The Life of Samuel Johnson - James Boswell [830]
a Prayers and Meditations p. 40 {p. 25}.
b Ib., p. 27.
a Some time after Dr. Johnson’s death there appeared in the newspapers and magazines an illiberal and petulant attack upon him, in the form of an Epitaph, under the name of Mr. Soame Jenyns, very unworthy of that gentleman, who had quietly submitted to the critical lash while Johnson lived. It assumed, as characteristicks of him, all the vulgar circumstances of abuse which had circulated amongst the ignorant. It was an unbecoming indulgence of puny resentment, at a time when he himself was at a very advanced age, and had a near prospect of descending to the grave. I was truly sorry for it; for he was then become an avowed, and (as my Lord Bishop of London, who had a serious conversation with him on the subject, assures me) a sincere Christian. He could not expect that Johnson’s numerous friends would patiently bear to have the memory of their master stigmatized by no mean pen, but that, at least, one would be found to retort. Accordingly, this unjust and sarcastick Epitaph was met in the same publick field by an answer, in terms by no means soft, and such as wanton provocation only could justify:
‘epitaph,
‘Prepared for a creature not quite dead yet.
‘Here lies a little ugly nauseous elf,
Who judging only from its wretched self,
Feebly attempted, petulant and vain,
The “Origin of Evil” to explain.
A mighty Genius at this elf displeas’d,
With a strong critick grasp the urchin squeez’d.
For thirty years its coward spleen it kept,
Till in the dust the mighty Genius slept;
Then stunk and fretted in expiring snuff,
And blink’d at Johnson with its last poor puff.’
a Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd edit. p. 48 {19 Aug.}.
a They have been reprinted by Mr. Malone, in the Preface to his edition of Shakspeare.
a The celebrated oratour, Mr. Flood, has shown himself to be of Dr. Johnson’s opinion; having by his will bequeathed his estate, after the death of his wife Lady Frances, to the University of Dublin; ‘desiring that immediately after the said estate shall come into their possession, they shall appoint two professors, one for the study of the native Erse or Irish language, and the other for the study of Irish antiquities and Irish history, and for the study of any other European language illustrative of, or auxiliary to, the study of Irish antiquities or Irish history; and that they shall give yearly two liberal premiums for two compositions, one in verse, and the other in prose, in the Irish language.’
b ‘Now, or late, Vice-Chancellor.’ Warton.
c ‘Mr. Warton was elected Professor of Poetry at Oxford in the preceding year.’ Warton.
d ‘Miss Jones lived at Oxford, and was often of our parties. She was a very ingenious poetess, and published a volume of poems; and, on the whole, was a most sensible, agreeable, and amiable woman. She was a sister to the Reverend River Jones, Chanter of Christ Church Cathedral at Oxford, and Johnson used to call her the Chantress. I have heard him often address her in this passage from Il Penseroso:
“Thee, Chantress, oft the woods among
I woo,” etc.140
She died unmarried.’ Warton.
a Tom. iii, p. 482.
b Of Shakspeare.
a Mr. Garrick.
b Mr. Dodsley, the Authour of Cleone.
c Mr. Samuel Richardson, authour of Clarissa.
a This letter was an answer to one in which was enclosed a draft for the payment of some subscriptions to his Shakspeare.
a Prayers and Meditations, p. 30 {p. 36}.
a This paper may be found in Stockdale’s supplemental volume of Johnson’s Miscellaneous Pieces.
b ‘Receipts for Shakspeare.’ Warton.
c ‘Then of Lincoln College. Now Sir Robert Chambers, one of the Judges in India.’ Warton.
a ‘Mr. Langton.’ Warton.
b ‘Part of the impression of the Shakespeare, which Dr. Johnson conducted alone, and published by subscription. This edition came out in 1765.’ Warton.
a