unique_IDs_description
"""I communicated this Letter [from Colley Cibber, reproduced in the text] to Lord Chief Baron [italics] Bowes [end italics], the Hon. [italics] Arthur Hill [end italics], Esq., and several Persons of Taste, who were infinitely delighted with it, as they were with many others, which I had from Mr [italics] Cibber [end italics], and which would considerably have embellished my Work, had I not the Misfortune to lose them, by lending them to a Man of Distinction, who by some Accident mislaid them.'"""
"""I think I have scarce ever read Two better Lines than Mr POPE's Epitaph on this Prince of Philosophers [Newton; she then quotes the lines] His Inscription on Sir [italics] Godfrey Kneller's [end italics] Monument is as remarkably bad as this is excellent. [She quotes 8 lines] And bad as it is, 'tis but a lean Translation from the [italics] Italian [end italics], an enervate Language, well adapted to the soft Warblers of it, but incapable of manly Strength, Dignity or Grace.'"""
"""I think I have scarce ever read Two better Lines than Mr POPE's Epitaph on this Prince of Philosophers [Newton; she then quotes the lines] His Inscription on Sir [italics] Godfrey Kneller's [end italics] Monument is as remarkably bad as this is excellent. [She quotes 8 lines] And bad as it is, 'tis but a lean Translation from the [italics] Italian [end italics], an enervate Language, well adapted to the soft Warblers of it, but incapable of manly Strength, Dignity or Grace.'"""
"""Now I have mentioned this small but inimitable well wrote Book (Xenophon's 'Symposium'], which was recommended to me by Dr [italics] Swift [end italics], and which I in return commend to all such of my fair Readers as have a Taste for real Wit, in which the divine [italics] Socrates [end italics] as conspicuously shone, as he did in Purity of Life and Constancy in Martyrdom; that they peruse it with Care, as it will refine their Ideas and improve their Judgements, polish their Stile, shew them true Beauty, and lead them gently and agreeably to its prime Origin and Source. [LP then quotes from Milton's 'Comus' on beauty] I must here observe in my tracing Authors thro' each other, [italics] Zenophon [end italics] and [italics] Plato [end italics] borrowed from [italics] Socrates [end italics], whose disciples they were. [italics] Zenophon [end italics] acknowledges it as freely as I do the Instructions I received from Dr [italics] Swift [end italics]. Lord [italics] Shaftsbury's[end italics] Search after Beauty, is copied from [italics] Socrates [end italics]; Mr [italics] Pope's [end italics] Ethics stolen from both; and the leaned Mr [italics] Hutcheson[end italics]'s Beauty and Harmony, an Imitation of the great Philosophers and excellent Moralists first mentioned'."""
"""Now I have mentioned this small but inimitable well wrote Book (Xenophon's 'Symposium'], which was recommended to me by Dr [italics] Swift [end italics], and which I in return commend to all such of my fair Readers as have a Taste for real Wit, in which the divine [italics] Socrates [end italics] as conspicuously shone, as he did in Purity of Life and Constancy in Martyrdom; that they peruse it with Care, as it will refine their Ideas and improve their Judgements, polish their Stile, shew them true Beauty, and lead them gently and agreeably to its prime Origin and Source. [LP then quotes from Milton's 'Comus' on beauty] I must here observe in my tracing Authors thro' each other, [italics] Zenophon [end italics] and [italics] Plato [end italics] borrowed from [italics] Socrates [end italics], whose disciples they were. [italics] Zenophon [end italics] acknowledges it as freely as I do the Instructions I received from Dr [italics] Swift [end italics]. Lord [italics] Shaftsbury's[end italics] Search after Beauty, is copied from [italics] Socrates [end italics]; Mr [italics] Pope's [end italics] Ethics stolen from both; and the leaned Mr [italics] Hutcheson[end italics]'s Beauty and Harmony, an Imitation of the great Philosophers and excellent Moralists first mentioned'."""
"""Now I have mentioned this small but inimitable well wrote Book (Xenophon's 'Symposium'], which was recommended to me by Dr [italics] Swift [end italics], and which I in return commend to all such of my fair Readers as have a Taste for real Wit, in which the divine [italics] Socrates [end italics] as conspicuously shone, as he did in Purity of Life and Constancy in Martyrdom; that they peruse it with Care, as it will refine their Ideas and improve their Judgements, polish their Stile, shew them true Beauty, and lead them gently and agreeably to its prime Origin and Source. [LP then quotes from Milton's 'Comus' on beauty] I must here observe in my tracing Authors thro' each other, [italics] Zenophon [end italics] and [italics] Plato [end italics] borrowed from [italics] Socrates [end italics], whose disciples they were. [italics] Zenophon [end italics] acknowledges it as freely as I do the Instructions I received from Dr [italics] Swift [end italics]. Lord [italics] Shaftsbury's[end italics] Search after Beauty, is copied from [italics] Socrates [end italics]; Mr [italics] Pope's [end italics] Ethics stolen from both; and the leaned Mr [italics] Hutcheson[end italics]'s Beauty and Harmony, an Imitation of the great Philosophers and excellent Moralists first mentioned'."""
"""Now I have mentioned this small but inimitable well wrote Book (Xenophon's 'Symposium'], which was recommended to me by Dr [italics] Swift [end italics], and which I in return commend to all such of my fair Readers as have a Taste for real Wit, in which the divine [italics] Socrates [end italics] as conspicuously shone, as he did in Purity of Life and Constancy in Martyrdom; that they peruse it with Care, as it will refine their Ideas and improve their Judgements, polish their Stile, shew them true Beauty, and lead them gently and agreeably to its prime Origin and Source. [LP then quotes from Milton's 'Comus' on beauty] I must here observe in my tracing Authors thro' each other, [italics] Zenophon [end italics] and [italics] Plato [end italics] borrowed from [italics] Socrates [end italics], whose disciples they were. [italics] Zenophon [end italics] acknowledges it as freely as I do the Instructions I received from Dr [italics] Swift [end italics]. Lord [italics] Shaftsbury's[end italics] Search after Beauty, is copied from [italics] Socrates [end italics]; Mr [italics] Pope's [end italics] Ethics stolen from both; and the leaned Mr [italics] Hutcheson[end italics]'s Beauty and Harmony, an Imitation of the great Philosophers and excellent Moralists first mentioned'."""
"""Mr [italics] Woolaston's [end italics] Religion of Nature Delineated, shews us powerfully, how much a Lye offends the Creator; as I am tax'd with numerous Quotations, which are tedious (as soom of my Readers tell me) I shall not borrow one from him, but refer the Learned to his inimitable Work; though I am persuaded, no Person who has not a clear Head, can taste his Beauties'."""
"""I am very much obliged to you, for your transcriptions and observations from Pliny; as you say, I should never find time to read the book. What stores of knowledge do I lose, by my incapacity of reading, and by my having used myself to write, till I can do nothing else, nor hardly that'."""
"""Though I have constantly been a purchaser of the Ramblers from the first five that you were so kind as to present me with, yet I have not had time to read any farther than those first five, till within these two or three days past. But I can go no further than the thirteenth, now before me, till I have acquainted you, that I am inexpressibly pleased with them. I remember not a thing in the Spectators, in those Spectators that I read, for I never found time... to read them all, that half so much struck me; and yet I think of them highly.'"""
"""I wish you would cannonade this N[ewto]n. I cannot bear, that another of Apollo's genuine Offspring should pass down to future Times with such crude and unworthy Notes.'"""
"""I have read through Lord Orrery's History of Swift. I greatly like it.'"""
"""The fault of the great author, whose letters to his friend you have been reading, is, that Tully is wholly concerned for the fame of Cicero; and that for fame and self-exaltation sake. In some of his orations, what is called his vehemence (but really is too often insult and ill manners) so transports him, that a modern pleader... would not be heard, if he were to take the like freedoms... Cicero's constitutional faults seem to be vanity and cowardice. Great geniuses seldom have <italics>small<end italics> faults. You have seen, I presume, Dr Middleton's """"""""Life of Cicero"""""""". It is a fine piece; but the Doctor, I humbly think, has played the panegyrist, in some places in it, rather than the historian. The present laureat's performance on the same subject, of which Dr Middleton's is the foundation, is a spirited and pretty piece... You greatly oblige me, Madam, whenever you give me your observations upon what you read'."""
"""You guess that I have not read """"""""Amelia"""""""". Indeed I have read but the first volume. I had intended to go through with it; but I found the characters and situations so wretchedly low and dirty, that I imagined I could not be interested for any one of them; and to read and not to care what became of the hero and heroine, is a task that I thought I would leave to those who had more leisure than I am blessed with'."""
"""In 1753 Catherine Talbot stayed with the Berkeley family and participated enthusiastically in readings of """"""""Sir Charles Grandison"""""""".'"""
"""You did not tell me before, that you had read the Hermit and Alfrida. There are charming  Things in both. I read them when they first came out, having a great opinion of the poetical capacity of both gentlemen. I was not disappointed. I forget the story of the Hermit, and its management: But in general I was pleased with it. Mr Mason has a fine genius... But I thought his piece was rather too poetical. - A strange censure of a fine piece of poetry. In other words, that he was too lavish, in other words of his poetical talents...'"""
"""""""""""The Female Quixote"""""""" is written by a woman...Lennox her name. Her husband and she have often visited me together. Do you not think, however her heroine over-acts her part, that Arabella is amiable and innocent? The writer has genius. She is hardly twenty four, and has been unhappy. She wrote a piece, called """"""""Harriet Stuart"""""""".'"""
"""I heard the greatest part of the Gamester read by Mr Garrick, before it was brought upon the stage. On the whole, I much liked it. I thought it a very affecting performance. There are faults in it; but I think it a moral and seasonable piece'"""
"""""""""""The Female Quixote"""""""" is written by a woman...Lennox her name. Her husband and she have often visited me together. Do you not think, however her heroine over-acts her part, that Arabella is amiable and innocent? The writer has genius. She is hardly twenty four, and has been unhappy. She wrote a piece, called """"""""Harriet Stuart''.'"""
