The Life of Samuel Johnson - James Boswell [314]
He had this morning received his Diploma as Doctor of Laws from the University of Oxford. He did not vaunt of his new dignity, but I understood he was highly pleased with it. I shall here insert the progress and completion of that high academical honour, in the same manner as I have traced his obtaining that of Master of Arts.
To the Reverend Dr. FOTHERGILL, vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, to be communicated to the Heads of Houses, and proposed in Convocation.
‘MR. VICE-CHANCELLOR AND GENTLEMEN,
‘The honour of the degree of M.A. by diploma, formerly conferred upon Mr. Samuel Johnson, inconsequence of his having eminently distinguished himself by the publication of a series of Essays, excellently calculated to form the manners of the people, and in which the cause of religion and morality has been maintained and recommended by the strongest powers of argument and elegance of language, reflected an equal degree of lustre upon the University itself.
‘The many learned labours which have since that time employed the attention and displayed the abilities of that great man, so much to the advancement of literature and the benefit of the community, render him worthy of more distinguished honours in the Republick of letters: and I persuade myself, that I shall act agreeably to the sentiments of the whole University, in desiring that it may be proposed in Convocation to confer on him the degree of Doctor in Civil Law by diploma, to which I readily give my consent; and am, Mr. Vice-Chancellor and Gentlemen, your affectionate friend and servant, ‘Downing-street, March 23, 1775.’ ‘North.’a
DIPLOMA.
‘CANCELLARIUS, Magistri, etScbolares Universitatis Oxoniensis omnibus ad quos prcesentes Literce pervenerint, Salutem in Domino Sempiternam.
‘SCIATIS, virum illustrem, SAMUELEM JOHNSON, in omni bumaniorum literarum genere eruditum, omniumque scientiarum comprebensione felicissi-mum, scriptis suis, adpopularium mores formandos summa verborum elegantiä ac sententiarum gravitate compositis, ita olim inclaruisse, ut dignus videretur cui ab Academiä suä eximia qucedam laudis prcemia {deferrentur} quique {in} venerabilem Magistrorum Ordinem summa cum dignitate cooptaretur:
Cum verb eundem clarissimum virum tot posteä tantique labores, in patriä prcesertim linguä ornandä et stabiliendä feliciter impensi, ita insigniverint, ut in Literarum Republicä PRINCEPS jam et PRIMARIUS jure babeatur; Nos CANCELLARIUS, Magistri, etScbolares Universitatis Oxoniensis, quo talis viri merita pari honoris remuneratione excequentur, etperpetuum suce simul laudis, nostrceque ergä literas propensissimce voluntatis extet monumentum, in solenni Convocatione Doctorum et Magistrorum Regentium, et non Regentium, prce-dictum SAMUELEM JOHNSON Doctorem in Jure Civili renunciavimus et constituimus, eumque virtute prcesentis Diplomatis singulis juribus, privilegiis et bonoribus, ad istum gradum quäquä pertinentibus, frui et gaudere jussimus. In cujus rei testimonium commune Universitatis Oxoniensis sigillum prcesentibus apponi fecimus.
‘Datum in Domo nostrce Convocationis die tricesimo Mensis Martii, Anno Domini Millesimo septingentesimo, septuagesimo quinto.’b446
‘Viro Reverendo TNOMAE FOTHERGILL, S.T.P. Universitatis Oxoniensis Vice-Cancellario.
‘S. P. D.
‘SAM. JOHNSON.
‘MULTIS non est opus, ut testimonium quo, te preside, Oxonienses nomen meum posteris commendärunt, quali animo acceperim compertum faciam. Nemo sibi placens non IcBtatur; nemo sibi non placet, qui vobis, literarum arbitris, placere potuit. Hoc tarnen habet incommodi tantum beneficium, quod mihi nunquam posthäc sine vestrcB fames detrimento vel labi liceat vel cessare; semperque sit timendum, ne quod mihi tarn eximicB laudi est, vobis aliquando fiat opprobrio. Vale.’a
‘7 Id. Apr., 1775.’448
He revised some sheets of Lord Hailes