On the 23rd of June, I again wrote to Dr. Johnson, enclosing a ship-master's receipt for a jar of orange-marmalade, and a large packet of Lord Hailes's Annals of Scotland.
'To JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.
'DEAR SIR,
'I have just received your packet from Mr. Thrale's, but have not day-light enough to look much into it. I am glad that I have credit enough with Lord Hailes to be trusted with more copy. I hope to take more care of it than of the last. I return Mrs. Boswell my affectionate thanks for her present, which I value as a token of reconciliation.
'Poor Dodd {William Dodd, a clergyman sentenced to be hanged for forgery – Editor} was put to death yesterday, in opposition to the recommendation of the jury — the petition of the city of London — and a subsequent petition signed by three-and-twenty thousand hands. Surely the voice of the publick, when it calls so loudly, and calls only for mercy, ought to be heard.
'The saying that was given me in the papers I never spoke; but I wrote many of his petitions, and some of his letters. He applied to me very often.
He was, I am afraid, long flattered with hopes of life; but I had no part in the dreadful delusion; for, as soon as the King had signed his sentence, I obtained from Mr. Chamier an account of the disposition of the court towards him, with a declaration that there was no hope even of a respite. This letter immediately was laid before Dodd; but he believed those whom he wished to be right, as it is thought, till within three days of his end. He died with pious composure and resolution. I hope all is not true that is charged upon him. Of his behaviour in prison an account will be published.
'I give you joy of your country-house, and your pretty garden; and hope some time to see you in your felicity.
'I hope to meet you somewhere towards the north, but am loath to come quite to Carlisle. Can we not meet at Manchester? But we will settle it in some other letters.
'Mr. Seward, a great favourite at Streatham, has been, I think, enkindled by our travels with a curiosity to see the Highlands. I have given him letters to you and Beattie. He desires that a lodging may be taken for him at Edinburgh, against his arrival. He is just setting out.
'Mrs. Williams is, I fear, declining. Dr. Lawrence says he can do no more. She is gone to summer in the country, with as many conveniences about her as she can expect; but I have no great hope. We must all die: may we all be prepared!
'I suppose Miss Boswell reads her book, and young Alexander takes to his learning. Let me hear about them; for every thing that belongs to you, belongs in a more remote degree, and not, I hope, very remote, to, dear Sir,
'Yours affectionately,
'SAM. JOHNSON.'
'June, 28, 1777.'
TO THE SAME.
'DEAR SIR,
'This gentleman is a great favourite at Streatham, and therefore you will easily believe that he has very valuable qualities. Our narrative has kindled him with a desire of visiting the Highlands, after having already seen a great part of Europe. You must receive him as a friend, and when you have directed him to the curiosities of Edinburgh, give him instructions and recommendations for the rest of his journey. I am, dear Sir,
'Your most humble servant,
'SAM. JOHNSON.'
'June 24, 1777.'
Johnson's benevolence to the unfortunate was, I am confident, as steady and active as that of any of those who have been most eminently distinguished for that virtue. Innumerable proofs of it I have no doubt will be for ever concealed from mortal eyes. We may, however, form some judgement of it, from the many and very various instances which have been discovered. One, which happened in the course of this summer, is remarkable from the name and connection of the person who was the object of it. The circumstance to which I allude is ascertained by two letters, one to Mr. Langton, and another to the Reverend Dr. Vyse, rector of Lambeth, son of the respectable clergyman at Lichfield, who was contemporary with Johnson, and in whose father's family Johnson had the happiness of being kindly received in his early years.
'DR. JOHNSON TO BENNET LANGTON, ESQ.
'DEAR SIR,
'I have lately been much disordered by a difficulty of breathing, but am now better. I hope your house is well.
'I have an old acquaintance whose distress makes him very desirous of an hospital, and I am afraid I have not strength enough to get him into the Chartreux. He is a painter, who never rose higher than to get his immediate living, and from that, at eighty-three, he is disabled by a slight stroke of the palsy, such as does not make him at all helpless on common occasions, though his hand is not steady enough for his art.
'My request is, that you will try to obtain a promise of the next vacancy, from the Bishop of Chester. It is not a great thing to ask, and I hope we shall obtain it. Dr. Warton has promised to favour him with his notice, and I hope he may end his days in peace. I am, Sir,
'Your most humble servant,
'SAM. JOHNSON.'
'June 29, 1777.'
'To THE REVEREND DR. VYSE, AT LAMBETH.
'SIR,
'I doubt not but you will readily forgive me for taking the liberty of requesting your assistance in recommending an old friend to his Grace the Archbishop, as Governour of the Charter-house.
'His name is De Groot; he was born at Gloucester; I have known him many years. He has all the common claims to charity, being old, poor, and infirm, in a great degree. He has likewise another claim, to which no scholar can refuse attention; he is by several descents the nephew of Hugo Grotius; of him, from whom perhaps every man of learning has learnt something. Let it not be said that in any lettered country a nephew of Grotius asked a charity and was refused.
'I am, reverend Sir,
'Your most humble servant,
'SAM. JOHNSON.'
'July 9, 1777.'
'To DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON.
'Edinburgh, July 15, 1777.
'MY DEAR SIR,
'The fate of poor Dr. Dodd made a dismal impression upon my mind.
* * * * *
'I received Mr. Seward as the friend of Mr. and Mrs. Thrale, and as a gentleman recommended by Dr. Johnson to my attention. I have introduced him to Lord Kames, Lord Monboddo, and Mr. Nairne. He is gone to the Highlands with Dr. Gregory; when he returns I shall do more for him.
