APPENDIX.

I.

VARIOUS LETTERS,

CHIEFLY FROM DR. JOHNSON TO DIFFERENT PERSONS,

From February 6th, 1776, to July 28th, 1780; published by Mr. Croker in the first and subsequent editions of his Boswell's "Life of Johnson."

TO JOHN WESLEY

"Feb. 6, 1776.

“SIR,

"When I received your 'Commentary on the Bible,' I durst not at first flatter myself that I was to keep it, having so little claim to so valuable a present; and when Mrs. Hall informed me of your kindness, was hindered from time to time from returning you those thanks which I now entreat you to accept. I have thanks likewise to return you for the addition of your important suffrage to my argument on the American question. To have gained such a mind as yours may justly confirm me in my own opinion. What effect my paper has upon the public, I know not; but I have no reason to be discouraged. The lecturer was surely in the right, who, though he saw his audience slinking away, refused to quit the chair while Plato staid. I am, reverend Sir, &c., "SAM JOHNSON."

Harwood MSS.

LETTER OF CONDOLENCE WITH MRS. THRALE.

["After dinner Dr. Johnson wrote a letter to Mrs. Thrale on the death of her son." (See ante, p. 52.) Boswell did not publish, is here reproduced from the Letters to This letter, which and from Dr. Johnson, vol. i., pp. 307-9.]

"DEAR MADAM,

"Lichfield, March 25, 1776.

"This letter will not, I hope, reach you many days before me; in a distress which can be so little relieved, nothing remains for a friend but to come and partake it.

"Poor dear sweet little boy! When I read the letter this day to Mrs. Aston, she said, 'Such a death is the next to translation.' Yet however I may convince myself of this, the tears are in my eyes, and yet I could not love him as you loved him, nor reckon upon him for a future comfort as you and his father reckoned upon him.

66 He is gone and we are going. We could not have enjoyed him long, and shall not be long separated from him. He has probably escaped many such pangs as you are now feeling.

"Nothing remains, but that with humble confidence we resign ourselves to Almighty Goodness, and fall down, without irreverent murmurs, before the Sovereign Distributer of good and evil, with hope that though sorrow endureth for a night yet joy may come in the morning.

"I have known you, Madam, too long to think that you want any arguments for submission to the Supreme Will; nor can my consolation have any effect but that of showing that I wish to comfort you. What can be done you must do for yourself. Remember first, that your child is happy; and then, that he is safe, not only from the ills of this world, but from those more formidable dangers which extend their mischief to eternity. the world a rational being; have seen him happy during the little You have brought into life that has been granted him; and can have no doubt but that his happiness is now permanent and immutable.

"When you have obtained by prayer such tranquillity as nature will admit, force your attention, as you can, upon your accustomed duties and accustomed entertainments. You can do no more for our dear boy, but you must not therefore think less on

those whom your attention may make fitter for the place to which he is gone. I am, Dearest, dearest Madam,

"Your most affectionate humble servant,

"SAM. JOHNSON."

TO MISS REYNOLDS.

"April 11, 1776.

"DEAREST MADAM,

"To have acted, with regard to you, in a manner either unfriendly or disrespectful, would give me great pain; and, I hope, will be always very contrary to my intention. That I staid away was merely accidental. I have seldom dined from home; and I did not think my opinion necessary to your information in any proprieties of behaviour. The poor parents of the child are much grieved, and much dejected. The journey to Italy is put off, but they go to Bath on Monday. A visit from you will be well taken, and I think your intimacy is such that you may very properly pay it in a morning. I am sure that it will be thought seasonable and kind, and I wish you not to omit it. I am, dear Madam, &c., "SAM. JOHNSON." Reynolds MSS.

TO MISS REYNOLDS.

"DEAREST MADAM,

"April 15, 1776.

"When you called on Mrs. Thrale, I find by enquiry that she was really abroad. The same thing happened to Mrs. Montagu, of which I beg you to inform her, for she went likewise by my opinion. The denial, if it had been feigned, would not have pleased me. Your visits, however, are kindly paid, and very kindly taken. We are going to Bath this morning; but I could not part without telling you the real state of your visit. I am, dearest Madam, &c.,

"SAM. JOHNSON."

Reynolds MSS.

MISS REYNOLDS TO JOHNSON.

"Richmond Hill, June 21, 1776.

"SIR,

"You saw by my last letter that I knew nothing of your illness, and it was unkind of you not to tell me what had been

the matter with you; and you should have let me know how Mrs. Thrale and all the family were; but that would have been a sad transgression of the rule you have certainly prescribed to yourself of writing to some sort of people just such a number of lines. Be so good as to favour me with Dr. Goldsmith's Epitaph; and if you have no objection, I should be very glad to send it to Dr. Beattie. I am writing now to Mrs. Beattie, and can scarce hope she will ever excuse my shameful neglect of writing to her, but by sending her something curious for Dr. Beattie.

"I don't know whether my brother ever mentioned to you what Dr. Beattie said in a letter he received from him the beginning of last month. As I have his letter here, I will transcribe it. In my third Essay, which treats of the advantages of classical learning, I have said something of Dr. Johnson, which I hope will please him; I ought not to call it a compliment, for it expresses nothing but the real sentiments of my heart. I can never forget the many and great obligations I am under to his genius and to his virtue, and I wish for an opportunity of testifying my gratitude to the world.'

"My brother says he has lost Dr. Goldsmith's Epitaph, otherwise I would not trouble you for it. Indeed I should or I ought to have asked if you had any objection to my sending it, before I did send it. I am, my good Sir, &c., "FRANCES REYNOLDS." Reynolds MSS.

TO MISS REYNOLDS.

"DEAREST MADAM,

"June 21, 1776.

"You are as naughty as you can be. I am willing enough to write to you when I have any thing to say. As for my disorder, as Sir Joshua saw me, I fancied he would tell you, and that I needed not tell you myself. Of Dr. Goldsmith's Epitaph, I sent Sir Joshua two copies, and had none myself. If he has lost it, he has not done well. But I suppose I can recollect it, and will send it to you.—I am, Madam, &c., "SAM. JOHNSON."

66

"P.S.-All the Thrales are well, and Mrs. Thrale has a great regard for Miss Reynolds."—Reynolds MSS.