The Life of Samuel Johnson - James Boswell [893]
a A Club in London, founded by the learned and ingenious physician, Dr. Ash, in honour of whose name it was called Eumelian,1263 from the Greek Et]le´kiaz; though it was warmly contended, and even put to a vote, that it should have the more obvious appellation of Fraxinean,1264 from the Latin.
b Mrs. Thrale’s Collection, March 10, 1784. Vol. ii. p. 350.
c See what he said to Mr. Malone, p. 792 of this volume.
a Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd ed. p. 209 {14 Sept.}. On the same subject, in his Letter to Mrs. Thrale, dated Nov. 29, 1783, he makes the following just observation: – ‘Life, to be worthy of a rational being, must be always in progression; we must always purpose to do more or better than in time past. The mind is enlarged and elevated by mere purposes, though they end as they began, by airy contemplation. We compare and judge, though we do not practise.’
b Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, p. 374 {25 Oct.}.
a Pr. and Med. p. 47.
b Ib. p. 68.
c Ib. p. 84.
d Ib. p. 120.
e Ib. p. 130.
f Dr. Johnson related, with very earnest approbation, a story of a gentleman, who, in an impulse of passion, overcame the virtue of a young woman. When she said to him, ‘I am afraid we have done wrong!’ he answered, ‘Yes, we have done wrong; – for I would not debauch her mind.’
g Pr. and Med., p. 192.
a This bold experiment, Sir John Hawkins has related in such a manner as to suggest a charge against Johnson of intentionally hastening his end; a charge so very inconsistent with his character in every respect, that it is injurious even to refute it, as Sir John has thought it necessary to do. It is evident, that what Johnson did in hopes of relief, indicated an extraordinary eagerness to retard his dissolution.
a ‘IN tHE NAME OF GOD. AMEN. I, SAMUEL JOHNSON, being in full possession of my faculties, but fearing this night may put an end to my life, do ordain this my last Will and Testament. I bequeath to God, a soul polluted with many sins, but I hope purified by Jesus Christ. I leave seven hundred and fifty pounds in the hands of Bennet Langton, Esq.: three hundred pounds in the hands of Mr. Barclay and Mr. Perkins, brewers; one hundred and fifty pounds in the hands of Dr. Percy, Bishop of Dromore; one thousand pounds, three per cent. annuities, in the publick funds; and one hundred pounds now lying by me in ready money; all these before-mentioned sums and property I leave, I say, to Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir John Hawkins, and Dr. William Scott, of Doctors Commons, in trust, for the following uses: – That is to say, to pay to the representatives of the late William Innys, bookseller, in St. Paul’s Church-yard, the sum of two hundred pounds; to Mrs. White, my female servant, one hundred pounds stock in the three per cent. annuities aforesaid. The rest of the aforesaid sums of money and property, together with my books, plate, and household furniture, I leave to the before-mentioned Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir John Hawkins, and Dr. William Scott, also in trust, to be applied, after paying my debts, to the use of Francis Barber, my man-servant, a negro, in such a manner as they shall judge most fit and available to his benefit. And I appoint the aforesaid Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir John Hawkins, and Dr. William Scott, sole executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills and testaments whatever. In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name, and affix my seal, this eighth day of December, 1784.
‘SAM. JOHNSON, (L.S.)
‘Signed, sealed, published, declared, and delivered, by the said testator as his last will and testament, in the presence of us, the word two being first inserted in the opposite page.
‘GEORGE STRAHAN.
‘JOHN DESMOULINS.’
‘By way of Codicil to my last Will and Testament, I, SAMUEL JOHNSON, give, devise, and bequeath, my messuage or tenement situate at Lichfield, in the county of Stafford, with the appurtenances, in