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The Letters of Samuel Johnson
Volume I ? 1731â?"1772
By Samuel Johnson, BRUCE REDFORD PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS
Copyright © 1992 Princeton University Press
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-691-06881-7
CHAPTER 1
Gregory Hickman
SATURDAY 30 OCTOBER 1731
MS: Hyde Collection.
Sir: Lichfield, Oct. 30, 1731
I have so long neglected to return You thanks for the favours and Assistance I received from you at Stourbridge that I am afraid You have now done expecting it. I can indeed make no apology but by assuring You that this delay, whatever was the cause of it, proceeded neither from forgetfulness, disrespect, nor ingratitude; Time has not made the Sense of the Obligation less warm, nor the thanks I return less sincere. But while I am acknowledging one Favour I must beg another, that You would excuse the omon of the Verses You desired. Be pleas'd to consider that versifying against ones inclination is the most disagreable thing in the World, and that ones own disappointment is no inviting Subject, and that though the desire of gratifying You might have prevaild over my dislike of it, yet it proves upon reflection so barren that to attempt to write upon it, is to undertake to build without materials.
As I am yet unemploy'd, I hope You will, if anything should offer, remember and recommend, Sir, Your humble servant,
SAM. JOHNSON
John Taylor
THURSDAY 27 JULY 1732
MS: Hyde Collection.
ADDRESS: To Mr. Taylor, Present.
ENDORSEMENTS: 1732, 27 July 1732.
Dear Sir: Lichfield, July 27, 1732
I received a Letter last Night from Mr. Corbett, who informs me of a Vacancy at Ashburne, I have no suspicion of any endeavours being wanting on Your Part to contribute to my success, and therefore do not ask for Your interest with the exactest Ceremony. I have sent this Messenger with letters to Mr. Vernon, and Mr. Corbett. Be pleas'd to favour me with You[r] Opinion of the means most proper to be used in this Matter, If there be any reason for my coming to Ashburne, I shall readily do it. Mr. Corbett has, I suppose, given You an account of my leaving Sir was really e Carcere exire. I am, Dear Sir, Your humble servant,
SAM JOHNSON
Unidentified Correspondent
WEDNESDAY l8 SEPTEMBER 1734
MS: Hyde Collection.
Sir: [Lichfield] Septr. 18th 1734
I hope You will excuse the liberty I have taken of troubling You with twelve of my Proposals. I doubt not of Your willingness to encourage any undertaking in the way of letters, and am satisfied that my success may be much promoted by Your recommendation. I am, Sir, Your most humble servant,
SAM. JOHNSON
Edward Cave
MONDAY 25 NOVEMBER 1734
MS: Hyde Collection.
ADDRESS: To Mr. Cave at St. John's Gate, London.
POSTMARK: 27 NO.
ENDORSEMENTS: answer'd, Answerd Dec. 2.
To EDWARD CAVE, 25 November 1734
Sir: [Lichfield] Novr. 25th 1734
As You appear no less sensible than Your Readers of the defects of your Poetical Article, You will not be displeased, if, in order to the improvement of it, I communicate to You the sentiments of a person, who will undertake on reasonable terms sometimes to fill a column.
His opinion is, that the Publick would not give You a bad reception, if beside the current Wit of the Month, which a critical examination would generally reduce to a narrow Compass, You admitted not only Poems, Inscriptions etc. never printed before, which he will sometimes supply You with; but likewise short literary Dissertations in Latin or English, Critical Remarks on Authors Ancient or Modern, forgotten Poems that deserve Revival, or loose pieces, like Floyers, worth preserving. By this Method your Literary Article, for so it might be call'd, will, he thinks, be better recommended to the Publick, than by low Jests, awkward Buffoonery, or the dull Scurrilities of either Party.
