harmony; sometimes the divergence is striking. But this, of course, is not surprising. Many a conversationalist indulges in brilliant paradoxes, which he never expects will be printed. It was fated that Johnson's conversation should be published; and it is now read by everybody, while his Essays are neglected. And yet, as his friend the learned Mrs Elizabeth Carter declared, "his real opinions are to be found in his books." Whether the reader will be interested in the following pages will depend upon whether he is attracted by Johnson's wit and wisdom and the style which adorns them, for my book consists largely of quotations. In his Plan of an English Dictionary Johnson said: “I have determined to consult the best writers for explanations real as well as verbal; and perhaps I may at last have reason to say, after one of the augmenters of Furetier, that my book is more learned than its author.' On the same principle, I may at least claim that these many quotations have made my own book wiser and wittier than its author. "We used to say to one another familiarly in Streatham Park," wrote Mrs Thrale, "Come, let us go into the library, and make Johnson speak Ramblers."" Let us, as a second best, sometimes still go into the library and read Johnson's Ramblers-and Idlers and Adventurers; wherein, as Boswell says, we shall find "a true representation of human existence.' In no writings whatever," he adds with equal truth, " can be found more bark and steel for the mind, if I may use the expression; more that can brace and invigorate every manly and noble sentiment." INTRODUCTION "Johnson has a large following of enthusiastic admirers who would indignantly repudiate any slur cast upon their devotion. Yet some of them perhaps are worshippers rather than lovers, and lovers rather than friends. At any rate, they do not read his books." SIR WALTER RALEIGH: Six Essays on Johnson. A T the Johnson bicentenary of 1909 Lord Rosebery, speaking of Johnson's writings, asked: "But who reads the rest? I speak only for myself. The Ramblers and the Idlers are dead for me. I hope there are others more fortunate. Rasselas I read not voluntarily, but assiduously, at school; and, probably for that reason, never wish to read again." 1 Thus Lord Rosebery bore witness to our modern neglect of Johnson's writings. Johnson the Conversationalist has long ago eclipsed Johnson the Essayist. Of the crowds of enthusiasts from both hemispheres who attend the Johnson celebrations, or reverently peep at his chair in the "Cheshire Cheese," how many have read through a single Rambler? To these he is a strange "character," a wit, a sage, a philosopher of life, a great Londoner. The title "Lexicographer" has survived, and, since the days of Miss Pinkerton's Academy, has carried a jocular flavour. By many, indeed, Johnson is regarded as an odd, worthy fellow; a sort of glorified Mr Pickwick, with Boswell, a concentration of Tupman Snodgrass and Winkle, ever in attendance. Johnson is scarcely visualized without Boswell. But where was Boswell when Johnson began writing his Ramblers? He was a boy of ten, running wild in his 1 Miscellanies Literary and Historical, i. 32. 9 native Auchinleck; thirteen years were to pass before he even became acquainted with his master. almost be asked: "What do they know of Johnson, Who only Boswell know?" It might The Rambler was written when Johnson's fortunes were still low, and long before his life was cheered by the advent of Boswell. The first number appeared in March 1750, and the last in March 1752. The Rambler soon had admirers, men whose admiration was worth having; but the circulation scarcely reached five hundred copies, only one-sixth of the sale The Spectator had enjoyed forty years before.1 Success came later, and Johnson lived to see ten English editions, besides others published in Scotland and Ireland.2 But Johnson would have been the last man to measure a book by its sale. How has the reputation of The Rambler, and of Johnson's other essays, flourished from his age to our own? Let us begin with the author's own judgment. "My other works," said he to an acquaintance, "were wine and water, but my Rambler is pure wine." 3 Next to the author comes, as is fit, the author's wife. "Mrs Johnson, in whose judgment and taste he had great confidence, said to him, after a few numbers of The Rambler had come out, I thought very well of you before, but I did not imagine you could have written anything equal to this." " 4 Let us now pass from the wife to the disciple. "In 1750 he came forth in the character for which he was eminently qualified, a majestick teacher of moral and religious wisdom." 5 "I profess myself to have ever entertained a 1 Spectator, No. 10. 2 Boswell's Life of Johnson (Birkbeck Hill), i. 213. |