and, above all, that through your whole life you will carefully say your prayers, and read your Bible. I am, my dear, What you have done, however I may lament it, I 10 have no pretence to resent, as it has not been injurious to me; I therefore breathe out one sigh more of tenderness, perhaps useless, but at least sincere. I wish that God may grant you every blessing, that you may be happy in this world for its short continu15 ance, and eternally happy in a better state; and whatever I can contribute to your happiness I am very ready to repay, for that kindness which soothed twenty years of a life radically wretched. Do not think slightly of this advice which I now 20 presume to offer. Prevail upon Mr. Piozzi to settle in England; you may live here with more dignity than in Italy, and with more security; your rank will be higher, and your fortune more under your own eye. I desire not to detail all my own reasons, but every 25 argument of prudence and interest is for England, and only some phantoms of imagination seduce you to Italy. I am afraid, however, that my counsel is vain, yet I have eased my heart by giving it. When Queen Mary took the resolution of sheltering 30 herself in England, the Archbishop of St. Andrew's, attempting to dissuade her, attended on her journey; and when they came to the irremeable stream that separated the two kingdoms, walked by her side into the water, in the middle of which he seized her bridle, and with earnestness proportioned to her danger and his own affection pressed her to return. The Queen went forward.-If the parallel reaches thus far, may it go no further. The tears stand in my eyes. I am going into Derbyshire, and hope to be followed by your good wishes, for I am, with great affection, Your, &c., SAM. JOHNSON. Any letters that come for me hither will be sent me. 5 10 MY LORD: TO THE LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR After a long and not inattentive observation of mankind, the generosity of your Lordship's offer raises in me not less wonder than gratitude. Bounty, so liberally bestowed, I should gladly receive, if my condition made 15 it necessary; for, to such a mind, who would not be proud to own his obligations? But it has pleased God to restore me to so great a measure of health, that if I should now appropriate so much of a fortune destined to do good, I could not escape from myself 20 the charge of advancing a false claim. My journey to the continent, though I once thought it necessary, was never much encouraged by my physicians; and I was very desirous that your Lordship should be told of it by Sir Joshua Reynolds, as an event very uncertain; 25 for if I grew much better, I should not be willing, if much worse, not able, to migrate. Your Lordship was first solicited without my knowledge; but, when I was told that you were pleased to honor me with your patronage, I did not expect to hear of a refusal; 30 yet, as I have had no long time to brood hope, and have not rioted in imaginary opulence, this cold reception has been scarce a disappointment; and from your 5 Lordship's kindness I have received a benefit which only Your Lordship's most obliged, September, 1784. Most humble servant, SAM. JOHNSON. TO DR. BURNEY IN ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LEICESTER FIELDS Mr. Johnson, who came home last night, sends his 10 respects to dear Doctor Burney, and all the dear Burneys, little and great. Nov. 17, 1784. Prayers and Meditations 1 1 April 25, 1752. O LORD, our heavenly Father, almighty and most merciful God, in whose hands are life and death, who givest and takest away, castest down and raisest up, look with mercy on the affliction of thy unworthy servant, turn away thine anger from me, and speak peace to my troubled soul. Grant me the assistance and comfort of thy Holy Spirit, that I may remember with thankfulness the blessings so long enjoyed by me in the society of my departed wife; make me so to think 10 on her precepts and example, that I may imitate whatever was in her life acceptable in thy sight, and avoid all by which she offended Thee. Forgive me, O merciful Lord, all my sins, and enable me to begin and perfect that reformation which I promised her, and to persevere 15 in that resolution which she implored Thee to continue, in the purposes which I recorded in thy sight, when she lay dead before me, in obedience to thy laws, and faith in thy word. And now, O Lord, release me from my sorrow, fill me with just hopes, true faith, and 20 holy consolations, and enable me to do my duty in that state of life to which Thou hast been pleased to call me, without disturbance from fruitless grief, or tumul 1 Prayers and Meditations is the name of a small book published by Johnson's friend Strahan less than eight months after his death. It contains a curious medley of prayers, memoranda, observations, and resolves, ranging from details of diet and notes on the growth of his nails to the agonized outcry of a penitent soul. These were written for his own use, without thought of publication, until the last year of his life, when, at his friends' importunity, he consented that they be given to the world. But sickness and death intervened to prevent the tended revision, and they stand as he first wrote them. in tuous imaginations; that in all my thoughts, words, and actions, I may glorify thy Holy Name, and finally obtain, what I hope Thou hast granted to thy departed servant, everlasting joy and felicity, through our Lord 5 Jesus Christ. Amen. 1758. EASTER DAY March 26. Almighty and most merciful Father, who hast created me to love and to serve Thee, enable me so to partake of the sacrament in which the death of Jesus Christ is 10 commemorated, that I may henceforward lead a new life in thy faith and fear. Thou, who knowest my frailties and infirmities, strengthen, and support me; grant me thy Holy Spirit, that, after all my lapses, I may now continue steadfast in obedience, that, after 15 long habits of negligence and sin, I may, at last, work out my salvation with diligence and constancy; purify my thoughts from pollutions, and fix my affections on things eternal. Much of my time past has been lost in sloth; let not what remains, O Lord, be given me in 20 vain; but let me, from this time, lead a better life, and serve Thee with a quiet mind through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 1759. Jan. 23. The day on which my dear mother was buried. 25 Repeated on my fast, with the addition. Almighty God, merciful Father, in whose hands are life and death, sanctify unto me the sorrow which I now feel. Forgive me whatever I have done unkindly to my mother, and whatever I have omitted to do kindly. 30 Make me to remember her good precepts and good example, and to reform my life according to thy holy word, that I may lose no more opportunities of good. |