"""""""""""The Female Quixote"""""""" is written by a woman...Lennox her name. Her husband and she have often visited me together. Do you not think, however her heroine over-acts her part, that Arabella is amiable and innocent? The writer has genius. She is hardly twenty four, and has been unhappy. She wrote a piece, called """"""""Harriet Stuart"""""""".'"""
"""I have nothing to say in favour or disfavour of the Shakespeare illustrated. Some pieces are not calculated for more than the present Age, or Time, I should rather say. But this, endeavouring to rob Shakespeare of his Invention, proposes possibly a more durable Existence. Yet, I would not wish to be the Author of so invidious a Piece.'"""
"""I am very charmed, my dear Mr Edwards, with your sweet Story of a Second Pamela. Had I drawn mine from the very Life, I should have made a much more perfect Piece of my first Favourite.'"""
"""In a visit the Author of the Rambler made me on Monday last, I read to him your """"""""Determinta"""""""", and expressed my wonder that he had not made a Paper of it, as I thought it would have been a very good one. He remembered it not; and spoke handsomely of it.'"""
"""Here was an excellent library; particularly, a valuable collection of books in Northern literature, with which Johnson was often very busy. One day Mr Wise read to us a dissertation which he was preparing for the press, intitled """"""""A History and Chronology of the fabulous Ages"""""""".'"""
"""Here was an excellent library; particularly, a valuable collection of books in Northern literature, with which Johnson was often very busy. One day Mr Wise read to us a dissertation which he was preparing for the press, intitled """"""""A History and Chronology of the fabulous Ages"""""""".'"""
"""[thanking Warton for a book he has sent ] You have shewn to all, who shall hereafter attempt the study of our ancient authors, the way to success; by directing them to the perusal of the books which those authors had read. Of this method, Hughes and men much greater than Hughes, seem never to have thought'."""
"""You did not tell me before, that you had read the Hermit and Alfrida. There are charming Things in both. I read them when they first came out, having a great opinion of the poetical capacity of both gentlemen. I was not disappointed. I forget the story of the Hermit, and its management: But in general I was pleased with it. Mr Mason has a fine genius... But I thought his piece was rather too poetical. - A strange censure of a fine piece of poetry. In other words, that he was too lavish, in other words of his poetical talents...'"""
"""You did not tell me before, that you had read the Hermit and Alfrida. There are charming  Things in both. I read them when they first came out, having a great opinion of the poetical capacity of both gentlemen. I was not disappointed. I forget the story of the Hermit, and its management: But in general I was pleased with it. Mr Mason has a fine genius... But I thought his piece was rather too poetical. - A strange censure of a fine piece of poetry. In other words, that he was too lavish, in other words of his poetical talents...'"""
"""There is an old English and Latin book of poems by Barclay, called """"""""The Ship of Fools""""""""; at the end of which are a number of [italics] Eglogues [end italics]; so he writes it, from [italics] Egloga [end italics], which are probably the first in our language. If you cannot find the book I will get Mr Dodsley to send it to you'."""
"""Mary Martin came to live with me at 30s per year. Read """"""""The Conscious Lovers"""""""" in the even.'"""
"""This day made an end of instructing Miss Day. Read part of """"""""The Spectator""""""""; prodigiously admire the beauties pointed out in the eighth book of Milton's """"""""Paradise Lost"""""""" by """"""""The Spectator's"""""""" criticism wherein is beautifully expressed Adam's conference with the Almighty, and likewise his distress on losing sight of the phantom in his dream, and his joy in finding it a real creature when awake.'"""
"""In Dodsley's """"""""Miscellanies"""""""" there are two or three pretty pieces of Mr Mason. Bacon's """"""""Life by Mr Mallet"""""""" perhaps you have seen. He is not near so good a Man, I fear, as Mr Mason'"""
"""In Dodsley's """"""""Miscellanies"""""""" there are two or three pretty pieces of Mr Mason. Bacon's """"""""Life by Mr Mallet"""""""" perhaps you have seen. He is not near so good a Man, I fear, as Mr Mason'"""
"""[Jack Pilkington gives an introduction to his now deceased mother's third volume of memoirs, relating how he wrote a poem 'To Samuel Foote Esq, on seeing his Englishman in Paris' and sent it to him, proposing to insert it in the 'Daily Advertiser'; he received the following reply] 'It is impossible for me to thank you as I ought, for your inclosed Favour; and full as impossible for me, to answer the Contents of your obliging Letter; there is at present, such a Conflict in me, between Modesty and Vanity, that as neither can get the better, I must leave the destination of your elegant Piece, to your own Discretion'."""
"""I have read your Objections to Sir Charles's Divided Love to Mrs Donellan. Just her sentiments, she said. And Harriet's frequent declarations of her love, she also censured; and honours you for both Opinions. Miss Mulso exulted, by clapping her wings, as I may say, on your Ladyship's Censure of the divided Love. She admires every word you say by way of Censure or Objection'."""
"""I have read the Passage in Dr Hartley which you pointed out to me. He is a good Man. One Day I hope to read him thro', tho' without Hopes of understanding the abstruser Parts'"""
"""I at home all day. Read part of Hervey's """"""""Meditations"""""""".'"""
"""Not at church all day, neither looked in any book all day except """"""""The Tatler"""""""".'"""
"""At home all day a-writing. In the even read """"""""The Universal Magazine"""""""" for December; think the following observations worth notice: [lists several observations from the magazine -direct quote?]'"""
"""In reading """"""""The History of England"""""""" I find that England first took that name under Egbert the 1st monarch of England after the Saxon Heptarchy, anno 801.'"""
"""In the even read part of the 4th volume of """"""""The Tatler"""""""", in which I find some very agreeable stories, in particular one wherein a beautiful and virtuous young lady is ruined by a young debauchee and a sordid parent, his father.'"""
"""Found in """"""""The History of England"""""""" that England was first divided into counties, parishes, etc. in King Alfred's reign, about the year 890...'"""
"""In the even began Tournefort's """"""""Voyage into the Levant"""""""". Read his """"""""Life"""""""" and the """"""""Eulogium"""""""" on it by M. Fountenelle. Memorandums on his life: [describes life of Tournefort in detail].'"""
"""After supper read the """"""""Tragedy of Macbeth"""""""", which I like very well.'"""
"""In the even read part of a simple thing called """"""""The West Country Clothier"""""""" and, notwithstanding the meanness of the language, I think the character of the midwife and gossips is in some measure painted in their true colours; and the thoughtlessness and extravagance of many women are in some respects justly exposed by its often terminating in the husband's ruin...'"""
"""At home all day. In the even read the 9th book of """"""""Paradise Lost"""""""".'"""
"""Dr. Burney related to Dr. Johnson the partiality which his writings had excited in a friend of Dr. Burney's, the late Mr. Bewley, well known in Norfolk by the name of the [italics] Philosopher of Massingham [end italics]: who, from the """"""""Ramblers"""""""" and Plan of his """"""""Dictionary"""""""", and long before the authour's fame was established by the """"""""Dictionary"""""""" itself, or any other work, had conceived such a reverence for him, that he urgently begged Dr. Burney to give him the cover of the first letter he had received from him, as a relick of so estimable a writer.'"""
"""Read the 10th book of """"""""Paradise Lost"""""""" in the even.'"""
"""At home all day. [...] My wife read part of Clarissa Harlowe to me in the even as I sat a-posting my book."""
"""My wife read part of """"""""Clarissa Harlowe"""""""" to me in the even as I sat a-posting my book.'"""
"""At home all day. In the even read the 11th and 12th books of """"""""Paradise Regained"""""""", which I think is much inferior for the sublimity of style to """"""""Paradise Lost"""""""".'"""
"""""""""""Samuel Johnson ...  annotated a copy of a religious work in 1755 so he could exchange views with a woman he loved, Hill Boothby."""""""""""
"""At home all day. On reading Derham's notes on Boyle's lectures I find he says that Mr Boyle demonstrates that so slender a wire may be drawn from gold that from once ounce of gold a wire may be drawn 777,600 feet in length or 155 miles and a half. In the even Tho. Davy here and supped with us and stayed until 11 o'clock but drunk nothing, only 1 pint of mild beer. We read Smart's poems on immensity, omniscience and power.'"""
"""At home all day. On reading Derham's notes on Boyle's lectures I find he says that Mr Boyle demonstrates that so slender a wire may be drawn from gold that from once ounce of gold a wire may be drawn 777,600 feet in length or 155 miles and a half. In the even Tho. Davy here and supped with us and stayed until 11 o'clock but drunk nothing, only 1 pint of mild beer. We read Smart's poems on immensity, omniscience and power.'"""
"""At home all day. On reading Derham's notes on Boyle's lectures I find he says that Mr Boyle demonstrates that so slender a wire may be drawn from gold that from once ounce of gold a wire may be drawn 777,600 feet in length or 155 miles and a half. In the even Tho. Davy here and supped with us and stayed until 11 o'clock but drunk nothing, only 1 pint of mild beer. We read Smart's poems on immensity, omniscience and power.'"""
"""At home all day. On reading Derham's notes on Boyle's lectures I find he says that Mr Boyle demonstrates that so slender a wire may be drawn from gold that from once ounce of gold a wire may be drawn 777,600 feet in length or 155 miles and a half. In the even Tho. Davy here and supped with us and stayed until 11 o'clock but drunk nothing, only 1 pint of mild beer. We read Smart's poems on immensity, omniscience and power.'"""
"""My wife read the 20th and 21st numbers of """"""""The Guardian"""""""" to me, which I think extremely good, the first of which shows how indispensable a duty forgiveness is and the last how much mankind must be delighted with the prospect of the happiness of a future state.'"""
