The Life of Samuel Johnson - James Boswell [868]
Mr. Malone, it must be owned, has shewn much critical ingenuity in the explanation of this passage. His interpretation, however, seems to me much too recondite. The meaning of the passage may be certain enough; but surely the expression is confused, and one part of it contradictory to the other.
a Which I communicated to him from his Lordship, but it has not yet been published. I have a copy of it. [The few notices concerning Dryden, which Lord Hailes had collected, the author afterwards gave to Mr. Malone.]
b In one of his manuscript Diaries, there is the following entry, which marks his curious minute attention: ‘July 26, 1768. I shaved my nail by accident in whetting the knife, about an eighth of an inch from the bottom, and about a fourth from the top. This I measure that I may know the growth of nails; the whole is about five eighths of an inch.’
Another of the same kind appears, ‘Aug. 7, 1779, Partem brachii dextri carpo proximam et cutem pectoris circa mamillam dextram rasi, ut notum fieret quanto temporis pili renovarentur.’913
And, ‘Aug. 15, 1773. I cut from the vine 41 leaves, which weighed five oz. and a half, and eight scruples: – I lay them upon my book-case, to see what weight they will lose by drying.’
a The Rev. Dr. Law, Bishop of Carlisle, in the Preface to his valuable edition of Archbishop King’s Essay on the Origin of Evil, mentions that the principles maintained in it had been adopted by Pope in his Essay on Man; and adds, The fact, notwithstanding such denial (Bishop Warburton’s), might have been strictly verified by an unexceptionable testimony, viz. that of the late Lord Bathurst, who saw the very same system of the $$914 (taken from the Archbishop) in Lord Bolingbroke’s own hand, lying before Mr. Pope, while he was composing his Essay.’ This is respectable evidence; but that of Dr. Blair is more direct from the fountain-head, as well as more full. Let me add to it that of Dr. Joseph Warton; The late Lord Bathurst repeatedly assured me that he had read the whole scheme of The Essay on Man, in the hand-writing of Bolingbroke, and drawn up in a series of propositions, which Pope was to versify and illustrate.’ Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope, vol. ii. p. 62.
a The Spleen, a Poem.917
b 1. Exeter-street, off Catherine-street, Strand. 2. Greenwich. 3. Woodstock-street, near Hanover-square.4. Castle-street, Cavendish-square, No.6. 5. Strand.6. Boswell-court. 7. Strand, again. 8. Bow-street. 9. Holborn. 10. Fetter-lane. 11. Holborn, again. 12. Gough-square. 13. Staple Inn. 14. Gray’s Inn. 15. Inner Temple-lane, No. 1. 16. Johnson’s-court, No. 7. 17. Bolt-court, No. 8.
a Now the Lady of Sir Henry Dashwood, Bart.
b The False Alarm.
a Miss Letitia Barnston.
a I have a valuable collection made by my Father, which, with some additions and illustrations of my own, I intend to publish. I have some hereditary claim to be an Antiquary; not only from my Father, but as being descended, by the mother’s side, from the able and learned Sir John Skene, whose merit bids defiance to all the attempts which have been made to lessen his fame.
a Thomas Percy.
b His regiment was afterwards ordered to Jamaica, where he accompanied it, and almost lost his life by the climate. This impartial order I should think a sufficient refutation of the idle rumour that ‘there was still something behind the throne greater than the throne itself.’
a Requesting me to inquire concerning the family of a gentleman927 who was then paying his addresses to Miss Doxy.
b See ante, p. 722.
a [Mr. Beauclerk’s library was sold by publick auction in April and May 1781, for £5011.]
b By a fire in Northumberland-house, where he had an apartment, in which I have passed many an agreeable hour.
a Dr. John Hinchliffe.
b A kind of nick-name given to Mrs. Thrale’s eldest daughter, whose name being Esther, she might be assimilated to a Queen.
c Mr. Thrale.
d In Johnson’s Dictionary is neither dawling nor dawdling. He uses