The Life of Samuel Johnson - James Boswell [846]
b Sir Alexander Gordon, one of the Professors at Aberdeen.
c This was a box containing a number of curious things which he had picked up in Scotland, particularly some horn spoons.
a The Rev. Dr. Alexander Webster, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, a man of distinguished abilities, who had promised him information concerning the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
a Pr. and Med. p. 129.
b The ancient Burgh of Prestwick, in Ayrshire.
a A manuscript account drawn up by Dr. Webster of all the parishes in Scotland, ascertaining their length, breadth, number of inhabitants, and distinguishing Protestants and Roman Catholicks. This book had been transmitted to government, and Dr. Johnson saw a copy of it in Dr. Webster’s possession.
a Iona.
a Dr. Goldsmith died April 4, this year.
a These books Dr. Johnson presented to the Bodleian Library.
b On the cover enclosing them, Dr. Johnson wrote, ‘If my delay has given any reason for supposing that I have not a very deep sense of the honour done me by asking my judgement, I am very sorry.’
a I HAD WRITTEN TO HIM, TO REQUEST HIS INTERPOSITION IN BEHALF OF A CONVICT,416 WHO I THOUGHT WAS VERY UNJUSTLY CONDEMNED.
a Mr. Perkins was for a number of years the worthy superintendant of Mr. Thrale’s great brewery, and after his death became one of the proprietors of it; and now resides in Mr. Thrale’s house in Southwark, which was the scene of so many literary meetings, and in which he continues the liberal hospitality for which it was eminent. Dr. Johnson esteemed him much. He hung up in the counting-house a fine proof of the admirable mezzotinto of Dr. Johnson, by Doughty; and when Mrs. Thrale asked him somewhat flippantly, ‘Why do you put him up in the counting-house?’ he answered, ‘Because, Madam, I wish to have one wise man there.’ ‘Sir,’ (said Johnson,) ‘I thank you. It is a very handsome compliment, and I believe you speak sincerely.’
b In the news-papers.
a Alluding to a passage in a letter of mine, where speaking of his Journey to the Hebrides, I say, ‘But has not The Patriot been an interruption, by the time taken to write it, and the time luxuriously spent in listening to its applauses?’
b We had projected a voyage together up the Baltick, and talked of visiting some of the more northern regions.
c Cleonice.
a In the Court of Session of Scotland an action is first tried by one of the Judges, who is called the Lord Ordinary; and if either party is dissatisfied, he may appeal to the whole Court, consisting of fifteen, the Lord President and fourteen other Judges, who have both in and out of Court the title of Lords, from the name of their estates; as, Lord Auchinleck, Lord Monboddo, &c.
a It should be recollected, that this fanciful description of his friend was given by Johnson after he himself had become a water-drinker.
b See them in Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd edit. p. 337 {17 Oct.}.
c He now sent me a Latin inscription for my historical picture of Mary Queen of Scots, and afterwards favoured me with an English translation. Mr. Alderman Boydell, that eminent Patron of the Arts, has subjoined them to the engraving from my picture.
‘Maria Scotorum Regina
Hominum seditiosorum
Contumeliis lassata,
Minis territa, clamoribus victa,
Libello, per quern
Regno cedit,
Lacrimans trepidansque
Nomen apponit/
‘Mary Queen of Scots,
Harassed, terrified, and overpowered
By the insults, menaces,
And clamours