"""In the even read part of the 4th volume of """"""""The Tatler"""""""", which I think the oftener I read the better I like it. I think I never found the vice of drinking so well exploded in my life as in one of the numbers.'"""
"""After supper read part of Tournefort's """"""""Voyage into the Levant"""""""".'"""
"""At home all day. Not at church all day. Read part of Boyle's lectures and Smart's poem on eternity and immensity.'"""
"""At home all day. Not at church all day. Read part of Boyle's lectures and Smart's poem on eternity and immensity.'"""
"""Came home about 7 o'clock; read several numbers in the 4th volume of """"""""The Tatler"""""""".'"""
"""[Robert Dodsley] then told Dr Adams, that Lord Chesterfield had shewn him the letter [in which Johnson refused his patronage]. """"""""I should have imagined (replied Dr Adams) that Lord Chesterfield would have concealed it"""""""". """"""""Poh! (said Dodsley) do you think a letter from Johnson could hurt Lord Chesterfield? Not at all, Sir. It lay upon his table where any body might see it. He read it to me; said, 'this man has great powers', pointed out the severest passages, and observed how well they were expressed"""""""".'"""
"""With us, the """"""""Centaur not fabulous"""""""" has met with a pretty good Reception; tho' some good People wish that it had less of the Enthusiasm of Poetry in it; less of Imagination. But are there not very fine, very solemn, very noble Strokes in almost every Page of it? Is not the Author's good Design apparent in every Line?'"""
"""The part of your """"""""Dictionary"""""""" which you have favoured me with the sight of has given me such an idea of the whole, that I most sincerely congratulate the publick upon the acquisition of a work long wanted, and now executed with an industry, accuracy, and judgement, equal to the importance of the subject. You might, perhaps, have chosen one in which your genius would have appeared to more advantage; but you could not have fixed upon any other in which your labours would have done such substantial service to the present age and to posterity'."""
"""[Mr Charles Burney] had been so much delighted with Johnson's """"""""Rambler"""""""" and the """"""""Plan"""""""" of his """"""""Dictionary"""""""", that when the great work was announced in the newspapers as nearly finished, he wrote to Dr Johnson, begging to be informed when and in what manner his """"""""Dictionary"""""""" would be published; intreating, if it should be by subscription, or he should have any books at his own disposal, to be favoured with six copies for himself and his friends'."""
"""[Mr Charles Burney] had been so much delighted with Johnson's """"""""Rambler"""""""" and the """"""""Plan"""""""" of his """"""""Dictionary"""""""", that when the great work was announced in the newspapers as nearly finished, he wrote to Dr Johnson, begging to be informed when and in what manner his """"""""Dictionary"""""""" would be published; intreating, if it should be by subscription, or he should have any books at his own disposal, to be favoured with six copies for himself and his friends'."""
"""I am employing myself at present, in looking over & sorting, & classing my Correspondencies and other Papers. This, when done, will amuse me by reading over again, a very ample Correspondence: & in comparing the Sentiments of my Correspondents, at the time, with their present; and improving from both'."""
"""After supper finished """"""""The Tragedy of Cato"""""""".'"""
"""In the even read Derham's """"""""Sermons at Boyle's Lectures"""""""", wherein I find a man evacuates as much in one day by insensible perspiration as in 14 by stool.'"""
"""After supper read part of Tournefort's """"""""Voyage into the Levant"""""""".'"""
"""In the evening read Tournefort's """"""""Voyage into the Levant"""""""", where I find the Turks think the dead are relieved by prayer.'"""
"""in the Even my Wife and I read part of the Sermon preach'd... at the opening of St Peters Cornhill 1681.'"""
"""in the Even my Wife and I read part of the Sermon preach'd... at the opening of St Peters Cornhill 1681.'"""
"""Tho. Davy came in after supper and stayed with us about 2 1/2 hours. He and I looked over Gordon's """"""""Geographical Grammar"""""""", and in particular the religions of all nations."""
"""Tho. Davy Spent the Even and Supp'd at our house and read 2 of Tillotsons sermons to us.'"""
"""Read """"""""The Merry Wives of Windsor"""""""" wherein I think the genius of the author shows itself in a very conspicuous manner as to humour. But I cannot find in my heart to say I think there is one good moral character.'"""
"""At home all day... In reading Homer's """"""""Odyssey"""""""", I think the character which Menelaus gives Telemachus of Ulysses, when he is a-speaking of his war-like virtues in the 4th book, is very good.'"""
"""After supper read part of Tournefort's """"""""Voyage into the Levant"""""""" wherein I find the following remark: They breed (says he) the finest goats in the world in the Champaign of Angora. They are of a dazzling white, and their hair, which is fine as silk, naturally curled in locks of 8 or 9 inches long, is worked up into the finest stuffs, especially camlet. But they don't suffer these fleeces to be exported because the country people get their living thereby. Their young are degenerate if carried far.'"""
"""Read part of Locke's """"""""Essay on Human Understanding"""""""", which I find to be a very abstruse book.'"""
""" 'Mr Elles and I read 3 of Tillotson's sermons.'"""
"""In the even T Davy brought a p[ai]r Shoes for my nephew and stayed and Supp'd w[i]th us and I read him the 4th of Tillotson's Sermons.'"""
"""In the even read 2 books of Homer's """"""""Odyssey"""""""", translated by Pope.'"""
"""After supper read the 13th book of Homer's """"""""Odyssey"""""""", wherein I think the soliloquy which Ulysses makes when he finds the Phaeacians have, in his sleep, left him on shore with all his treasure, and on his native shore of Ithaca (though not known to him), contains a very good lesson of morality.'"""
"""In the even read 4 of Tillotson's sermons.'"""
"""In reading the """"""""Odyssey"""""""" last night among many curious passages these two lines I think applicable to the present times, Viz, """"""""why cease ye then ye wreath of Heaven to stay; be humbled all and Lead ye great the way"""""""".'"""
"""This afternoon very bad with tooth-ache. Read the newspaper wherein I find the nation is all in a ferment upon the account of losing dear Minorca.' """
"""in the even I wrote my London letters... also read the News paper... as I was a writing all the even my wife read """"""""Clarissa Harlowe"""""""" to me.'"""
"""In the even Tho. Davy sat with us about 3 hours and to whom and in the day I read 7 of Tillotson's sermons.'"""
"""[while he was doing his accounts Turner's wife read aloud to him] 'the moving Scene of the Funeral of Miss Clarissa Harlowe' - """"""""Oh: may the Supreme Being give me Grace to lead my life in such a manner as my Exit may in some respect be like that Divine Creature."""""""""""
"""Read part of Hervey's """"""""Theron and Aspasio"""""""".'"""
"""In the evening read 3 of Tillotson's sermons.'"""
"""In the even read several numbers of the """"""""Freeholder"""""""" which I think is a proper book for anyone to look into at this critical juncture of affairs.'"""
"""In the even my wife finished reading of """"""""Clarissa Harlowe"""""""", which I look upon as a very well-wrote thing though it must be allowed it is too prolix. I think the author keeps up the character of every person in all places; and as to the manner of its ending, I like it better than if it had terminated in more happy circumstances.'"""
"""Came home about 8.10. Read part of Homer's """"""""Odyssey"""""""".'"""
"""Th authours of the essays in prose [in """"""""Miscellanies"""""""" published by Elizabeth Harrison] seem generally to have imitated or tried to imitate, the copiousness and luxuriance of Mrs [italics] Rowe [end italics]. This, however, is not all their praise; they have laboured to add to her brightness of imagery, her purity of sentiments. The poets have had Dr [italics] Watts [end italics] before their eyes; a writer, who, if he stood not in the first class of genius, compensated that defect by a ready application of his powers to the promotion of piety'."""
"""Th authours of the essays in prose [in """"""""Miscellanies"""""""" published by Elizabeth Harrison] seem generally to have imitated or tried to imitate, the copiousness and luxuriance of Mrs [italics] Rowe [end italics]. This, however, is not all their praise; they have laboured to add to her brightness of imagery, her purity of sentiments. The poets have had Dr [italics] Watts [end italics] before their eyes; a writer, who, if he stood not in the first class of genius, compensated that defect by a ready application of his powers to the promotion of piety'."""
"""I amuse myself as well as I can with reading. I have just gone through your two vols. of Letters. Have reperused them with great pleasure and found many new beauties in them. What a knowledge of the human heart!'"""
"""I believe your Ladiship will be diverted with an Octavo book on the Writings and Genius of Pope; tho' you will not approve of everything in it. A little Vol. intitled, """"""""Christian Morals"""""""", by Sir Thomas Browne of Norwich, Author of Religio Medici, with his Life and Explanatory Notes, by S. Johnson, Author of the Rablers, will, I believe, amuse you. There is a third Book written by Mr G[reville], a Man of Fashion, intitled, """"""""Maxims"""""""", """"""""Characters"""""""" or some such Title. Among his Subjects, he takes to Task (to severe Task, some have thought) the Writings of your Humble Servt. Thus I wrote upon it to a Lady, who was unwilling I should see it, for fear it shd. vex me; a Fear several of my Friends had on the same Account; """"""""I have read Mr G[reville's] Censure of the Writings of a <italics>certain Author<end italics>. I sincerely think there may be Justice in the most unfavourable Part of it.""""""""'"""
"""I believe your Ladiship will be diverted with an Octavo book on the Writings and Genius of Pope; tho' you will not approve of everything in it. A little Vol. intitled, """"""""Christian Morals"""""""", by Sir Thomas Browne of Norwich, Author of Religio Medici, with his Life and Explanatory Notes, by S. Johnson, Author of """"""""the Rablers"""""""", will, I believe, amuse you. There is a third Book written by Mr G[reville], a Man of Fashion, intitled, """"""""Maxims"""""""", """"""""Characters"""""""" or some such Title. Among his Subjects, he takes to Task (to severe Task, some have thought) the Writings of your Humble Servt. Thus I wrote upon it to a Lady, who was unwilling I should see it, for fear it shd. vex me; a Fear several of my Friends had on the same Account; """"""""I have read Mr G[reville's] Censure of the Writings of a [italics] certain Author[end italics]. I sincerely think there may be Justice in the most unfavourable Part of it.""""""""'"""
