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Soon after his return to London, which was in February, was founded that CLUB which existed long without a name, but at Mr. Garrick's funeral became distinguished by the title of THE LITERARY CLUB. Sir Joshua Reynolds had the merit of being the first proposer of it, to which Johnson acceded, and the original members were…

He told me that he had twelve or fourteen times attempted to keep a journal of his life, but never could persevere. He advised me to do it. " The great thing to be recorded (said he), is the state of your own mind ; and you should write down every thing that you remember, for you cannot judge at first what is good or bad…

It was his custom to observe certain days with a pious abstraction ; viz., New Year's Day, the day of his wife's death, Good Friday, Easter Day, and his own birthday. He this year says, " I have now spent fifty-five years in resolving ; having, from the earliest time almost that I can remember, been forming schemes of a…

It is a rule never to be forgotten, that whatever strikes strongly, should be described while the first impression remains fresh upon the mind. Samuel Johnson

To write the Life of him who excelled all mankind in writing the lives of others, and who, whether we consider his extraordinary endowments, or his various works, has been equalled by few in any age, is an arduous, and may be reckoned in me a presumptuous task.

CHAPTER XXV—1775 JOHNSON AND MACPHERSON Johnson and Mrs. Charlotte Lennox—His Preface to Baretti's Easy Lessons—Correspondence with Boswell—Questions the Authenticity of Ossian's Poems—His Letter to James Macpherson—His Personal Courage—Defeats Foote's Intended Mimicry—" Journey to the Western Islands," Published—The…

"Write to me, and send me what intelligence you can : and if any thing is too bulky for the post, let me have it by the carrier. I do not like trusting winds and waves. "I am, dear Sir, "Your most, etc. "Jan. 29, 1774." "SAM. JOHNSON.

Nor can I deny to myself the very flattering gratification of inserting here the character which my friend Mr. Courtenay has been pleased to give of that work : " With Reynolds' pencil, vivid, bold, and true; So fervent Boswell gives him to our view : In every trait we see his mind expand; The master rises by the pupil's…

CHAPTER XXIV—1773 THE TOUR TO THE HEBRIDES Johnson Sets Out on his Tour to the Hebrides-Arrives in Edinburgh and Visits the Isles by Way of Aberdeen and Inverness—Letters to Boswell—Johnson and Davies—Johnson Writes an Account of his "Tour"—Letter to George Steevens—Death of Goldsmith—Johnson's Greek Epitaph on…

Upon another occasion, when Goldsmith confessed himself to be of an envious disposition, I contended with Johnson that we ought not to be angry with him, he was so candid in owning it. " Nay, Sir (said Johnson), we must be angry that a man has such a super-abundance of an odious quality, that he cannot keep it within his…

On Sunday, May 8, I dined with Johnson at Mr. Langton's, with Dr. Beattie, and some other company. He descanted on the subject of Literary Property.—"There seems (said he) to be in authors a stronger right of property than that by occupancy ; a metaphysical right, a right, as it were, of creation, which should from its…

MAYO: " Then, Sir, we are to remain always in error, and truth never can prevail ; and the magistrate was right in persecuting the first Christians." JOHNSON: " Sir, the only method by which religious truth can be established is by martyrdom. The magistrate has a right to enforce what he thinks ; and he who is conscious…

JOHNSON: "Every society has a right to preserve public peace and order, and therefore has a good right to prohibit the propagation of opinions which have a dangerous tendency. To say the magistrate has this right, is using an inadequate word : it is the society for which the magistrate is agent. He may be morally or…

JOHNSON praised John Bunyan highly. "His 'Pilgrim's Progress' The Pilgrim's Progress has great merit, both for invention, imagination, and the conduct of the story : and it has had the best evidence of its merit, the general and continued approbation of mankind. Few books, I believe, have had a more extensive sale. It is…

CHAPTER XXIII—1773 JOHNSON AND GOLDSMITH Dinner at Beauclerk's—Johnson's Opinion of Goldsmith as a Writer—Boswell Elected to the Literary Club—Monuments to Eminent Persons—" The Whole Duty of Man "—Johnson on Punning—Lay Patronage—South Sea Discoveries—Reasoning of Brutes—Toleration and Martyrdom—Johnson Excites the anger…

CHAPTER XXII—1773 "SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER" New Editions of the Dictionary and "Shakspeare " published—George Steevens—Letter to Boswell, who Re-visits London—Goldsmith's Comedy, " She Stoops to Conquer "—The Spectator—Good Friday and Easter Sunday—A Dinner at Johnson's House—The Stuarts—Law Reports—Signor Martinelli—Allan…

After urging the common plausible topics, I at last had recourse to the maxim, in vino veritas, a man who is well warmed with wine will speak truth. JOHNSON : " Why, Sir, that may be an argument for drinking, if you suppose men in general to be liars. But, Sir, I would not keep company with a fellow who lies as long as he…

A question was started how far people who disagreed in a capital point can live in friendship together. Johnson said they might. Goldsmith said they could not, as they had not the idem velle atque idem nolle—the same likings and the same aversions. JOHNSON : "Why, Sir, you must shun the subject as to which you disagree.…

I asked him how far he thought wealth should be employed in hospitality. JOHNSON : "You are to consider that ancient hospitality, of which we hear so much, was in an uncommercial country, when men, being idle, were glad to be entertained at rich men's tables. But in a commercial country, a busy country, time becomes…