If such a Correspondence will be agreable to You, be pleased to inform me in two posts, what the Conditions are on which You shall expect it. Your late offer gives me no reason to distrust your Generosity. If You engage in any Literary projects besides this Paper, I have other designs to impart if I could be secure from having others reap the advantage of what I should hint.
Your letter, by being directed to S. Smith to be left at the Castle in Birmingham, Warwackshire, will reach Your humble Servant.
Gilbert Repington
SUNDAY 18 MAY 1735
MS: Bodleian Library.
ADDRESS: TO Mr. Gilbt. Repington in Peckwater, Christchurch, Oxford, by London.
POSTMARKS: LITCHFIELD, 21 MA.
ENDORSEMENT: Sam. Johnson 1735.
Sir: Lichfield, May 18th 1735
I hope You will not imagine from my Silence, that I neglected the kind offer which You[r] Brother was pleased to make, that You would take some care about my Books; I had wrote much sooner, but that I did not know till to day whither to direct.
The Books, (of which I have written a Catalogue on the other side) were left with Mr. Taylor, from whom I had some reason to expect a regard to my Affairs. There were in the same box, which I left lock'd, some papers of a very private Nature, which I hope fell into good hands. The Books are now, I hear, with Mr. Spicer of Christ Church. I beg You, Dear Sir, that you will be pleased to collect them with what care you can, and transmit them directed to me at the Castle in Birmingham Warwickshire, to which a Carrier goes weekly from Oxford. I will very thankfully repay the expences of Boxes, Porters, and Letters to your Brother, or whoever else You shall think fit to receive 'em. I am sorry to give You this trouble which I hope You'll excuse from a former Schoolfellow. Be pleased to answer this by the next post, for I long to know in what condition my affairs stand. If Mr. Congreve be in college pray pay my compliments to him, and let him know I should think his correspondence a pleasure, and would gladly write to him, if I was inform'd what college he is of. I have many other Acquaintance in the University whom I remember with Pleasure, but shall not trouble You with messages, for I shall esteem You sufficiently kind if You manage this Affair for, Dear Sir, Your humble Servant, SAM. JOHNSON
My humble Service to Mr. Spicer.
Richard Congreve
WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE 1735
MS: Bodleian Library.
ADDRESS: TO Mr. Congreve of Ch. Church, Oxford, by London.
POSTMARKS: LITCHFIELD, 27 iv.
ENDORSEMENT: Sam. Johnson 1735.
Dear Sir: Great Haywood, June 25th 1735
The Excess of Ceremony with which You are pleas'd to address an old Acquaintance I should fear would have portended no great Sincerity to our future Correspondence, had You not taken care by a very important kindness to obviate the omen. Our former familiarity which you show in so agreeable a Light was embarrass'd with no forms, and we were content to love without complimenting each other. It was such as well became our rural Retreats, shades unpolluted by Flattery and falsehood, thickets where Interest and Artifice never lay conceal'd! To such an acquaintance I again invite you, and if in your early Life you received any pleasure from my conversation shall now expect You to repay it by a frank and unreserv'd communication of your Judgement, reflexions, and opinions. Solitude is certainly one of the greatest obstacles to pleasure and improvement, and as he may be justly said to be alone, who has none to whom he imparts his thoughts, so he, who has a friend, though distant, with whom he converses without suspicion of being ridicul'd or betray'd, may be truly esteem'd to enjoy the advantages of Society.
It is usual for Friends that have been long separated to entertain each other at their first meeting, with an account of that interval of Life which has pass'd since their last interview, a custom, which I hope you will observe, but as little has happen'd to me that You can receive any pleasure from the relation of, I will not trouble you with an account of time not always very agreeably spent, but instead of past disappointments shall acquaint You with my present Scheme of Life.
I am now going to furnish a House in the Country, and keep a private boarding-school for Young Gentlemen whom I shall endeavour to instruct in a method somewhat more rational than those commonly practised, which you know there is no great vanity in presuming to attempt. Before I draw up my plan of Education, I shall attempt to procure an account of the different ways of teaching in use at the most celebrated Schools, and shall therefore hope You will favour me with the method of the Charter-house, and procure me that of Westminster.