"""I believe your Ladiship will be diverted with an Octavo book on the Writings and Genius of Pope; tho' you will not approve of everything in it. A little Vol. intitled, """"""""Christian Morals"""""""", by Sir Thomas Browne of Norwich, Author of """"""""Religio Medici"""""""", with his Life and Explanatory Notes, by S. Johnson, Author of the Rablers, will, I believe, amuse you. There is a third Book written by Mr G[reville], a Man of Fashion, intitled, """"""""Maxims, Characters"""""""" or some such Title. Among his Subjects, he takes to Task (to severe Task, some have thought) the Writings of your Humble Servt. Thus I wrote upon it to a Lady, who was unwilling I should see it, for fear it shd. vex me; a Fear several of my Friends had on the same Account; """"""""I have read Mr G[reville's] Censure of the Writings of a [italics] certain Author [ end italics]. I sincerely think there may be Justice in the most unfavourable Part of it.""""""""'"""
"""Saw in the Lewes newspaper of this day that on Saturday last there was several explosions heard in the bowels of the earth like an earthquake in the parishes of Waldron and Hellingly, as also by one person in this parish.'"""
"""In the even read to Tho. Davy an appeal to the public on behalf of Admiral Byng wherein he is clearly proved to be no ways guilty of what has been laid to his charge, nay even so far from it that he behaved like a prudent and courageous commander in the Mediterranean; and his bad luck proceeded from an inferior fleet, and one which our treacherous or simple ministers, or the Lords of the Admiralty, or whoever the planners of the voyage were, could never expect to have success, having but few men, not one hospital, nor fireship...I also read Bally's poem...'"""
"""In the even read to Tho. Davy an appeal to the public in behalf of Admiral Byng ...I also read Bally's poem on the wisdom of the Supreme Being, which I think is a very sublime piece of poetry and almost too much so for my mean capacity. But as I find the author's views are good, I do, as I am bound in duty, like it very much.'"""
"""Read some of """"""""The History of England"""""""".'"""
"""In the even read one of Tillotson's sermons and which I think a very good one.'"""
"""In the even read the writings of a farm called Chillys in Mayfield, which was entailed to Mrs Virgoe's father and his heirs forever, but he cut the said entailment off and entailed it again to Mrs Virgoe and her heirs for ever after the death of her mother..."""
"""Read part of """"""""The Universal Magazine"""""""" for June wherein I find the following receipt recommended (in an extract from Dr Lind's essay on the most effectual means of preserving the health of the seamen in the Royal Navy) as a specific against all epidemical and bilious fevers and also against endemic disorders.' """
"""Boswell. """"""""You have read his [Cibber's] apology, Sir ?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Yes, it is very entertaining. But as for Cibber himself, taking from his conversation all that he ought not to have said, he was a poor creature. I remember when he brought me one of his Odes to have my opinion of it, I could not bear such nonsense, and would not let him read it to the end; so little respect had I for [italics] that great man! [end italics] (laughing.)""""""""'"""
"""Read in the day part of Burkitt's """"""""Poor Man's Help or Young Man's Guide"""""""", which I think the best book I ever read of the size.'"""
"""In the even read a sermon preached at this church on the 1st of August 1716 by the Rev. Mr Richard Haworth on the wonders of providence in the defence of the reformation, which in my opinion is an excellent discourse...'"""
"""In reading Josephus's """"""""Jewish Antiques"""""""" I find his opinion was (or at least it was a prevailing notion in his time) that the earth was the centre of the planetary system.'"""
"""In the even read the play of """"""""Tamerlane"""""""", wrote by Rowe, which I think a very good play; the character of Tamerlane is such as I think should be the character of all mankind.'"""
"""In the evening read one of Tillotson's sermons.'"""
"""This day read in the """"""""Gazette"""""""" of the 20th instant that the King of Prussia had on the 6th instant gained a complete victory over the whole combined forces of Austria (near Prague) taking their whole camp and 250 pieces of cannon and 6 or 7,000 prisoners.'"""
"""In the even in reading the """"""""Lewes Journal"""""""" I found the following remarkable character, which I admire not for the diction, but for the justness of it and for imitation: """"""""On Sunday the 9th Jan: died Suddenly the Rev. Mr Lyddell, Rector of Ardingly, Sussex, aged 59;...""""""""'"""
"""In reading """"""""The Gazette"""""""" for the 22nd instant I find the King of Prussia, with about 20,000, has beat the combined forces of the empire and France, which were about 60,000; he having been totally routed by them and taken almost or quite all their cannon, baggage, etc., taking and killing in the field of battle and the pursuit 10,000 men.'"""
"""In the day read part of several new almanacs which came down today, and I doubt but few will be sold by reason of the additional duty of one penny on the sheets, and two pence on the stitched.'"""
"""In the even and the day read 2 of Tillotson's sermons and part of Sherlock upon death. I this day completed reading of Tillotson's sermons over the second time, and so far as I am a judge I think them to be a complete body of divinity, they being wrote in a plain familiar style, but far from what may be deemed low.'"""
"""In the even and the day read 2 of Tillotson's sermons and part of Sherlock upon death. I this day completed reading of Tillotson's sermons over the second time, and so far as I am a judge I think them to be a complete body of divinity, they being wrote in a plain familiar style, but far from what may be deemed low.'"""
"""...in the even read part of Sherlock upon death.' """
"""In the even Tho. Davy to our house, to whom I read a sermon preached by the Rev. Mr James Hervey, A.M., rector of Weston-Favell in Northamptonshire, being preached on some of the late fast days. I bought 3 of them today at Lewes, being lately published and stitched together.'"""
"""Today in reading """"""""The London Magazine"""""""" for May, I find the following description of a comet that is shortly expected to appear, viz., that it has appeared 6 times already, viz., in the years 1305, 1380, 1456, 1531, 1607, 1682, and that it revolves about the sun at the intervals of 75 and 76 years alternately...'"""
"""This day completed the reading of Sherlock on death and which I esteem a very plain, good book, proper for every Christain to read; that is, rich and poor, men and women, young and old.'"""
"""About 5.40 I set out to the house from which John Carter was this day buried in order to read the will of the deceased (by desire of Mr Burges) to his relations, they being all met to hear the same.'"""
"""In the even read part of the 5th volume of """"""""Medical Essays and Observations"""""""", published at Edinburgh by a society of physicians.' """
"""In the day read part of some """"""""Monitors"""""""" lent me by Mr Calverley, but which paper the author endeavours to point out the only way to restore this nation to its former strength and dignity, which is by suppressing vice and immorality and encouraging virtue and merit.'"""
"""In perusing an abridgment of the """"""""Life of Madame de Maintenon"""""""" in """"""""The Universal Magazine"""""""" for March, I find the following, being the advice given her by her mother Madame d'Aubigne: to act in such a manner as fearing all things from men and hoping all from God.'"""
"""Read part of """"""""The London Magazine"""""""" for February.'"""
"""In the even finished reading Salmon """"""""On Marriage"""""""", which I think to be a very indifferent thing, for the author appears to me to be a very bad logician.'"""
"""In the even finished reading Wake's """"""""Catechism"""""""", which I think is a very good book and proper for all families, there being good instructions in it and also something which is prodigious moving. It is wrote in a lively, brisk manner and not as if the author wrote more out of form than for the good of people's souls, and at the same time it is a very plain, familiar style, suitable I think to the meanest capacities that can read. And so far as I can judge there is everything contained in it necessary to a man's salvation."""
"""In the even read part of Leadbetter's """"""""General Gauger"""""""".'"""
"""In the even read the 12th and last book of Milton's """"""""Paradise Lost"""""""", which I have now read twice through and in my opinion it exceeds anything I ever read for sublimity of language and beauty of similes; and I think the depravity of human nature entailed upon us by our first parent is finely drawn.'"""
"""In a Conversation the King of Prussia had once with Marshal Keith the latter quoted Scripture: why Keith have you been reading the Bible lately; Yes, Sir, replies the Marshal, & whatever our Majesty may think of the book in general, one must allow that Joshua understood a Line of Battle special well'."""
"""In the even read part of Josephus's """"""""Jewish Antiques"""""""".'"""
"""In the evening read part of the """"""""Jewish Antiques"""""""".'"""
"""In the day read part of the 1st volume of """"""""The Peerage of England"""""""".'"""
"""In the day read part of the """"""""New Whole Duty of Man"""""""". And in the even Tho. Davy at our house to whom I read part of Sherlock on death.'"""
"""In the day read part of the """"""""New Whole Duty of Man"""""""". And in the even Tho. Davy at our house to whom I read part of Sherlock on death.'"""
"""In the even finished reading of Horneck's """"""""Great Law of Consideration"""""""", which I think a very good subject, and I am thoroughly persuaded that the only motive the author had in writing it was the salvation of men's souls. But in my private opinion it is not written so well as many pieces of divinity which I have read, there being too great a redundancy of words to express one and the same thing.' """
"""This day I saw in the """"""""Lewes Journal"""""""", which was an extract from """"""""The Gazette"""""""", that our troops under the command of the Duke of Marlborough had landed at St Malo in the province of Brittany (in France) and had burnt and otherwise destroyed 137 vessels of all denominations...'"""
"""I completed the reading of Gay's """"""""Fables"""""""", which I think contains a very good lesson of morality; and I think the language very healthy, being very natural.'"""
