commons,) an ingenious artist, who resided some time at
Berlin, and has the honour of being engraver to his Majesty the King of
Prussia. This is one of the finest mezzotintos that ever was executed;
and what renders it of extraordinary value, the plate was destroyed
after four or five impressions only were taken off. One of them is in
the possession of Sir William Scott [H-4]. Mr. Townley has lately been
prevailed with to execute and publish another of the same, that it may
be more generally circulated among the admirers of Dr. Johnson.--16. One
large, from Sir Joshua's first picture of him, by Heath, for this work,
in quarto.--17. One octavo, by Baker, for the octavo edition.--18. And
one for Lavater's _Essay on Physiognomy_, in which Johnson's countenance
is analysed upon the principles of that fanciful writer.--There are also
several seals with his head cut on them, particularly a very fine one by
that eminent artist, Edward Burch, Esq. R.A. in the possession of the
younger Dr. Charles Burney.
Let me add, as a proof of the popularity of his character, that there
are copper pieces struck at Birmingham, with his head impressed on them,
which pass current as half-pence there, and in the neighbouring parts of
the country. BOSWELL. [Note: See Appendix H for notes on this footnote.]
[1278] It is not yet published.--In a letter to me, Mr. Agutter says,
'My sermon before the University was more engaged with Dr. Johnson's
_moral_ than his _intellectual_ character. It particularly examined his
fear of death, and suggested several reasons for the apprehension of the
good, and the indifference of the infidel in their last hours; this was
illustrated by contrasting the death of Dr. Johnson and Mr. Hume: the
text was Job xxi. 22-26.' BOSWELL. It was preached on July 23, 1786, and
not at Johnson's death. It is entitled _On the Difference between the
Deaths of the Righteous and the Wicked. Illustrated in the Instance of
Dr. Samuel Johnson and David Hume, Esq._ The text is from Job xxi. 23
(not 22)-26. It was published in 1800. Neither Johnson nor Hume is
mentioned in the sermon itself by name. Its chief, perhaps its sole,
merit is its brevity.
[1279] See _ante_, ii. 335, and iii. 375.
[1280] 'May 26, 1791. After the Doctor's death, Burke, Sir Joshua
Reynolds, and Boswell sent an ambling circular-letter to me begging
subscriptions for a monument for him. I would not deign to write an
answer; but sent down word by my footman, as I would have done to parish
officers, with a brief, that I would not subscribe.' Horace Walpole's
_Letters_, ix. 319. In Malone's correspondence are complaints of the
backwardness of the members of the Literary Club 'to pay the amounts
nominally subscribed by them.' Prior's _Goldsmith_, ii. 226.
[1281] It was, says Malone, owing to Reynolds that the monument was
erected in St. Paul's. In his _Journey to Flanders_he had lamented that
sculpture languished in England, and was almost confined to monuments to
eminent men. But even in these it had not fair play, for Westminster
Abbey was so full, that the recent monuments appeared ridiculous being
stuck up in odd holes and corners. On the other hand St. Paul's looked
forlorn and desolate. Here monuments should be erected, under the
direction of the Royal Academy. He took advantage of Johnson's death to
make a beginning with the plan which he had here sketched, and induced
his friends to give up their intention of setting up the monument in the
Abbey. Reynolds's _Works_, ed. 1824, ii. 248. 'He asked Dr. Parr--but in
vain--to include in the epitaph Johnson's title of Professor of Ancient
Literature to the Royal Academy; as it was on this pretext that he
persuaded the Academicians to subscribe a hundred guineas.' Johnstone's
_Parr_, iv. 686. See _ante_, ii. 239, where the question was raised
whose monument should be first erected in St. Paul's, and Johnson
proposed Milton's.
[1282] The Reverend Dr. Parr, on being requested to undertake it, thus
expressed himself in a letter to William Seward, Esq.:
'I leave this mighty task to some hardier and some abler writer. The
variety and splendour of Johnson's attainments, the peculiarities of his
character, his private virtues, and his literary publications, fill me
with confusion and dismay, when I reflect upon the confined and
difficult species of composition, in which alone they can be expressed,
with propriety, upon his monument.'
