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remark: the fentiments were the fame, but they had loft their power, their brilliancy, and their attraction: the interest which had fascinated us in the first perufal was no more, and the labour was irksome and unpleafing. We fhall, therefore, haften to the conclufion, after felecting fome of the more important remarks, and adding a few general obfervations on fome parts of Dr. Johnson's character.-In the prefent levelling difpofition - of reformers, the remarks on entails may be worth selecting: the veteran is at this period in his 67th year.

He faid, "Entails are good, because it is good to preferve in a country, feriefes of men, to whom the people are accustomed to look up as to their leaders. But I am for leaving a quantity of land in commerce, to excite industry and keep money in the country; for if no land were to be bought in a country, there would be no encouragement to acquire wealth, because a family could not be founded there; or if it were acquired, it must be carried away to another country where land may be bought. And although the land in every country will remain the fame, and be as fertile where there is no money, as where there is, yet all that portion of the happiness of civil life, which is produced by money circulating in a country, would be loft." BOSWELL. "Then, fir, would it be for the advantage of a country that all its lands were fold at once?" JOHNSON. "So far, fir, as money produces good it would be an advantage, for, then that country would have as much money circulating in it as it is worth. But to be fure this would be counterbalanced by disadvantages attending a total change of proprietors."

I expreffed my opinion that the power of entailing should be limited thus: That there fhould be one third, or perhaps one half of the land of a country kept free for commerce; that the proportion allowed to be entailed, fhould be parcelled out fo as that no family could entail above a certain quantity. Let a family according to the abilities of its reprefentatives, be richer or poorer in different generations, or always rich if its reprefen tatives be always wife: but let its abfolute permanency be moderate. In this way we should be certain of there being always a number of established roots; and as in the course of nature, there is in every age an extinction of fome families, there would be continual openings for men ambitious of perpetuity, to plant a flock in the entail ground." JoHNSON. "Why, fir, mankind will be better able to regulate the fyftem of entails, when the evil of too much land being locked up by them is felt, than we can do at present when it is not felt."

This indeed is but the sketch of the queftion, nor is it expanded in that part which is of moft importance, viz. how far it is right to prevent the general diffufion of property. We

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mention it only to obferve, that we wish to see it difcuffed with all the improvements which our more experienced state of commerce may fuggeft.

About this time Dr. Blair offered his firft volume of fermons for fale; and we may incidentally obferve, that Mr. Strahan difcouraged the publication. Sermons were not at that time fafhionable; and the polifh of Dr. Blair, which gave elegance to fentiments not too profound for common comprehenfion, nor too obvious to be uninterefting, was wanting to render this fpecies of compofition popular and generally pleafing. In confequence of Johnfon's approbation, one hundred pounds were given for the firft volume, which, in confequence of the extenfive fale, the proprietors doubled. They gave him 300 pounds for the fecond, and 600 for the third. The last sum, we believe, was more than ever a work of equal bulk procured from booksellers; but it increased the fale of the former two volumes.

The Lives of the English Poets formed a memorable æra in Johnfon's life. It is a work which has contributed to immortalize his name; and has fecured that rational efteem which party or partiality could not procure, and which even the injudicious zeal of his friends has not been able to leffen. We mean not to say that they are perfect, or that on the whole they are executed with propriety. Johnson, as we have already had occafion to remark, brought to the production of this work ideas already formed, opinions tinctured with his ufual hues of party and prejudice, and the rigid unfeeling philofophy, which could neither bend to excufe failings, or judge of what was not capable of a difpaffionate difquifition. In general, it may be observed, that though there are many opinions erroneous, and many obfervations improper, a great part of the work is fuch as no one but himself could have executed, and in which he will not be followed with fuccefs. We fhall trace this attempt from what appears to be its firft dawn, in a letter from Mr. Dilly to Mr. Bofwell.

Southill, Sept. 26, 1777.

"Dear Sir, "You will find by this letter, that I am fill in the fame calm retreat from the noife and bustle of London, as when I wrote to you last. I am happy to find you had fuch an agreeable meeting with your old friend Dr. Johnfon; I have no doubt your stock is much increased by the interview; few men, nay I may fay, fcarcely any man has got that fund of knowledge and entertainment as Dr. Johnfon in converfation. When he opens freely, every one is attentive to what he says, and cannot fail of improvement as well as pleasure.

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"The edition of the poets, now printing, will do honour to the English prefs, and a concise account of the life of each author, by Dr. Johnfon, will be a very valuable addition, and ftamp the reputation of this edition fuperior to any thing that is gone before. The firft caufe that gave rife to this undertaking, I believe, was owing to the little trifling edition of the poets, printing by the Martins, at Edinburgh, and to be fold by Bell, in London. Upon examining the volumes which were printed, the type was found fo extremely fmall, that many perfons could not read them; not only this inconvenience attended it, but the inaccuracy of the prefs was very confpicuous. These reafons, as well as the idea of an invafion of what we call our literary property, induced the London booksellers to print an elegant and accurate edition of * all the English poets of reputation, from Chaucer to the prefent time.