"""In the day read part of """"""""The Universal Magazine"""""""" for December, and in the evening read a pamphlet entitled """"""""Primitive Christianity propounded or an Essay To revive the Ancient Mode or manner of Preaching the Gospel"""""""". This is a pamphlet which I imagine to be wrote by a Baptist preacher in favour of preaching without notes. I must in my own private opinion say that I can see no harm consequent on our method of reading, as the author is pleased to call it. ...' """
"""In the day read part of """"""""The Universal Magazine"""""""" for December, and in the evening read a pamphlet entitled """"""""Primitive Christianity propounded or an Essay To revive the Ancient Mode or manner of Preaching the Gospel"""""""". This is a pamphlet which I imagine to be wrote by a Baptist preacher in favour of preaching without notes. I must in my own private opinion say that I can see no harm consequent on our method of reading, as the author is pleased to call it. ...' """
"""in the Even Tho. Davy at our House to whom I read the 4th Book of Milton's """"""""Paradise Lost"""""""".'"""
"""In the even read part of Addison's """"""""Evidences of the Christian Religion"""""""".'"""
"""In the even read the 6th book of Milton's """"""""Paradise Lost"""""""".'"""
"""Read part of """"""""The Peerage of England"""""""".'"""
"""We dined on the remains of Wednesday and yesterday's dinners with the addition of a cheap kind of soup, the receipt for making of which I took out of """"""""The Universal Magazine"""""""" for December as recommended (by James Stonhouse MD at Northampton) to all poor families as a very cheap and nourishing food. The following is a receipt: [copies out recipe in diary]... This in my opinion is a very good, palatable, cheap and nourishing diet...'"""
"""In the even read part of the """"""""New Whole Duty of Man"""""""".'"""
"""Read part of Salmon """"""""On Marriage"""""""".'"""
"""After I came home, I read part of """"""""The London Magazine"""""""" for October, as also a poor empty piece of tautology called """"""""A Series Advice to the Public to Avoid the Danger of Inoculation"""""""", in which he says a physician can only know and be the proper person to perform the operation, and that a surgeon can know nothing about it.' """
"""After I came home, I read part of """"""""The London Magazine"""""""" for October, as also a poor empty piece of tautology called """"""""A Series Advice to the Public to Avoid the Danger of Inoculation"""""""", in which he says a physician can only know and be the proper person to perform the operation, and that a surgeon can know nothing about it.' """
"""In the even read part of Collins's """"""""Peerage of England"""""""".'"""
"""In the day read part of Burn's """"""""Justice"""""""".'"""
"""Tho. Davy at our house in the latter part of the even to whom I read the last of """"""""The Complaint"""""""" and part of Sherlock on death. I now having read """"""""The Complaint"""""""" through, think it an extreme good book, the author having treated many parts of religion in a very noble and spiritual manner wherein I think every deist, free-thinker, as also every irreligious person may read himself a fool. For what is wit or wisdom (without religion) but foolishness?'"""
"""Tho. Davy at our house in the latter part of the even to whom I read the last of """"""""The Complaint"""""""" and part of Sherlock on death. I now having read """"""""The Complaint"""""""" through, think it an extreme good book, the author having treated many parts of religion in a very noble and spiritual manner wherein I think every deist, free-thinker, as also every irreligious person may read himself a fool. For what is wit or wisdom (without religion) but foolishness?'"""
"""In the even read part of Wiseman's """"""""Chyrurgery"""""""".'"""
"""In the even and the day read two of Tillotson's sermons and part of the 2nd volume of Hervey's """"""""Meditations"""""""". """
"""In the even and the day read two of Tillotson's sermons and part of the 2nd volume of Hervey's """"""""Meditations"""""""". """
"""Wolfe was a great admirer of Gray's """"""""Elegy""""""""; and as he was going down the river with his officers, previous to the storming of Montreal, he read the poem to them to while away the time, for it was then a new thing, just published. When he had finished he turned to them and said, """"""""Gentlemen, I had rather have been the author of that poem, and have given utterance to the sentiments expressed in it, than I would enjoy all the honour which I believe awaits us in this expedition"""""""".'"""
"""In the even read the extraordinary """"""""Gazette"""""""" for Wednesday, which gives an account of our army in America, under the command of General Wolfe, beating the French army under General Montcalm (near the city of Quebec) wherein both generals were killed, as also two more of the French generals, and the English general Monckton, who took command after General Wolfe was killed, was shot through the body, but is like to do very well; as also the surrender of the city of Quebec, with the articles of capitulation. Oh, what a pleasure it is to every true Briton to see with what success it pleases Almighty God..."""
"""The hours from seven to nine were spent in reading some useful and entertaining books such as Addison's works and particularly his political papers'"""
"""[Dr Johnson] used to mention Harry Fielding's behaviour to her [his sister Sarah] as a melancholy instance of narrowness; while she read only English Books, and made English Verses it seems, he fondled her Fancy, & encourag'd her Genius, but as soon [as] he perceived She once read Virgil, Farewell to Fondness...'"""
"""In the even read part of Derham's """"""""Physico-Theology"""""""".'"""
"""In the day read part of Bracken's """"""""Pocket Farrier"""""""", which I look upon as a very complete thing of its kind.'"""
"""In the even read one of Tillotson's sermons.'"""
"""In the even read Gibson on lukewarmness in religion, and a sermon of his entitled """"""""Trust in God, the best remedy against fears of all kinds"""""""", both of which I look upon as extreme good things.'"""
"""In the even read Gibson on lukewarmness in religion, and a sermon of his entitled """"""""Trust in God, the best remedy against fears of all kinds"""""""", both of which I look upon as extreme good things.'"""
"""In the even and the day read 6 of Bishop Sherlock's sermons, which I think extremely good, there being sound reasoning in them and seem wrote with an ardent spirit of piety, being mostly levelled against the deists.'"""
"""During his holidays he found on his mother's dressing-table an old torn copy of Gerard's """"""""Herbal"""""""", having the names and figures of some of the plants with which he had formed an imperfect acquaintance; and he carried it back with him to school.'"""
"""In the even read part of Young's """"""""Night Thoughts"""""""".'"""
"""Who is this Yorick? you are pleased to ask me. You cannot, I imagine have looked into his books: execrable I cannot but call them; for I am told that the third and fourth volumes are worse, if possible, than the two first; which, only, I have had the patience to run through. One extenuating circumstance attends his works, that they are too gross to be inflaming'."""
"""His disbelief of the authenticity of the poems ascribed to Ossian, a Highland bard, was confirmed in the course of his journey by a very strict examination of the evidence offered for it: and although their authenticity was made too much a national point by the Scotch, there were many respectable persons in that country who did not concur in this; so that his judgment upon the question ought not to be decried, even by those who differ from him. As to myself, I can only say, upon a subject now become very uninteresting, that when the fragments of Highland poetry first came out, I was much pleased with their wild peculiarity, and was one of those who subscribed to enable their editor, Mr. Macpherson, then a young man, to make a search in the Highlands and Hebrides for a long poem in the Erse language, which was reported to be preserved somewhere in those regions. But when there came forth an Epick Poem in six books, with all the common circumstances of former compositions of that nature; and when, upon an attentive examination of it, there was found a perpetual recurrence of the same images which appear in the fragments; and when no ancient manuscript to authenticate the work was deposited in any publick library, though that was insisted on as a reasonable proof, [italics] who [end italics] could forbear to doubt?'"""
"""In the even Tho. Davy at our house, to whom I read three of Tillotson's sermons.'"""
"""In the even Mr Tipper read to me part of a -I know not what to call it but """"""""Tristram Shandy"""""""".'"""
"""In the morning read part of a book entitled """"""""A Defence of Plurality of Church Benefices"""""""", but I cannot be persuaded by his reasons that it is always beneficial to promote our most holy religion.'"""
"""Read part of Young's """"""""Estimate of Human Life"""""""".'"""
"""...read part of Drelincourt on death and in the even one of Tillotson's sermons.'"""
"""...read part of Drelincourt on death and in the even one of Tillotson's sermons.'"""
"""I related a dispute between Goldsmith and Mr. Robert Dodsley, one day when they and I were dining at Tom Davies's, in 1762. Goldsmith asserted, that there was no poetry produced in this age. Dodsley appealed to his own Collection, and maintained, that though you could not find a palace like Dryden's """"""""Ode on St. Cecilia's Day"""""""", you had villages composed of very pretty houses; and he mentioned particularly """"""""The Spleen"""""""".'"""
"""I related a dispute between Goldsmith and Mr. Robert Dodsley, one day when they and I were dining at Tom Davies's, in 1762. Goldsmith asserted, that there was no poetry produced in this age. Dodsley appealed to his own Collection, and maintained, that though you could not find a palace like Dryden's """"""""Ode on St. Cecilia's Day"""""""", you had villages composed of very pretty houses; and he mentioned particularly """"""""The Spleen"""""""".'"""
"""I told him that from reading Gay's writings, I had taken an affection to his Grace's family from my earliest years.'"""
"""Dr John Campbell, the celebrated political and biographical writer, being mentioned, Johnson said, """"""""Campbell is a man of much knowledge, and has a good share of imagination. His """"""""Hermippus Redivivus"""""""" is very entertaining, as an account of the Hermetick philosophy, and as furnishing a curious history of the human mind. If it were merely imaginary it would be nothing at all."""""""".'"""
"""He talked very contemptuously of Churchill's poetry, observing, that """"""""it had a temporary currency, only from its audacity of abuse, and being filled with living names, and that it would sink into oblivion"""""""".'"""
"""Bonnell Thornton had just published a burlesque """"""""Ode on St. Cecilia's day, adapted to the ancient British music, viz. the salt-box, the jews- harp, the marrow-bones and cleaver, the hum-strum or hurdy-gurdy, &c"""""""". Johnson praised its humour, and seemed much diverted with it'."""
