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SOAME JENYNS

187

an evening newspaper; and even in so slight a performance exhibited peculiar talents. This Chronicle still subsists, and from what I observed, when I was abroad, has a more extensive circulation upon the Continent than any of the English newspapers. It was constantly read by Johnson himself; and it is but just to observe that it has all along been distinguished for good sense, accuracy, moderation, and delicacy.

Another instance of the same nature has been communicated to me by the Reverend Dr. Thomas Campbell, who has done himself considerable credit by his own writings. "Sitting with Dr. Johnson one morning alone, he asked me if I had known Dr. Madden, who was the author of the premium-scheme * in Ireland. On my answering in the affirmative, and also that I had for some years lived in his neighbourhood, etc., he begged of me, that when I returned to Ireland, I would endeavour to procure for him a poem of Dr. Madden's, called Boulter's Monument.' † The reason (said he) why I wish for it is this: when Dr. Madden came to London, he submitted that work to my castigation; and I remember I blotted a great many lines, and might have blotted many more without making the poem worse. However, the Doctor was very thankful, and very generous, for he gave me ten guineas, which to me at that time was a great sum."

He this year resumed his scheme of giving an edition of Shakspeare with notes. Heissued proposals of considerable length,+ in which he showed that he perfectly well knew what a variety of research such an undertaking required; but his indolence prevented him from pursuing it with that diligence which alone can collect those scattered facts, that genius, however acute, penetrating, and luminous, cannot discover by its own force. It is remarkable that at this time his fancied activity was for the moment so vigorous,

* [In the College of Dublin, four quarterly examinations of the students are held in each year, in various prescribed branches of literature and science; and premiums, consisting of books impressed with the College Arms, are adjudged by examiners to those who have most distinguished themselves in the several classes, after a very rigid trial, which lasts two days.

Dr. Samuel Madden was the first proposer of premiums in that University. They were instituted about the year 1734. He was also one of the founders of the DUBLIN SOCIETY for the encouragement of arts and agriculture. Besides the premiums which were and are still given by that society, Dr. Madden gave others from his own fund. Hence he was usually called "Premium Madden." M.] His verses were very poor.

† [Dr. Hugh Boulter, Archbishop of Armagh, and Primate of all Ireland. He died Sept. 27, 1742, at which time he was, for the thirteenth time, one of the Lords Justices of that kingdom. Johnson speaks of him in high terms of commendation, in his "Life of Ambrose Philips." J. B.-O.]

They have been reprinted by Mr. Malone, in the Preface to his edition of Shakspeare.

that he promised his work should be published before Christmas, 1757. Yet nine years elapsed before it saw the light. His throes in bringing it forth had been severe and remittent; and at last we may almost conclude that the Cæsarian operation was performed by the knife of Churchill, whose upbraiding satire, I dare say, made Johnson's friends urge him to despatch.

"He for subscribers baits his hook,

And takes your cash; but where's the book?
No matter where; wise fear, you know,
Forbids the robbing of a foe;

But what, to serve our private ends,
Forbids the cheating of our friends?

The Ghost, iii. 801.

About this period he was offered a living of considerable value in Lincolnshire if he were inclined to enter into holy orders. It was a rectory in the gift of Mr. Langton, the father of his much-valued friend. But he did not accept of it; partly I believe from a conscientious motive, being persuaded that his temper and habits rendered him unfit for that assiduous and familiar instruction of the vulgar and ignorant, which he held to be an essential duty in a clergyman; and partly because his love of a London life was so strong, that he would have thought himself an exile in any other place, particularly if residing in the country. Whoever would wish to see his thoughts upon that subject displayed in their full force, may peruse the Adventurer, Number 126.

In 1757, it does not appear that he published anything, except some of those articles in the Literary Magazine which have been mentioned. That magazine, after Johnson ceased to write in it, gradually declined, though the popular epithet of Antigallican was added to it; and in July, 1758, it expired. He probably prepared a part of his Shakspeare this year, and he dictated a speech on the subject of an address to the Throne, after the expedition to Rochfort, which was delivered by one of his friends, I know not in what public meeting. It is printed in the Gentleman's Magazine for October, 1785, as his, and bears sufficient marks of authenticity.

By the favour of Mr. Joseph Cooper Walker, of the Treasury, Dublin, I have obtained a copy of the following letter from Johnson to the venerable author of "Dissertations on the History of Ireland."

"I HAVE lately, by the favour of Mr. Faulkner, seen your account of Ireland, and cannot forbear to solicit a prosecution of your design. Sir William Temple complains that Ireland is less known than any other country, as to its ancient state. The natives have had little leisure, and little encouragement for inquiry; and strangers, not knowing the language, have had no ability.

"I have long wished that the Irish literature were cultivated.† Ireland is [Of this gentleman, who died at his seat at Ballinegare, in the county of Roscommon in Ireland, July 1, 1791, in his eighty-second year, some account may be found in the Gentleman's Magazine of that. date. M.]

†The celebrated orator, Mr. Flood, has shown himself to be of Dr. Johnson's opinion having by his will bequeathed his estate, after the death of his wife Lady Frances, to the University of Dublin; "desiring that immediately after the said estate shall come into their possession, they shall appoint twoprofessors, one for the study of the native Erse or Irish language, and the other for the study of Irish antiquities and Irish history, and for the study of any other European language illustrative of, or auxiliary to, the study of Irish antiquities or Irish history; and that they shall give yearly two liberal premiums for two compositions, one in verse, and the other in prose, in the Irish language."