It may be written in a few lines by only mentioning under each class their Exercise and Authours.
You see I ask new favours before I have thank'd You for those I have receiv'd, but however I may neglect to express my gratitude, be assur'd I shall not soon forget my obligation either to Mr. Reppington, or Yourself. I am, Dear Sir, Your humble Servant, SAM. JOHNSON
Be pleased to direct to me at Tho. Whitby's Esqr. of Great Haywood near Lichfield.
Samuel Ford
MID 1735
PRINTED SOURCE: GM 1785, p. 266.
I know not well what books to direct you to, because you have not informed me what study you will apply yourself to. I believe it will be most for your advantage to apply yourself wholly to the languages, till you go to the University. The Greek authors I think it best for you to read are these:
Cebes.
Aelian.
Attic.
Lucian by Leeds.
To SAMUEL FORD, Mid 1735
Xenophon.
Homer.
Ionic.
Theocritus. Doric.
Euripides.
Attic and Doric.
Thus you will be tolerably skilled in all the dialects, beginning with the Attic, to which the rest must be referred.
In the study of Latin, it is proper not to read the later authors, till you are well versed in those of the purest ages; as, Terence, Tully, Caesar, Sallust, Nepos, Velleius Paterculus, Virgil, Horace, Phaedrus.
The greatest and most necessary task still remains, to attain a habit of expression, without which knowledge is of little use. This is necessary in Latin, and more necessary in English; and can only be acquired by a daily imitation of the best and correctest authors. SAM. JOHNSON
Edward Cave
TUESDAY 12 JULY 1737
MS: Hyde Collection.
Greenwich, next door to the Sir: golden Heart, Church Street, July 12th 1737
Having observed in Your papers very uncommon offers of encouragement to Men of Letters, I have chosen, being a Stranger in London, to communicate to You the following design, which, I hope, if You join in it, will be of advantage to both of us.
The History of the council of Trent having been lately translated into French, and published with large Notes by Dr. Le Courayer, The Reputation of that Book is so much revived in England, that it is presumed, a new translation of it from the Italian, together with Le Courayer's Notes from the French, could not fail of a favourable Reception.
If it be answered that the History is already in English, it must be remembred, that there was the same objection against Le Courayer's Undertaking, with this disadvantage, that the French had a version by one of their best translators,3 whereas You cannot read three Pages of the English History, without discovering that the Stile is capable of great Improvements, but whether those improvements are to be expected from this attempt, You must judge from the Specimen which, if You approve the Proposal, I shall submit to your examination.
Suppose the merit of the Versions equal, we may hope that the Addition of the Notes will turn the Ballance in our Favour, considering the Reputation of the Annotator.
Be pleas'd to favour me with a speedy Answer, if You are not willing to engage in this Scheme, and appoint me a day to wait upon You, if You are. I am, Sir, Your humble Servant, SAM. JOHNSON
Edward Cave
c. APRIL 1738
PRINTED SOURCE: GM 1785, pp. 4–5.
Sir: No. 6, Castle-street, Wednesday Morning
When I took the liberty of writing to you a few days ago, I did not expect a repetition of the same pleasure so soon; for a pleasure I shall always think it to converse in any manner with an ingenious and candid man; but having the inclosed poem in my hands to dispose of for the benefit of the author (of whose abilities I shall say nothing, since I send you his performance), I believed I could not procure more advantageous terms from any person than from you, who have so much distinguished yourself by your generous encouragement of poetry; and whose judgement of that art nothing but your commendation of my trifle can give me any occasion to call in question. do not doubt but you will look over this poem with another eye, and reward it in a different manner, from a mercenary bookseller, who counts the lines he is to purchase, and considers nothing but the bulk. I cannot help taking notice, that, besides what the author may hope for on account of his abilities, he has likewise another claim to your regard, as he lies at present under very disadvantageous circumstances of fortune. I beg therefore that you will favour me with a letter to-morrow, that I may know what you can afford to allow him, that he may either part with it to you, or find out (which I do not expect) some other way more to his satisfaction.
