The Life of Samuel Johnson - James Boswell [74]
‘SAM. JOHNSON.’
‘Pray lend me Topsel on Animals.’
I must not omit to mention, that this Mr. Macbean was a native of Scotland.
In the Gentleman’s Magazine of this year, Johnson gave a Life of Father Paul;∗ and he wrote the Preface to the Volume, f which, though prefixed to it when bound, is always published with the Appendix, and is therefore the last composition belonging to it. The ability and nice adaptation with which he could draw up a prefatory address, was one of his peculiar excellencies.
It appears too, that he paid a friendly attention to Mrs. Elizabeth Carter; for in a letter from Mr. Cave to Dr. Birch, November 28, this year, I find ‘Mr. Johnson advises Miss C. to undertake a translation of Boethius de Cons. because there is prose and verse, and to put her name to it when published.’ This advice was not followed; probably from an apprehension that the work was not sufficiently popular for an extensive sale. How well Johnson himself could have executed a translation of this philosophical poet, we may judge from the following specimen which he has given in the Rambler: (Motto to No. 7.)
‘O qui perpetuä mundum ratione gubernas,
Terrarum ccelique sator!––––––
Disjice terrenes nebulas et pondera molis,
Atque tuo splendore mica! Tu namque serenum,
Tu requies tranquilla pits. Te cernere finis,
Principium, vector, dux, semita, terminus, idem.’
‘O thou whose power o’er moving worlds presides,
Whose voice created, and whose wisdom guides,
On darkling man in pure effulgence shine,
And cheer the clouded mind with light divine.
’Tis thine alone to calm the pious breast,
With silent confidence and holy rest;
From thee, great God! we spring, to thee we tend, Path,
motive, guide, original, and end!’
In 1739, beside the assistance which he gave to the Parliamentary Debates, his writings in the Gentleman’s Magazine were, ‘The Life of Boerhaave,’∗ in which it is to be observed, that he discovers that love of chymistry which never forsook him; ‘An Appeal to the publick in behalf of the Editor;’f ‘An Address to the Reader;’f ‘An Epigram both in Greek and Latin to Eliza,’∗ and also English verses to her;∗ and, A Greek Epigram to Dr. Birch.’∗ It has been erroneously supposed, that an Essay published in that Magazine this year, entitled ‘The Apotheosis of Milton,’ was written by Johnson; and on that supposition it has been improperly inserted in the edition of his works by the Booksellers, after his decease. Were there no positive testimony as to this point, the style of the performance, and the name of Shakspeare not being mentioned in an Essay professedly reviewing the principal English poets, would ascertain it not to be the production of Johnson. But there is here no occasion to resort to internal evidence; for my Lord Bishop of Salisbury (Dr. Douglas) has assured me, that it was written by Guthrie. His separate publications were, A Complete Vindication of the Licensers of the Stage, from the malicious and scandalous Aspersions of Mr. Brooke, Authour of Gustavus Vasa,’∗ being an ironical Attack upon them for their Suppression of that Tragedy; and, ‘Marmor Norfolciense; or an Essay on an ancient prophetical Inscription in monkish Rhyme, lately discovered near Lynne in Norfolk, by Probus Britannicus.’∗ In this performance, he, in a feigned inscription, supposed to have been found in Norfolk, the county of Sir Robert Walpole, then the obnoxious prime minister of this country, inveighs against the Brunswick succession, and the measures of government consequent upon it.a62 To this supposed prophecy he added a Commentary, making each expression apply to the times, with warm Anti-Hanoverian zeal.
This anonymous pamphlet, I believe, did not make so much noise as was expected, and, therefore, had not a very extensive circulation. Sir John Hawkins relates, that, ‘warrants were issued, and messengers employed to apprehend the authour; who, though he had forborne to subscribe his name to the pamphlet, the vigilanceofthose inpursuit ofhim had discovered;’ and we are informed, that