[Since the above was written, Mr. Flood's Will has been set aside, after a trial at bar, in the Court. of Exchequer in Ireland. M.]

From the painting by J. S. C. Schaak in the National Portrait Gall.ry. Thato by Emery Walker

was born at Westminster, the son of a clergyman, educated at Westminster School, he contracted a Fleet marriage at the age of seventeen, and did not proceed to a University. He afterwards took orders, and in 1758 succeeded his father as curate of St. John's, Westminster. "The Rosciad," a satire on the theatres, was published in 1761, which was followed by other satires. Johnson, Davies, and Hogarth all felt the sting of his wit; he did not, however, succeed in drawing Johnson, though Hogarth avenged himself, and Davies was driven off the stage. When Churchill abandoned his wife, and gave up the Church, he said "The woman I was tired of, and the gown I was displeased with." After a short life of dissipation, he died at Boulogne while on a visit to Wilkes. On Johnson being told that Churchill had abused him under the character of Pomposo in "The Ghost," he said, "I always thought him a shallow fellow, and I think so still."

known by tradition to have been once the seat of piety and learning; and surely it would be very acceptable to all those who are curious either in the original of nations, or the affinities of languages, to be farther informed of the revolution of a people so ancient, and once so illustrious.

"What relation there is between the Welsh and Irish language, or between the language of Ireland and that of Biscay, deserves inquiry. Of these provincial and unextended tongues, it seldom happens that more than one are understood by any one man; and, therefore, it seldom happens that a fair comparison can be made. I hope you will continue to cultivate this kind of learning, which has too long lain neglected, and which, if it be suffered to remain in oblivion for another century, may, perhaps, never be retrieved. As I wish well to all useful undertakings, I would not forbear to let you know how much you deserve in my opinion from all the lovers of study, and how much pleasure your work has given to Sir, your most obliged "And most humble servant,

"[London,] April 9, 1757.”

DEAR SIR,

"SAM. JOHNSON.

66

TO THE REVEREND MR. THOMAS WARTON.

“DR. MARSILI, of Padua, a learned gentleman, and good Latin poet, has a mind to see Oxford. I have given him a letter to Dr. Huddesford,* and shall be glad if you will introduce him and show him any thing in Oxford.

"I am printing my new edition of Shakspeare.

"I long to see you all, but cannot conveniently come yet. You might write to me now and then, if you were good, for anything. But honores mutant mores. Professors forget their friends. I shall certainly complain to Miss Jones.‡ I am, yours, etc.

"[London,] June 21, 1757."

"Please to make my compliments to Mr. Wise."

"SAM. JOHNSON.

Mr. Burney having enclosed to him an extract from the review of his Dictionary in the Bibliotheque des Savans,§ and a list of subscribers to his Shakspeare, which Mr. Burney had procured in Norfolk, he wrote the following answer :

66

'SIR,

"TO MR. BURNEY, IN LYNNE, NORFOLK.

"THAT I may show myself sensible of your favours, and not commit the same fault a second time, I make haste to answer the letter which I received this morning. The truth is, the other likewise was received, and I wrote an answer; but being desirous to transmit you some proposals and receipts, I waited till I could find a

* "Now, or late, Vice-Chancellor."

t "Mr. Warton was elected Professor of Poetry, at Oxford in the preceding year."

"Miss Jones lived at Oxford, and was often of our parties. She was a very ingenious poetess, and published a volume of poems; and, on the whole, was a most sensible, agreeable, and amiable woman. She was sister to the Reverend River Jones, Chanter of Christ Church cathedral at Oxford, and Johnson used to call her the Chantress. I have heard him often address her in this passage from ' Il Penseroso." Thee, Chantress, oft the woods among,

I woo,' etc.

She died unmarried.”

§ Tome iii. p. 482.

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191

convenient conveyance, and day was passed after day, till other things drove it from my thoughts; yet not so, but that I remember with great pleasure your commendation of my Dictionary. Your praise was welcome, not only because I believe it was sincere, but because praise has been very scarce. A man of your candour will be surprised when I tell you, that among all my acquaintance there were only two who upon the publication of my book did not endeavour to depress

THE STAIRWAY AND GARRETS OF JOHNSON'S HOUSE IN GOUGH SQUARE "We ourselves, not without labour and risk, lately discovered Gough Square, between Fleet Street and Holborn (adjoining both to Bolt Court and Johnson's Court); and, on the second day of search, the very House there wherein the English Dictionary' was composed. It is the first or corner house on the right hand, as you enter through the arched way from the North-west. It is a stout oldfashioned, oak-balustraded house: I have spent many a pound and penny on it,' said the worthy Landlord; here, you see, this Bedroom was the Doctor's study; that was the garden' (a plot of delved ground somewhat larger than a bed-quilt) where he walked for exercise; these three garret Bedrooms' (where his three Copyists sat and wrote) were the place he kept his Pupils in!"-Thomas Carlyle.

me with threats of censure from the public, or with objections learned from those who had learned them from my own preface. Yours is the only letter of goodwill that I have received; though, indeed, I am promised something of that sort from Sweden.

"How my new edition* will be received I know not; the subscription has not been very successful. I shall publish about March.

"If you can direct me how to send proposals, I should wish that they were in such hands.

"I remember, Sir, in some of the first letters with which you favoured me, you mentioned your lady. May I inquire after her? In return for the favours which * Of Shakspeare.