"""In this depreciation [by Johnson] of Churchill's poetry I could not agree with him. It is very true that the greatest part of it is upon the topicks of the day, on which account, as it brought him great fame and profit at the time, it must proportionally slide out of the publick attention as other occasional objects succeed. But Churchill had extraordnary vigour both of thought and expression. His portraits of the players will ever be valuable to the true lovers of the drama; and his strong caricatures of several eminent men of his age, will not be forgotten by the curious. Let me add, that there are in his works many passages which are of a general nature; and his """"""""Prophecy of Famine"""""""" is a poem of no ordinary merit. It is, indeed, falsely injurious to Scotland, but therefore may be allowed a greater share of invention'."""
"""In this depreciation [by Johnson] of Churchill's poetry I could not agree with him. It is very true that the greatest part of it is upon the topicks of the day, on which account, as it brought him great fame and profit at the time, it must proportionally slide out of the publick attention as other occasional objects succeed. But Churchill had extraordnary vigour both of thought and expression. His portraits of the players will ever be valuable to the true lovers of the drama; and his strong caricatures of several eminent men of his age, will not be forgotten by the curious. Let me add, that there are in his works many passages which are of a general nature; and his """"""""Prophecy of Famine"""""""" is a poem of no ordinary merit. It is, indeed, falsely injurious to Scotland, but therefore may be allowed a greater share of invention'."""
"""Sam. Jenner drank tea with me, and to whom in the evening I read two of Tillotson's sermons.'  """
"""I returned to my friend's chambers and we read some of Mr Addison's papers in """"""""The Spectator"""""""" with infinite relish'"""
"""In the even read several political papers called """"""""The North Briton"""""""", which are wrote by John Wilkes Esq., member for Aylesbury in Bucks, for the writing of which he has been committed to the Tower, and procured his release by a writ of habeas corpus. I really think they breathe forth such a spirit of liberty that it is an extreme good paper.'"""
"""Sir, this book (""""""""The Elements of Criticism"""""""", which he had taken up,) is a pretty essay, and deserves to be held in some estimation, though much of it is chimerical'."""
"""I then got """"""""The North Briton"""""""" and read it at Child's. I shall do so now every Saturday evening'"""
"""This forenoon I read the history of Joseph and his brethren, which melted my heart and drew tears from my eyes. It is simply and beautifully told in the Sacred Writings. It is a strange thing that the Bible is so little read. I am reading it regularly at present.'"""
"""The conversation now turned upon Mr. David Hume's style. Johnson. """"""""Why, Sir, his style is not English; the structure of his sentences is French. Now the French structure and the English structure may, in the nature of things, be equally good. But if you allow that the English language is established, he is wrong. My name might originally have been Nicholson, as well as Johnson ; but were you to call me Nicholson now, you would call me very absurdly.""""""""'"""
"""At this time the controversy concerning the pieces published by Mr James Macpherson as translations of [italics] Ossian [end italics], was at its height. Johson had all along denied their authenticity; and, what was still more provoking to their admirers, maintained they had no merit. The subject having been introduced by Dr Fordyce, Dr Blair, relying on the internal evidence of their antiquity, asked Dr Johnson whether he thought any man of a modern age could have written such poems? Johnson replied, """"""""Yes, Sir, many men, many women, and many children"""""""". Dr Johnson did not know that Dr Blair had just published a """"""""Dissertation"""""""", not only defending their authenticity, but seriously ranking them with the poems of [italics] Homer [end italics] and [italics] Virgil [end italics].'"""
"""At this time the controversy concerning the pieces published by Mr James Macpherson as translations of [italics] Ossian [end italics], was at its height. Johnson had all along denied their authenticity; and, what was still more provoking to their admirers, maintained they had no merit. The subject having been introduced by Dr Fordyce, Dr Blair, relying on the internal evidence of their antiquity, asked Dr Johnson whether he thought any man of a modern age could have written such poems? Johnson replied, """"""""Yes, Sir, many men, many women, and many children"""""""". Dr Johnson did not know that Dr Blair had just published a """"""""Dissertation"""""""", not only defending their authenticity, but seriously ranking them with the poems of [italics] Homer [end italics] and [italics] Virgil [end italics].'"""
"""His [Colley Cibber's] friends gave out that he [italics] intended [end italics] his birth-day """"""""Odes"""""""" should be bad: but that was not the case, Sir; for he kept them many months by him, and a few years before he died he shewed me one of them, with great solicitude to render it as perfect as might be, and I made some corrections, to which he was not very willing to submit'."""
"""""""""""Cibber's familiar style, however, was better than that which Whitehead has assumed. [italics] Grand [end italics] nonsense is insupportable. Whitehead is but a little man to inscribe verses to players"""""""". I did not presume to controvert this censure, which was tinctured with his prejudice against players; but I could not help thinking that a dramatick poet might with propriety pay a compliment to an eminent performer as Whitehead has very happily done in his verses to Mr Garrick'."""
"""Sir, I do not think Gray a first-rate poet. He has not a bold imagination, nor much command of words. The obscurity in which he has involved himself will not persuade us that he is sublime. His """"""""Elegy in a Church yard"""""""" has a happy selection, but I don't like what are called his great things'."""
"""""""""""Cibber's familiar style, however, was better than that which Whitehead has assumed. [italics] Grand [end italics] nonsense is insupportable. Whitehead is but a little man to inscribe verses to players"""""""". I did not presume to controvert this censure, which was tinctured with his prejudice against players; but I could not help thinking that a dramatick poet might with propriety pay a compliment to an eminent performer as Whitehead has very happily done in his verses to Mr Garrick'."""
"""I have now one great satisfaction, which is reading Hume's """"""""History"""""""". It entertains and instructs me. It elevates my mind and excites noble feelings of every kind.'"""
"""In the even read part of Beveridge's """"""""Thoughts"""""""".'"""
"""Her [Mrs Sheridan's]  novel, entitled """"""""Memoirs of Miss Sydney Biddulph"""""""", contains an excellent moral, while it inculcates a future state of retribution; and what it teaches is impressed upon the mind by a series of as deep distress as can affect humanty, in the amiable and pious heroine who goes to her grave unrelieved, but resgned, and full of hope of """"""""heaven's mercy"""""""". Johnson paid her this high compliment upon it: """"""""I know not, Madam, that you have a right, upon moral principles, to make your readers suffer so much"""""""".'"""
"""At night at home, I read the Church service by myself with great devotion'"""
"""Joseph Fuller Jun. And Tho. Durrant drank some Coffee with me... to whom I read One of Tillotson's Sermons.'"""
"""After the fatigue of the day was over, I read part of Shakespeare's """"""""Works"""""""".'"""
"""In my younger years I had read in the """"""""Lives of the Convicts"""""""" so much about Tyburn that I had a sort of horrid eagerness to be there' """
"""David Hume and John Dryden are at present my companions'"""
"""David Hume and John Dryden are at present my companions'"""
"""In the even read part of Shakespeare's """"""""Works"""""""", which I think extreme good in their kind.'"""
"""Some time ago I left off the pamphlet shop in the passage to the Temple Exchange Coffee-house, and took """"""""The North Briton"""""""" from the publisher of it, Mr Kearsley in Ludgate Street, hard by Child's. I have it now sent to me regularly by the Penny Post, and I read it with vast relish. There is a poignant acrimony in it that is very relishing. Noble also sends me from time to time a fresh supply of novels from his circulating library, so that I am very well provided with entertainment'"""
"""Some time ago I left off the pamphlet shop in the passage to the Temple Exchange Coffee-house, and took """"""""The North Briton"""""""" from the publisher of it, Mr Kearsley in Ludgate Street, hard by Child's. I have it now sent to me regularly by the Penny Post, and I read it with vast relish. There is a poignant acrimony in it that is very relishing. Noble also sends me from time to time a fresh supply of novels from his circulating library, so that I am very well provided with entertainment'"""
"""In the evening wrote my London letters and read Shakespeare's """"""""As you Like It"""""""" and """"""""Taming a Shrew"""""""", both of which I think good comedies.'"""
"""In the evening wrote my London letters and read Shakespeare's """"""""As you Like It"""""""" and """"""""Taming a Shrew"""""""", both of which I think good comedies.'"""
"""In the afternoon and even read part of Burnet's """"""""History of the Reformation"""""""" which I esteem a very impartial history, as the author has everywhere treated his subject with moderation and coolness, which is in my opinion always a sign of learning and virtue.'"""
"""In the even I read to my friend a sermon preached at the last Visitation held at Lewes, written by Mr Nicholl, Vicar of Westham in this county, and part of three discourses written by James Walder, a Baptist preacher, the last of which I esteem the best performance, it being in my judgment written with a true spirit of piety and in a pretty modest style. And what may, I presume, be proper for to be read by any sect whatsoever, there being nothing more in it than what is the duty of all Christians both to practise and believe.'"""
"""In the even I read to my friend a sermon preached at the last Visitation held at Lewes, written by Mr Nicholl, Vicar of Westham in this county, and part of three discourses written by James Walder, a Baptist preacher, the last of which I esteem the best performance, it being in my judgment written with a true spirit of piety and in a pretty modest style. And what may, I presume, be proper for to be read by any sect whatsoever, there being nothing more in it than what is the duty of all Christians both to practise and believe.'"""
"""In the even, read some """"""""Universal Magazines"""""""".'"""
"""In the even read part of the """"""""London Magazine"""""""" for July, in which I find a great many excellent pieces, more than I ever remember to have seen in any one magazine. Perhaps I may be partial in my opinion, and only think them excellent as they agree with my own sentiments, for we are apt to be partial in our judgment of men and books as they agree and are similar to our own thoughts, few having so sound a judgment as to think and act impartial when their interests or sentiments are the topic.'"""
"""I have read, conversed, and thought much upon the subject, and would recommend to all who are capable of conviction, an excellent Tract by my learned and ingenious friend John Ranby, Esq. entitled """"""""Doubts on the Abolition of the Slave Trade."""""""" To Mr. Ranby's """"""""Doubts,"""""""" I will apply Lord Chancellor Hardwicke's expression in praise of a Scotch Law Book, called """"""""Dirleton's Doubts""""""""; """"""""HIS [italics] Doubts [end italics], (said his Lordship,) are better than most people's [italics] Certainties [end italics]."""""""""""
