The Life of Samuel Johnson - James Boswell [406]
‘My dear Boswell, do not neglect to write to me; for your kindness is one of the pleasures of my life, which I should be sorry to lose. I am, Sir, your humble servant,
‘February 18, 1777.’ ‘Sam JOHNSON.’
‘To DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON
‘DEAR SIR, ‘Edinburgh, Feb. 24, 1777.
‘Your letter dated the 18th instant, I had the pleasure to receive last post. Although my late long neglect, or rather delay, was truely culpable, I am tempted not to regret it, since it has produced me so valuable a proof of your regard. I did, indeed, during that inexcusable silence, sometimes divert the reproaches of my own mind, by fancying that I should hear again from you, inquiring with some anxiety about me, because, for aught you knew, I might have been ill.
‘You are pleased to shew me, that my kindness is of some consequence to you. My heart is elated at the thought. Be assured, my dear Sir, that my affection and reverence for you are exalted and steady. I do not believe that a more perfect attachment ever existed in the history of mankind. And it is a noble attachment; for the attractions are Genius, Learning, and Piety.
‘Your difficulty of breathing alarms me, and brings into my imagination an event, which although in the natural course of things, I must expect at some period, I cannot view with composure….
‘My wife is much honoured by what you say of her. She begs you may accept of her best compliments. She is to send you some marmalade of oranges of her own making.… I ever am, my dear Sir, your most obliged and faithful humble servant,
‘JAMES BOSWELL.’
‘To JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.
‘DEAR SIR, – I have been much pleased with your late letter, and am glad that my old enemy, Mrs. Boswell, begins to feel some remorse. As to Miss Veronica’s Scotch, I think it cannot be helped. An English maid you might easily have; but she would still imitate the greater number, as they would be likewise those whom she must most respect. Her dialect will not be gross. Her Mamma has not much Scotch, and you have yourself very little. I hope she knows my name, and does not call me Johnston.a
‘The immediate cause of my writing is this: – One Shaw, who seems a modest and a decent man, has written an Erse Grammar, which a very learned Highlander, Macbean, has, at my request, examined and approved.
‘The book is very little, but Mr. Shaw has been persuaded by his friends to set it at half a guinea, though I had advised only a crown, and thought myself liberal. You, whom the authour considers as a great encourager of ingenious men, will receive a parcel of his proposals and receipts. I have undertaken to give you notice of them, and to solicit your countenance. You must ask no poor man, because the price is really too high. Yet such a work deserves patronage.
‘It is proposed to augment our club from twenty to thirty, of which I am glad; for as we have several in it whom do not much like to consort with,b I am for reducing it to a mere miscellaneous collection of conspicuous men, without any determinate character.… I am, dear Sir, most affectionately your’s,
‘March 11, 1777.’ ’sAM. JOHNSON.’
‘My respects to Madam, to Veronica, to Alexander, to Euphemia, to David.’
‘MR. BOSWELL to DR. JOHNSON
‘Edinburgh, April 4, 1777.
[After informing him of the death of my little son David, and that I could not come to London this spring: –]
‘I think it hard that I should be a whole year without seeing you. May I presume to petition for a meeting with you in the autumn? You have, I believe, seen all the cathedrals in England, except that of Carlisle. If you are to be with Dr. Taylor, at Ashbourne, it would not be a great journey to come thither. We may pass a few most agreeable days there by ourselves, and I will accompany you a good part of the way to the southward again. Pray think of this.
‘You forget that Mr. Shaw’s Erse Grammar was put into your hands by myself last year. Lord Eglintoune put it into mine. I am glad that Mr. Macbean approves of it. I have received Mr. Shaw’s Proposals for its publication, which I can perceive are written by the hand of a Master….
‘Pray get