The Life of Samuel Johnson - James Boswell [295]
‘To JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.
‘DEAR SIR, ‘Streatham, June 21, 1774.
‘Yesterday I put the first sheets of the Journey to the Hebrides to the press. I have endeavoured to do you some justice in the first paragraph. It will be one volume in octavo, not thick.
‘It will be proper to make some presents in Scotland. You shall tell me to whom I shall give; and I have stipulated twenty-five for you to give in your own name. Some will take the present better from me, others better from you. In this, you who are to live in the place ought to direct. Consider it. Whatever you can get for my purpose send me; and make my compliments to your lady and both the young ones. I am, Sir, your, &c, ‘SAM. JOHNSON.’
‘MR. BOSWELL to DR. JOHNSON
‘Edinburgh, June 24, 1774.
‘You do not acknowledge the receipt of the various packets which I have sent to you. Neither can I prevail with you to answer my letters, though you honour me with returns. You have said nothing to me about poor Goldsmith,a nothing about Langton.
‘I have received for you, from the Society for propagating Christian Knowledge in Scotland, the following Erse books: –The New Testament; Baxter’s Call; The Confession of Faith of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster; The Mother’s Catechism; A Gaelick and English Vocabulary.a
‘To JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.
‘DEAR SIR, – I wish you could have looked over my book before the printer, but it could not easily be. I suspect some mistakes; but as I deal, perhaps, more in notions than in facts, the matter is not great, and the second edition will be mended, if any such there be. The press will go on slowly for a time, because I am going into Wales to-morrow.
‘I should be very sorry if I appeared to treat such a character as that of Lord Hailes otherwise than with high respect. I return the sheets,b to which I have done what mischief I could; and finding it so little, thought not much of sending them. The narrative is clear, lively, and short.
‘I have done worse to Lord Hailes than by neglecting his sheets: I have run him in debt. Dr. Horne, the President of Magdalen College in Oxford, wrote to me about three months ago, that he purposed to reprint Walton’s Lives, and desired me to contribute to the work: my answer was, that Lord Hailes intended the same publication; and Dr. Horne has resigned it to him. His Lordship must now think seriously about it.
‘Of poor dear Dr. Goldsmith there is little to be told, more than the papers have made publick. He died of a fever, made, I am afraid, more violent by uneasiness of mind. His debts began to be heavy, and all his resources were exhausted. Sir Joshua is of opinion that he owed not less than two thousand pounds. Was ever poet so trusted before?
‘You may, if you please, put the inscription thus: –
“Maria Scotorum Regina nata 15—, a suis in exilium acta 15—, ab hospita neci data 15—.”409 You must find the years.
‘Of your second daughter you certainly gave the account yourself, though you have forgotten it. While Mrs. Boswell is well, never doubt of a boy. Mrs. Thrale brought, I think, five girls running, but while I was with you she had a boy.
‘I am obliged to you for all your pamphlets, and of the last I hope to make some use. I made some of the former. I am, dear Sir, your most affectionate servant,
‘July 4, 1774.’ ‘SAM. JOHNSON.’
‘My compliments to all the three ladies.’
‘To BENNET LANGTON, ESQ., at Langton, near Spilsby, Lincolnshire
‘DEAR SIR,– You have reason to reproach me that I have left your last letter so long unanswered, but I had nothing particular to say. Chambers, you find, is gone far, and poor Goldsmith is gone much further. He died of a fever, exasperated, as I believe, by the fear of distress. He had raised money and squandered it, by every artifice of acquisition, and folly of expence. But let not his frailties be remembered; he was a very great man.
‘I have just begun to print my Journey to the Hebrides, and am leaving the press to take another journey into Wales, whither Mr. Thrale is going, to take possession