"""It is not my interest to recommend it but in justice to what I owe to your amusement I must advise you to read the Lettres du Marquis de Roselle, if you have not yet seen them. They are written by the wife of Monsieur Beaumont who has got so much credit by defending the family of Calas. I do not recommend the boasted Siege of Calais to you, though it contains some good lines, but the conduct is woeful.'"""
"""Volume annotated in Dawson's own hand. Includes correction to Preface and a contents list."""
"""Manuscript list of 'The Proverbs & c in this Book' (in Dawson's hand) has been bound into the rear of the book."""
"""Contains a contents list, index to illustrations, index to maps and cross references to other texts in his library."""
"""Two volumes bound together by Dawson and including his 'The Pages Where the affairs in this Book begin for 1723' and 'continued for 1724'"""
"""In the even read part of Homer's """"""""Odyssey"""""""", translated by Alexander Pope, which I like very well, the language being vastly good and the turn of thought and expression beautiful.'"""
"""As soon as I had learned to read, my great delight was that of learning epitaphs and monumental inscriptions. A story of melancholy import never failed to arrest my attention, and, before I was seven years old, I could correctly repeat Pope's Lines ot the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady; Mason's Elegy on the Death of the beautiful Countess of Coventry; and many smaller poems on similar subjects.'"""
"""As soon as I had learned to read, my great delight was that of learning epitaphs and monumental inscriptions. A story of melancholy import never failed to arrest my attention, and, before I was seven years old, I could correctly repeat Pope's Lines ot the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady; Mason's Elegy on the Death of the beautiful Countess of Coventry; and many smaller poems on similar subjects.'"""
"""I have seen some volumes of Dr Young's copy of """"""""The Rambler"""""""", in which he has marked the pasages which he thought particularly excellent, by folding down a corner of the page; and such as he rated in a super-eminent degree, are marked by double folds'."""
"""It has of late been the fashion to compare the style of Addison and Johnson, and to depreciate, I think very unjustly, the style of Addison as nerveless and feeble, because it has not the strength and energy of that of Johnson. Their prose may be balanced like the poetry of Dryden and Pope. Both are excellent, though in different ways. Addison writes with the ease of a gentleman. His readers fancy that a wise and accomplished companion is talking to them; so that he insinuates his sentiments and tastes into their minds by an imperceptible influence. Johnson writes like a teacher'."""
"""Let me add, that Hawkesworth's imitations of Johnson are sometimes so happy,that it is extremely difficult to distinguish them, with certainty, from the compositions of his great archetype'."""
"""This violence [of Dr Johnson against Rousseau] seemed very strange to me, who had read many of Rousseau's animated writings with great pleasure, and even edification; had been much pleased with his society, and was just come from the Continent, where he was very generally admired. Nor can I yet allow that he deserves the very severe censure which Johnson pronounced upon him. His absurd preference of savage to civilized life and other singularities are proofs rather of a defect in his understanding than of any depravity in his heart. And notwithstanding the unfavourable opinion which many worthy men have expressed of his """"""""Profession de Foi du Vicaire Savoyard,"""""""" I cannot help admiring it as the performance of a man full of sincere reverential submission to Divine Mystery, though beset with perplexing doubts: a state of mind to be viewed with pity rather than with anger.'"""
"""During the first half year I was at this school Mr Gibson got Moliere's plays for me in 10 vols., French and English, which I afterwards used to construe with Mr Suine. As the English translation (tho' by no means a good one) afforded as much amusement in reading out of school time, we at length took it in our heads to act one of them amongst ourselves of which we selected """"""""The forced marriage"""""""".'"""
"""It was in one of those cheerful moods that I one day took up The Life of John Buncle; and it is impossible for my friend to imagine with what eagerness and pleasure I read through the whole four volumes of this sensible pleasing work; it was wrote by the late Mr Amory of Wakefield, and I know not of any work more proper to be put into the hands of a poor ignorant bigotted superstititous methodist... In short I saw that true religion was no way incompatible with or an enemy to rational pleasures of any kind. ... I now also began to read with great pleasure the rational and moderate divines of all denominations.'"""
"""Was much instructed in the duty of believing by reading Marshall's Gospel mystery of Sanctification. I  have great cause to be daily thankful for the discovery of a free saviour so inimitably delineated in this book.'"""
"""[editor's words] Previous to her arrival in Stirlingshire she had learnt to read with distinctness and propriety; and, under the tuition of Mrs Marshall, became an adept in this rare accomplishment. In books she soon discovered a substitute even for a playmate: her first hero was Wallace, with whom she became enamoured, by learning to recite Blind Harry's Lays. Two or three of Shakespeare's historical plays came in her way; the history of England followed. She happened to meet with Ogilvie's translation of Homer's Iliad, and soon learnt to idolize Achilles, and almost to dream of Hector'."""
"""?With this proposal I of course readily closed and accordingly the next day my father gave me the 1st vol of the """"""""Universal History"""""""" (beginning with the life of Mohamed) and the 1st of Rapin?s """"""""History of England"""""""", to begin with, an each of which in turn, I bestowed an hour in reading on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday mornings, allotting the other two mornings to a more amusing kind of reading such as Dryden?s """"""""Virgil"""""""", """"""""Telamachus"""""""", """"""""Charles 12th"""""""". etc. I also began a translation of """"""""Diable Boiteaux"""""""" & a prose one of """"""""Virgil?s Eneid"""""""".?"""
"""?With this proposal I of course readily closed and accordingly the next day my father gave me the 1st vol of the """"""""Universal History"""""""" (beginning with the life of Mohamed) and the 1st of Rapin?s """"""""History of England"""""""", to begin with, an each of which in turn, I bestowed an hour in reading on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday mornings, allotting the other two mornings to a more amusing kind of reading such as Dryden?s """"""""Virgil"""""""", """"""""Telamachus"""""""", """"""""Charles 12th"""""""". etc. I also began a translation of """"""""Diable Boiteaux"""""""" & a prose one of """"""""Virgil?s Eneid"""""""".?"""
"""?With this proposal I of course readily closed and accordingly the next day my father gave me the 1st vol of the """"""""Universal History"""""""" (beginning with the life of Mohamed) and the 1st of Rapin?s """"""""History of England"""""""", to begin with, an each of which in turn, I bestowed an hour in reading on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday mornings, allotting the other two mornings to a more amusing kind of reading such as Dryden?s """"""""Virgil"""""""", """"""""Telamachus"""""""", """"""""Charles 12th"""""""". etc. I also began a translation of """"""""Diable Boiteaux"""""""" & a prose one of """"""""Virgil?s Eneid"""""""".?"""
"""?With this proposal I of course readily closed and accordingly the next day my father gave me the 1st vol of the """"""""Universal History"""""""" (beginning with the life of Mohamed) and the 1st of Rapin?s """"""""History of England"""""""", to begin with, an each of which in turn, I bestowed an hour in reading on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday mornings, allotting the other two mornings to a more amusing kind of reading such as Dryden?s """"""""Virgil"""""""", """"""""Telamachus"""""""", """"""""Charles 12th"""""""". etc. I also began a translation of """"""""Diable Boiteaux"""""""" & a prose one of """"""""Virgil?s Eneid"""""""".?"""
"""?With this proposal I of course readily closed and accordingly the next day my father gave me the 1st vol of the """"""""Universal History"""""""" (beginning with the life of Mohamed) and the 1st of Rapin?s """"""""History of England"""""""", to begin with, an each of which in turn, I bestowed an hour in reading on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday mornings, allotting the other two mornings to a more amusing kind of reading such as Dryden?s """"""""Virgil"""""""", """"""""Telamachus"""""""", """"""""Charles 12th"""""""". etc. I also began a translation of """"""""Diable Boiteaux"""""""" & a prose one of """"""""Virgil?s Eneid"""""""".?"""
"""?With this proposal I of course readily closed and accordingly the next day my father gave me the 1st vol of the """"""""Universal History"""""""" (beginning with the life of Mohamed) and the 1st of Rapin?s """"""""History of England"""""""", to begin with, an each of which in turn, I bestowed an hour in reading on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday mornings, allotting the other two mornings to a more amusing kind of reading such as Dryden?s """"""""Virgil"""""""", """"""""Telamachus"""""""", """"""""Charles 12th"""""""". etc. I also began a translation of """"""""Diable Boiteaux"""""""" & a prose one of """"""""Virgil?s Eneid"""""""".?"""
"""?With this proposal I of course readily closed and accordingly the next day my father gave me the 1st vol of the """"""""Universal History"""""""" (beginning with the life of Mohamed) and the 1st of Rapin?s """"""""History of England"""""""", to begin with, an each of which in turn, I bestowed an hour in reading on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday mornings, allotting the other two mornings to a more amusing kind of reading such as Dryden?s """"""""Virgil"""""""", """"""""Telamachus"""""""", """"""""Charles 12th"""""""". etc. I also began a translation of """"""""Diable Boiteaux"""""""" & a prose one of """"""""Virgil?s Eneid"""""""".?"""
"""But these extraordinary accounts and discourses, together with the controversies between the mother and sons, made me think that they know many matters of which I was totally ignorant. This created in me a desire for knowledge, that I might know who was right and who was wrong. But to my great mortification, I could not read. I knew most of the letters, and a few easy words, and I set about learning with all my might. My mistress would sometimes instruct me; and having three-halfpence per week allowed me by my mother, this money I gave to John (my master's youngest son) and for every three-halfpence he taught me to spell one hour. And this was done in the dark, as we were not allowed a candle, after we were sent upstairs to bed.'"""