I have only to add, that as I am sensible I have transcribed it very coarsely, which, after having altered it, I was obliged to do, I will, if you please to transmit the sheets from the press, correct it for you; and will take the trouble of altering any stroke of satire which you may dislike.
To EDWARD CAVE, c. April 1738
By exerting on this occasion your usual generosity, you will not only encourage learning, and relieve distress, but (though it be in comparison of the other motives of very small account) oblige in a very sensible manner, Sir, your very humble servant, SAM. JOHNSON
Edward Cave
c. APRIL 1738
MS: Hyde Collection.
ADDRESS: TO Mr. Cave at St. John's Gate.
POSTMARK: PENY POST PAYD.
Sir: Monday, No. 6 Castle Street
I am to return You thanks for the present You were so kind as to send by me, and to entreat that You will be pleas'd to inform me by the Penny-post whether You resolve to print the Poem. If You please to send it me by the post with a Note to Dodsley, I will go and read the lines to him, that We may have his Consent to put his name in the Title-page. As to the Printing, if it can be set immediately about, I will be so much the Authours Friend as not to content myself with meer Solicitations in his favour. I propose if my calculations be near the truth to engage for the reimbursement of all that You shall lose by an impression of 500 provided, as You very generously propose, that the profit, if any, be set aside for the Authour's use, excepting the present You made, which, if he be a gainer, it is fit he should repay. I beg that You will let one of Your Servants write an exact account of the expence of such an impression, and send it with the Poem, that I may know what I engage for. I am very sensible from your generosity on this occasion, of your regard to learning even in its unhappiest State, and cannot but think such a temper deserving of the Gratitude of those who suffer so often from a contrary Disposition. I am, Sir, Your most humble Servant, SAM. JOHNSON
I beg that You will not delay your Answer.
Edward Cave
APRIL 1738
MS: Hyde Collection.
Sir:
I waited on You to take the Copy to Dodsley's, as I remember the Number of Lines which it contains it will be longer than Eugenio with the Quotations, which must be subjoined at the bottom of the Page, part of the beauty of the performance (if any beauty be allow'd it) consisting in adapting Juvenals Sentiments to modern facts and Persons. It will with those additions very conveniently make five Sheets. And since the Expence will be no more I shall contentedly insure it, as I mention'd in my last. If it be not therefore gone to Dodsley's I beg it may be sent me by the penny-post that I may have it in the morning. I have compos'd a Greek Epigram to Eliza, and think She ought to be celebrated in as many different Languages as Lewis le Grand. Pray send me word When you will begin upon the Poem, for it is a long way to walk.9 I would leave my Epigram but have not daylight to transcribe it. I am, Sir, Your etc. SAM. JOHNSON
Edward Cave
LATE APRIL OT EARLY MAY 1738
PRINTED SOURCE: GM 1785, p. 5.
Sir:
I am extremely obliged by your kind letter, and will not fail to attend you to-morrow with Irene, who looks upon you as one of her best friends.
I was to day with Mr. Dodsley, who declares very warmly in favour of the paper you sent him, which he desires to have a share in, it being, as he says, a creditable thing to be concerned in.
To EDWARD CAVE, Late April or Early May 1738
I knew not what answer to make till I had consulted you, nor what to demand on the Authour's part, but am very willing that, if you please, he should have a part in it, as he will undoubtedly be more diligent to disperse and promote it. If you can send me word to-morrow what I shall say to him, I will settle matters, and bring the Poem with me for the press, which, as the town empties, we cannot be too quick with. I am, Sir, yours, etc. SAM. JOHNSON
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