'Be so kind as to let me know how your time is to be distributed next autumn. I will meet you at Manchester, or where you please; but I wish you would complete your tour of the cathedrals, and come to Carlisle, and I will accompany you a part of the way homewards.
'I am ever,
'Most faithfully yours,
'JAMES BOSWELL.'
'To JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.
'DEAR SIR,
'Your notion of the necessity of an yearly interview is very pleasing to both my vanity and tenderness. I shall, perhaps, come to Carlisle another year; but my money has not held out so well as it used to do. I shall go to Ashbourne, and I purpose to make Dr. Taylor invite you. If you live awhile with me at his house, we shall have much time to ourselves, and our stay will be no expence to us or him. I shall leave London the 28th; and after some stay at Oxford and Lichfield, shall probably come to Ashbourne about the end of your Session, but of all this you shall have notice. Be satisfied we will meet somewhere.
'What passed between me and poor Dr. Dodd you shall know more fully when we meet.
'Sir Alexander Dick is the only Scotsman liberal enough not to be angry that I could not find trees, where trees were not. I was much delighted by his kind letter.
'Our ramble in the islands hangs upon my imagination, I can hardly help imagining that we shall go again.
'You have done right in taking your uncle's house. Some change in the form of life, gives from time to time a new epocha of existence. In a new place there is something new to be done, and a different system of thoughts rises in the mind. I wish I could gather currants in your garden. Now fit up a little study, and have your books ready at hand; do not spare a little money, to make your habitation pleasing to yourself.
'I have dined lately with poor dear ——. I do not think he goes on well. His table is rather coarse, and he has his children too much about him. But he is a very good man.
'Mrs. Williams is in the country to try if she can improve her health; she is very ill. Matters have come so about that she is in the country with very good accommodation; but age and sickness, and pride, have made her so peevish that I was forced to bribe the maid to stay with her, by a secret stipulation of half a crown a week over her wages.
'The Thrales are well.
'I am, dear Sir,
'Your most affectionate, &c.
'SAM. JOHNSON.'
'July 22, 1777.'
'DR. JOHNSON TO MRS. BOSWELL.
'MADAM,
'Though I am well enough pleased with the taste of sweetmeats, very little of the pleasure which I received at the arrival of your jar of marmalade arose from eating it. I received it as a token of friendship, as a proof of reconciliation, things much sweeter than sweetmeats, and upon this consideration I return you, dear Madam, my sincerest thanks. By having your kindness I think I have a double security for the continuance of Mr. Boswell's, which it is not to be expected that any man can long keep, when the influence of a lady so highly and so justly valued operates against him.
Mr. Boswell will tell you that I was always faithful to your interest, and always endeavoured to exalt you in his estimation. You must now do the same for me. We must all help one another, and you must now consider me, as, dear Madam,
'Your most obliged,
'And most humble servant,
'SAM. JOHNSON.'
'July 22, 1777.'
'MR. BOSWELL TO DR. JOHNSON.
'Edinburgh, July 28, 1777.
'My Dear Sir,
'This is the day on which you were to leave London and I have been amusing myself in the intervals of my law-drudgery, with figuring you in the Oxford post-coach. I doubt, however, if you have had so merry a journey as you and I had in that vehicle last year, when you made so much sport with Gwyn, the architect. Incidents upon a journey are recollected with peculiar pleasure; they are preserved in brisk spirits, and come up again in our minds, tinctured with that gaiety, or at least that animation with which we first perceived them.'
* * * * *
[I added, that something had occurred, which I was afraid might prevent me from meeting him; and that my wife had been affected with complaints which threatened a consumption, but was now better.]
'To JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.
'DEAR SIR,
'Do not disturb yourself about our interviews; I hope we shall have many; nor think it any thing hard or unusual, that your design of meeting me is interrupted. We have both endured greater evils, and have greater evils to expect.
'Mrs. Boswell's illness makes a more serious distress. Does the blood rise from her lungs or from her stomach? From little vessels broken in the stomach there is no danger. Blood from the lungs is, I believe, always frothy, as mixed with wind. Your physicians know very well what is to be done. The loss of such a lady would, indeed, be very afflictive, and I hope she is in no danger. Take care to keep her mind as easy as is possible.
'Make my compliments to Miss Veronica. The rest are too young for ceremony.
'That you and your lady may both be happy, and long enjoy your happiness, is the sincere and earnest wish of, dear Sir,
'Your most, &c.
'SAM. JOHNSON.'
'Oxford, Aug. 4, 1777.'
(classix comix™ is underwritten in part by the Bob’s Bowery Bar Endowment for the Unlucrative Arts: “Feeling the need for a bit of comfort food after a hard day at the office or factory? Why not toddle over to Bob’s Bowery Bar at Bleecker and the Bowery and order up a big plate of Bob’s Mom’s Homemade Kielbasa & Pierogis, served with sour cream and sauerkraut – goes swell with a tall schooner of Bob’s famous basement-brewed house bock!”
– Horace P. Sternwall, host of Bob’s Bowery Bar Presents the Philip Morris Commander Mystery Theatre, Thursdays at 10pm (EST), exclusively on the Dumont Television Network. This week’s play: One Corpse Too Many by Helena Pierce Schoonover, directed by Angus Strongbow and starring Hyacinth Wilde and Dan Duryea; featuring Akim Tamiroff, Hermione Gingold, and Miss Kitty Carlisle as “Lady Cholmondeley”.)
part 150
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