But I understand that this great scholar, and warm admirer of Johnson,
has yielded to repeated solicitations, and executed the very difficult
undertaking. BOSWELL. Dr. Johnson's Monument, consisting of a colossal
figure leaning against a column, has since the death of our authour been
placed in St. Paul's Cathedral. The Epitaph was written by the Rev. Dr.
Parr, and is as follows:
SAMVELI IOHNSON
GRAMMATICO ET CRITICO
SCRIPTORVM ANGLICORVM LITTERATE PERITO
POETAE LVMINIBVS SENTENTIARVM
ET PONDERIBVS VERBORVM ADMIRABILI
MAGISTRO VIRTVTIS GRAVISSIMO
HOMINI OPTIMO ET SINGVLARIS EXEMPLI
QVI VIXIT ANN LXXV MENS IL. DIEB XIII
DECESSIT IDIB DECEMBR ANN CHRIST cIo Iocc LXXXIIII
SEPVLT IN AED SANCT PETR WESTMONASTERIENS
XIII KAL IANVAR ANN CHRIST cIo Iocc LXXXV
AMICI ET SODALES LITTERARII
PECVNIA CONLATA
H M FACIVND CVRAVER.
On a scroll in his hand are the following words:
[Greek: ENMAKARESSIPONONANTAXIOSEIHAMOIBH].
On one side of the Monument--- FACIEBAT JOHANNES BACON SCVLPTOR ANN.
CHRIST. M.DCC.-LXXXXV.
The Subscription for this monument, which cost eleven hundred guineas,
was begun by the LITERARY CLUB. MALONE. See Appendix I.
[1283] '"Laetus sum laudari me," inquit Hector, opinor apud Naevium,
"abs te, pater, a laudato viro."' Cicero, _Ep. ad Fam_. xv. 6.
[1284] To prevent any misconception on this subject, Mr. Malone, by whom
these lines were obligingly communicated, requests me to add the
following remark:--
'In justice to the late Mr. Flood, now himself wanting, and highly
meriting, an epitaph from his country, to which his transcendent talents
did the highest honour, as well as the most important service; it should
be observed that these lines were by no means intended as a regular
monumental inscription for Dr. Johnson. Had he undertaken to write an
appropriated and discriminative epitaph for that excellent and
extraordinary man, those who knew Mr. Flood's vigour of mind, will have
no doubt that he would have produced one worthy of his illustrious
subject. But the fact was merely this: In Dec. 1789, after a large
subscription had been made for Dr. Johnson's monument, to which Mr.
Flood liberally contributed, Mr. Malone happened to call on him at his
house, in Berners-street, and the conversation turning on the proposed
monument, Mr. Malone maintained that the epitaph, by whomsoever it
should be written, ought to be in Latin. Mr. Flood thought differently.
The next morning, in the postscript to a note on another subject, he
mentioned that he continued of the same opinion as on the preceding day,
and subjoined the lines above given.' BOSWELL. Cowper also composed an
epitaph for Johnson--though not one of much merit. See Southey's
_Cowper_, v. 119.
[1285] As I do not see any reason to give a different character of my
illustrious friend now, from what I formerly gave, the greatest part of
the sketch of him in my _Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides_, is here
adopted. BOSWELL.
[1286] See _ante_, i. 41.
[1287] For his fox-hunting see _ante_, i. 446, note I.
[1288] _Lucretius_, i. 72.
[1289] See ante, i. 406.
[1290] 'He was always indulgent to the young, he never attacked the
unassuming, nor meant to terrify the diffident.' Mme. D'Arblay's
_Diary_ ii. 343.
[1291] In the _Olla Podrida_, a collection of Essays published at
Oxford, there is an admirable paper upon the character of Johnson,
written by the Reverend Dr. Home, the last excellent Bishop of Norwich.
The following passage is eminently happy: 'To reject wisdom, because the
person of him who communicates it is uncouth, and his manners are
inelegant;--what is it, but to throw away a pine-apple, and assign for a
reason the roughness of its coat?' BOSWELL. The _Olla Podrida_ was
published in weekly numbers in 1787 8. Boswell's quotation is from
No. 13.
[1292] 'The _English Dictionary_ was written ... amidst inconvenience
distraction, in sickness and in sorrow.' Preface to Johnson's
_Dictionary, Works_, v. 51.
[1293] 'For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much
required.' _Luke_, xii. 48.
