The Life of Samuel Johnson - James Boswell [17]
Boswell may have taken the decision to write the Life of Johnson soon after meeting his subject, but the earliest evidence from within the Life itself that Johnson was aware of Boswell’s design comes from March 1772, in a fragment which derives from the same journal entry just quoted:
I said, that if it was not troublesome and presuming too much, I would request him to tell me all the little circumstances of his life; what schools he attended, when he came to Oxford, when he came to London, &c. &c. He did not disapprove of my curiosity as to these particulars; but said, ‘They’ll come out by degrees as we talk together.’132
In the following year, while Boswell and Johnson were on their Scottish tour, we find another important landmark in the composition of the Life:
That Sunday evening [22 August] that we sat by ourselves at Aberdeen, I asked him several particulars of his life from his early years, which he readily told me, and I marked down before him. This day I proceeded in my inquiries, also marking before him. I have them on separate leaves of paper. I shall lay up authentic materials for The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D., and if I survive him, I shall be the one who shall most faithfully do honour to his memory. I have now a vast treasure of his conversation at different times since the year 1762 [1763] when I first obtained his acquaintance; and by assiduous inquiry I can make up for not knowing him sooner.133
And Boswell added this amplifying note: ‘It is no small satisfaction to me to reflect that Dr. Johnson read this, and, after being apprised of my intention, communicated to me, at subsequent periods, many particulars of his life, which probably could not otherwise have been preserved.’134
Alongside this, however, should be set Mrs Piozzi’s record of a conversation which she claims took place on 18 July 1773 (a bare month before Johnson arrived in Edinburgh to begin his tour of the Highlands), in which the subject of Johnson’s future biography was raised by Johnson himself:
‘And who will be my biographer (said he), do you think?’ Goldsmith, no doubt, replied I, and he will do it the best among us. ‘The dog would write it best to be sure, replied he; but his particular malice towards me, and general disregard for truth, would make the book useless to all, and injurious to my character.’ Oh! as to that, said I, we should all fasten upon him, and force him to do you justice; but the worst is, the Doctor does not know your life; nor can I tell indeed who does, except Dr. Taylor of Ashbourne. ‘Why Taylor, said he, is better acquainted with my heart than any man or woman now alive; and the history of my Oxford exploits lies all between him and Adams; but Dr. James knows my very early days better than he. After my coming to London to drive the world about a little, you must all go to Jack Hawkesworth for anecdotes: I lived in great familiarity with him (though I think there was not much affection) from the year 1753 till the time Mr. Thrale and you took me up. I intend, however, to disappoint the rogues, and either make you write the life, with Taylor’s intelligence; or, which is better, do it myself, after outliving you all. I am now (added he), keeping a diary, in hopes of using it for that purpose some time.’135
It may be that this autobiographical intention was suspended or discarded after Boswell had shown his hand to Johnson in Scotland a month or so later. It is nevertheless striking that the name of Boswell does not arise.
The first public announcement of the Life