"Accordingly a felect number of the most respectable booksellers met on the occafion, and, on confulting together, agreed, that all the proprietors of copy-right in the various poets should be fummoned together; and when their opinions were given, to proceed immediately on the bufinefs. Accordingly a meeting was held, confifting of about forty of the moft refpectable bookfellers of London, when it was agreed that an elegant and uniform edition of The English Poets' fhould be immediately printed, with a concife account of the life of each author, by Dr. Samuel Johnson, and that three perfons fhould be deputed to wait upon Dr. Johnfon, to folicit him to undertake the lives, viz. T. Davis, Strahan, and Cadell. The Doctor very politely undertook it, and feemed exceeding pleafed with the propofal As to the terms, it was left entirely to the Doctor to name his own: he mentioned two hundred guineas: it was immediately agreed to; and a farther compliment, I believe, will be made him. A committee was likewife appointed to engage the best engravers, viz. Bartolozzi, Sherwin, Hall, &c. Likewife another committee for giving directions about the paper, printing, &c. fo that the whole will be conducted with fpirit, and in the best manner, with refpect to authorship, editorship, engraving, &c. &c. My brother will give you a list of the poèts we mean to give, many of which are within the time of the act of queen Anne, which Martin and Bell cannot give, as they have no pro perty in them; the proprietors are almost all the bookfellers in I.ondon of confequence. I am, dear fir,

Ever yours,

" EDWARD DILLY."

There is more than one circumftance, in this letter, which is fufpicious = It is remarkable that, in the first plan, the earliest poet was Cowley.

It was owing it feems to Dr. Johnson's recommendation that among the English poets we find Watts, who would perhaps have afked, if he had viewed the lettering on the back of the volume, whether the English poet was a relation or a namesake only. But we mean not to depreciate Watts, whofe acquifitions were numerous and extenfive. He knew much, and what he knew he understood clearly; his elementary works are perfpicuous, judicious, and correct. We object only to his poetry; for the poetical beauties appear scattered almoft, as it feems, by accident; and though he may rival, perhaps excel, fome of the minor poets, admitted injudiciously into the fame collection, we could have wifhed that his poetical fame had not been obtruded on the public view. With Johnson his piety and orthodoxy feemed to throw a luftre over his other talents. But this fubject will lead us too far.

The fate of Dr. Dodd called forth the ftrenuous exertions of Johnson's vaft comprehenfive mind. We find from Mr. Bofwell's work that Johnson thought his fentence juft; yet, perhaps, fearing that religion might suffer from the errors of one of its minifters, he endeavoured to prevent the last ignominious fpectacle. All his attempts were, however, ineffectual; and we hall add to the chances of refcuing from oblivion his laft letter to Dr. Dodd, and his concluding reflections, by tranfcribing them in our Journal.

"Dear Sir,

That which is appointed to all men is now coming upon you. Outward circumftances, the eyes and the thoughts of men, are below the notice of an immortal being about to stand the trial for eternity, before the Supreme Judge of heaven and earth. Be comforted your crime, morally or religiously confidered, has no very deep dye of turpitude. It corrupted no man's principle; it attacked no man's life. It involved only a temporary and reparable injury. Of this, and of all other fins, you are earnestly to repent, and may God, who knoweth our frailty and defireth not our death, accept your repentance, for the fake of his fon Jefus Christ our Lord.

"In requital of thofe well intended offices, which you are pleafed fo emphatically to acknowledge, let me beg that you make in your devotions one petition for my eternal welfare, I am, dear fir,

"Your affectionate servant,

"June 26, 1777.

SAM. JOHNSON."

Under the copy of this letter I found written, in Johnson's own hand," Next day, June 27, he was executed.”

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To conclude this interefting epifode with an ufeful applica tion, let us now attend to the reflections of Johnson at the end of Occafional Papers,' concerning the unfortunate Dr. Dodd, Such were the last thoughts of a man whom we have seen exulting in popularity, and funk in shame. For his reputation, which no man can give to himself, thofe who conferred it are to answer of his public miniftry the means of judging were fuffi ciently attainable. He must be allowed to preach well, whose fermons ftrike his audience with forcible conviction. Of his life, those who thought it confiftent with his doctrine did not originally form falfe notions. He was at first what he endeavoured to make others; but the world broke down his refolution, and he in time ceafed to exemplify his own inftructions.

"Let those who are tempted to his faults, tremble at his punishment; and thofe whom he impreffed from the pulpit with religious fentiments, endeavour to confirm them by confidering the regret and felf-abhorrence with which he reviewed in prison his deviations from rectitude *.'

Let us add the fubfequent paragraph, introduced, we think, a little too abruptly; but is a bold, well drawn, natural character, and shows a deep knowledge of the human heart.

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Johnfon gave us this evening in his happy difcriminative man◄ ner, a portrait of the late Mr. Fitzherbert of Derbyshire. There was, faid he, no sparkle, no brilliancy in Fitzherbert; but I ne ver knew a man who was fo generally acceptable. He made every body quite easy, overpowered nobody by, the fuperiority of his talents, made no man think worse of himself by being his rival, feemed always to liften, did not oblige you to hear much from him, and did not oppose what you faid. Every body liked him; but he had no friend, as I understand the word, nobody with whom he exchanged intimate thoughts. People were willing to think well of every thing about him. A gentleman was making an affected rant, as many people do, of great feelings about his dear fon,' who was at school near London; how anxious he was left he might be ill, and what he would give to fee him. Can't you (faid Fitzherbert) take a poft-chaife and go to him?' This to be fure, fin fed the affected man, but there was not much in it. However this was circulated as wit for a whole winter, and I believe part of a fummer too; a proof that he was no very

As a proof of Dr. Dodd's wonderful powers of perfuafion, we may mention the effects of his preaching on a man of found judgment and folid underftand ug. He went to the Magdalen chapel fully aware of the preacher's powers, and, on his guard, as he faid, again his canting. He was foon deeply engaged in the fubject of the difcourfe, and gave to the collection all the money in his pocket, regretting he had no more, though the morning's reflec tio:s led him to regret that he had so much.

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