[1294] 'If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men
most miserable.' I _Corinthians_, xv. 19.
[1295] See ante, ii. 262, note 2.
[1296] Though a perfect resemblance of Johnson is not to be found in any
age, parts of his character are admirably expressed by Clarendon in
drawing that of Lord Falkland, whom the noble and masterly historian
describes at his seat near Oxford;--'Such an immenseness of wit, such a
solidity of judgement, so infinite a fancy, bound in by a most logical
ratiocination.--His acquaintance was cultivated by the most polite and
accurate men, so that his house was an University in less volume,
whither they came, not so much for repose as study, and to examine and
refine those grosser propositions, which laziness and consent made
current in conversation.'
Bayle's account of Menage may also be quoted as exceedingly applicable
to the great subject of this work:--'His illustrious friends erected a
very glorious monument to him in the collection entitled Menagiana.
Those who judge of things aright, will confess that this collection is
very proper to shew the extent of genius and learning which was the
character of Menage. And I may be bold to say, that _the excellent works
he published will not distinguish him from other learned men so
advantageously as this_. To publish books of great learning, to make
Greek and Latin verses exceedingly well turned, is not a common talent,
I own; neither is it extremely rare, It is incomparably more difficult
to find men who can furnish discourse about an infinite number of
things, and who can diversify them an hundred ways. How many authours
are there, who are admired for their works, on account of the vast
learning that is displayed in them, who are not able to sustain a
conversation. Those who know Menage only by his books, might think he
resembled those learned men; but if you shew the MENAGIANA, you
distinguish him from them, and make him known by a talent which is given
to very few learned men. There it appears that he was a man who spoke
off-hand a thousand good things. His memory extended to what was ancient
and modern; to the court and to the city; to the dead and to the living
languages; to things serious and things jocose; in a word, to a thousand
sorts of subjects. That which appeared a trifle to some readers of the
_Menagiana_, who did not consider circumstances, caused admiration in
other readers, who minded the difference between what a man speaks
without preparation, and that which he prepares for the press. And,
therefore, we cannot sufficiently commend the care which his illustrious
friends took to erect a monument so capable of giving him immortal
glory. They were not obliged to rectify what they had heard him say;
for, in so doing, they had not been faithful historians of his
conversations.' BOSWELL. Boswell's quotation from Clarendon (ed. 1826,
iv. 242) differs somewhat from the original.
[1297] See _ante_, ii. 326, and iv. 236.
[1298] See _ante_, p. iii.
[1299] To this finely-drawn character we may add the noble testimony of
Sir Joshua Reynolds:--'His pride had no meanness in it; there was
nothing little or mean about him.' Taylor's _Reynolds_, ii. 457.
[1300] In Johnson's character of Boerhaave there is much that applies
equally well to himself. 'Thus died Boerhaave, a man formed by nature
for great designs, and guided by religion in the exertion of his
abilities. He was of a robust and athletick constitution of body, so
hardened by early severities and wholesome fatigue that he was
insensible of any sharpness of air, or inclemency of weather. He was
tall, and remarkable for extraordinary strength. There was in his air
and motion something rough and artless, but so majestick and great at
the same time, that no man ever looked upon him without veneration, and
a kind of tacit submission to the superiority of his genius.... He was
never soured by calumny and detraction, nor ever thought it necessary to
confute them; "for they are sparks," said he, "which, if you do not blow
them, will go out of themselves."... He was not to be overawed or
depressed by the presence, frowns, or insolence of great men; but
persisted, on all occasions, in the right with a resolution always
present and always calm.... Nor was he unacquainted with the art of
recommending truth by elegance, and embellishing the philosopher with
polite literature.... He knew the importance of his own writings to
mankind, and lest he might by a roughness and barbarity of style, too
frequent among men of great learning, disappoint his own intentions, and
make his labours less useful, he did not neglect the politer arts of
eloquence and poetry. Thus was his learning at once various and exact,
profound and agreeable.... He asserted on all occasions the divine
authority and sacred efficacy of the holy Scriptures; and maintained
that they alone taught the way of salvation, and that they only could
give peace of mind.' Johnson's _Works_, vi. 288.
[1301] Sir Joshua Reynolds, who was born at Plympton.
[1302] See _ante,_ iii. 43, note 3.
THE END OF THE FOURTH VOLUME.
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