The Life of Samuel Johnson - James Boswell [577]
We sat some time in the summer-house, on the outside wall of which was inscribed, ‘Ambulantis in horto audiebant vocem Dei;’1049 and in reference toabrookbywhichitissituated, ‘Vivendi recte qui prorogathoram, &c.’1050I said to Mr. Young, that I had been told his father was cheerful. ‘Sir, (said he,) he was too well-bred a man not to be cheerful in company; but he was gloomy when alone. He never was cheerful after my mother’s death, and he had met with many disappointments.’ Dr. Johnson observed to me afterwards, ‘That this was no favourable account of Dr. Young; for it is not becoming in a man to have so little acquiescence in the ways of Providence, as to be gloomy because he has not obtained as much preferment as he expected; nor to continue gloomy for the loss of his wife. Grief has its time.’ The last part of this censure was theoretically made. Practically, we know that grief for the loss of a wife may be continued very long, in proportion as affection has been sincere. No man knew this better than Dr. Johnson.
We went into the church, and looked at the monument erected by Mr. Young to his father. Mr. Young mentioned an anecdote, that his father had received several thousand pounds of subscription-money for his Universal Passion, but had lost it in the South-Sea.a Dr. Johnson thought this must be a mistake; for he had never seen a subscription-book.
Upon the road we talked of the uncertainty of profit with which authours and booksellers engage in the publication of literary works. JOHNSON. ‘My judgementI have Found is no certain ruleas tothe saleof abook.’ BOSWELL. ‘Pray, Sir, have you been much plagued with authours sending you their works to revise?’ JOHNSON. ‘No, Sir; I have been thought a sour, surly fellow.’ BOSWELL. ‘Very lucky for you, Sir, – in that respect.’ I must however observe, that notwithstanding what he now said, which he no doubt imagined at the time to be the fact, there was, perhaps, no man who more frequently yielded to the solicitations even of very obscure authours, to read their manuscripts, or more liberally assisted them with advice and correction.
He found himself very happy at ‘Squire Dilly’s, where there is always abundance of excellent fare, and hearty welcome.
On Sunday, June 3, we all went to Southill church, which is very near to Mr. Dilly’s house. It being the first Sunday of the month, the holy sacrament was administered, and I staid to partake of it. When I came afterwards into Dr. Johnson’s room, he said, ‘You did right to stay and receive the communion; I had not thought of it.’ This seemed to imply that he did not choose to approach the altar without a previous preparation, as to which good men entertain different opinions, some holding that it is irreverent to partake of that ordinance without considerable premeditation; others, that whoever is a sincere Christian, and in a proper frame of mind to discharge any other ritual duty of our religion, may, without scruple, discharge this most solemn one. A middle notion I believe to be the just one, which is, that communicants need not think a long train of preparatory forms indispensably necessary; but neither should they rashly and lightly venture upon so aweful and mysterious an institution. Christians must judge each for himself, what degree of retirement and self-examination is necessary upon each occasion.
Being in a frame of mind which, I hope for the felicity of human nature, many experience, – in fine weather, – at the country house of a friend, – consoled and elevated by pious exercises, – I expressed myself with an unrestrained fervour to my ‘Guide, Philosopher, and Friend;’ ‘My dear Sir, I would fain be a good man; and I am very good now. I fear God, and honour the King, I wish to do no ill, and to be benevolent to all mankind.’ He looked at me with a benignant indulgence; but took occasion to give