"""?The enthusiastic notions which I had imbibed, and the desire I had to be talking about religious mysteries, etc answered one valuable purpose; as it caused me to embrace every opportunity to learn to read; so that I could soon read the easy parts of the Bible, Mr Wesley?s Hymns etc and every leisure minute was so employed.'"""
"""?The enthusiastic notions which I had imbibed, and the desire I had to be talking about religious mysteries, etc answered one valuable purpose; as it caused me to embrace every opportunity to learn to read; so that I could soon read the easy parts of the Bible, Mr Wesley?s Hymns etc and every leisure minute was so employed.'"""
"""?? for a long time I read ten chapters in the Bible every day, I also read and learned many hymns, and as soon as I could procure some of Mr Wesley?s Tracts, Sermons etc. I read them also; many of them I perused in ?Cloacina?s? Temple, (the place where my Lord Chesterfield advised his son to read the classics.) But I did not apply them after reading to the farther use that his Lordship hints at.?"""
"""?I had such good eyes, that I often read by the light of the moon, as my master would never permit me to take a candle into my room.?"""
"""Whenever I read in St Paul's Epistle on justification by faith alone, my good mistress would read in the Epistle of St James, such passages as say that a man is not justified  by faith alone, but by faith and works, which often embarrassed me not a little. However, I comforted  myself with the conceit of having more texts of Scripture on my side of the question than she had on her side.  As to St James, I was almost ready to conclude, that he was not quite orthodox, and so at last I did not much mind what he said.'"""
"""A Lady of Norfolk, by a letter to my friend Dr. Burney, has favoured me with the following solution [to the question of why the St Kildans always got a cold when visited by outsiders]: """"""""Now for the explication of this seeming mystery, which is so very obvious as, for that reason, to have escaped the penetration of Dr. Johnson and his friend, as well as that of the author. Reading the book with my ingenions friend, the late Reverend Mr. Christian of Docking—after ruminating a little, 'The cause, (says he,) is a natural one: The situation of St. Kilda renders a North-East wind indispensably necessary before a stranger can land. The wind, not the stranger, occasions an epidemick cold'.""""""""'"""
"""When I talked of our [the Scots'] advancement in literature, """"""""Sir, (said he,) you have learnt a little from us, and you think yourselves very great men. Hume would never have written History, had not Voltaire written it before him. He is an echo of Voltaire."""""""" Boswell """"""""But, Sir, we have Lord Kames."""""""" Johnson. """"""""You [italics] have [italics] Lord &#1050;ames. Keep him; ha, ha, ha! We don't envy you him. Do you ever see Dr. Robertson?"""""""" Boswell. """"""""Yes, Sir."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Does the dog talk of me ?"""""""" Boswell. """"""""Indeed, Sir, he does, and loves you."""""""" Thinking that I now had him in a corner, and being solicitous for the literary fame of my country, I pressed him for his opinion on the merit of Dr. Robertson's """"""""History of Scotland"""""""". But, to my surprise, he escaped.—"""""""" Sir, I love Robertson, and I won't talk of his book.""""""""'"""
"""When I talked of our [the Scots'] advancement in literature, """"""""Sir, (said he,) you have learnt a little from us, and you think yourselves very great men. Hume would never have written History, had not Voltaire written it before him. He is an echo of Voltaire."""""""" Boswell """"""""But, Sir, we have Lord Kames."""""""" Johnson. """"""""You [italics] have [italics] Lord &#1050;ames. Keep him; ha, ha, ha! We don't envy you him. Do you ever see Dr. Robertson?"""""""" Boswell. """"""""Yes, Sir."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Does the dog talk of me ?"""""""" Boswell. """"""""Indeed, Sir, he does, and loves you."""""""" Thinking that I now had him in a corner, and being solicitous for the literary fame of my country, I pressed him for his opinion on the merit of Dr. Robertson's """"""""History of Scotland"""""""". But, to my surprise, he escaped.—"""""""" Sir, I love Robertson, and I won't talk of his book.""""""""'"""
"""When I talked of our [the Scots'] advancement in literature, """"""""Sir, (said he,) you have learnt a little from us, and you think yourselves very great men. Hume would never have written History, had not Voltaire written it before him. He is an echo of Voltaire."""""""" Boswell """"""""But, Sir, we have Lord Kames."""""""" Johnson. """"""""You [italics] have [italics] Lord &#1050;ames. Keep him; ha, ha, ha! We don't envy you him. Do you ever see Dr. Robertson?"""""""" Boswell. """"""""Yes, Sir."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Does the dog talk of me ?"""""""" Boswell. """"""""Indeed, Sir, he does, and loves you."""""""" Thinking that I now had him in a corner, and being solicitous for the literary fame of my country, I pressed him for his opinion on the merit of Dr. Robertson's """"""""History of Scotland"""""""". But, to my surprise, he escaped.—"""""""" Sir, I love Robertson, and I won't talk of his book.""""""""'"""
"""He praised Signor Baretti. """"""""His account of Italy is a very entertaining book; and, Sir, I know no man who carries his head higher in conversation than Baretti. There are strong powers in his mind. He has not, indeed, many hooks; but with what hooks he has, he grapples very forcibly"""""""".'"""
"""He allowed high praise to Thomson, as a poet; but when one of the company said he was also a very good man, our moralist contested this with very great warmth, accusing him of gross sensuality and licentiousness of manners. I was very much afraid that in writing Thomson's """"""""Life"""""""", Dr. Johnson would have treated his private character with a stern severity, but I was agreeably disappointed; and I may claim a little merit in it, from my having been at pains to send him authentic accounts of the affectionate and generous conduct of that poet to his sisters, one of whom, the wife of Mr. Thomson, schoolmaster, of Lanark, I knew, and was presented by her with three of his letters, one of which Dr. Johnson has inserted in his """"""""Life"""""""".'"""
"""He allowed high praise to Thomson, as a poet; but when one of the company said he was also a very good man, our moralist contested this with very great warmth, accusing him of gross sensuality and licentiousness of manners. I was very much afraid that in writing Thomson's """"""""Life"""""""", Dr. Johnson would have treated his private character with a stern severity, but I was agreeably disappointed; and I may claim a little merit in it, from my having been at pains to send him authentic accounts of the affectionate and generous conduct of that poet to his sisters, one of whom, the wife of Mr. Thomson, schoolmaster, of Lanark, I knew, and was presented by her with three of his letters, one of which Dr. Johnson has inserted in his """"""""Life"""""""".'"""
"""Swift having been mentioned, Johnson, as usual, treated him with little respect as an author. Some of us endeavoured to support the Dean of St. Patrick's, by various arguments. One in particular praised his """"""""Conduct of the Allies."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Sir, his 'Conduct of the Allies,' is a performance of very little ability."""""""" """"""""Surely, Sir, (said Dr. Douglas,) you must allow it has strong facts."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why yes, Sir; but what is that to the merit of the composition? In the Sessions-paper of the Old Bailey there are strong facts. Housebreaking is a strong fact; and murder is a mighty strong fact; but is great praise due to the historian of those strong facts? No, Sir, Swift has told what he had to tell distinctly enough, but that is all. He had to count ten, and he has counted it right.""""""""'"""
"""Sterne has published two little volumes, called, """"""""Sentimental Travels"""""""". They are very pleasing, though too much dilated, and infinitely preferable to his tiresome """"""""Tristram Shandy"""""""", of which I never could get through three volumes. In these there is great good nature and strokes of delicacy.'"""
"""Sterne has published two little volumes, called, """"""""Sentimental Travels"""""""". They are very pleasing, though too much dilated, and infinitely preferable to his tiresome """"""""Tristram Shandy"""""""", of which I never could get through three volumes. In these there is great good nature and strokes of delicacy.'"""
"""In 1768, Burney read in rapid succession Elizabeth and Richard Griffith's """"""""A Series of Genuine Letters between Henry and Frances"""""""" (1757) ... Oliver Goldsmith's """"""""The Vicar of Wakefield"""""""" (1766); and Samuel Johnson's """"""""Rasselas"""""""" (1759).'"""
"""In 1768, Burney read in rapid succession Elizabeth and Richard Griffith's """"""""A Series of Genuine Letters between Henry and Frances"""""""" (1757) ... Oliver Goldsmith's """"""""The Vicar of Wakefield"""""""" (1766); and Samuel Johnson's """"""""Rasselas"""""""" (1759).'"""
"""In 1768, Burney read in rapid succession Elizabeth and Richard Griffith's """"""""A Series of Genuine Letters between Henry and Frances"""""""" (1757) ... Oliver Goldsmith's """"""""The Vicar of Wakefield"""""""" (1766); and Samuel Johnson's """"""""Rasselas"""""""" (1759).'"""
"""After reading Pope's """"""""Illiad"""""""", the sixteen-year-old Burney confided in her journal that """"""""I was never so charm'd with a poem in my life"""""""".'"""
"""I was but about twenty-two years of age when I first began to read them, and I assure you, my friend, that they made a very deep and lasting impression in my mind. By reading them [Plato's On the Immortality of the soul and Plutarch's Morals and Confucio's texts] I was taught to bear the unavoidable evils attending humanity, and to supply all my wants by contracting or restraining my desires.'"""
"""I was but about twenty-two years of age when I first began to read them, and I assure you, my friend, that they made a very deep and lasting impression in my mind. By reading them [Plato's On the Immortality of the soul and Plutarch's Morals and Confucio's texts] I was taught to bear the unavoidable evils attending humanity, and to supply all my wants by contracting or restraining my desires.'"""
"""I was but about twenty-two years of age when I first began to read them, and I assure you, my friend, that they made a very deep and lasting impression in my mind. By reading them [Plato's On the Immortality of the soul and Plutarch's Morals and Confucio's texts] I was taught to bear the unavoidable evils attending humanity, and to supply all my wants by contracting or restraining my desires.'"""
"""My master said to me one day, he was surprized that I did not learn to write my own letters, and added, that he was sure that I could learn to do it in a very short time. ... Without any delay I set about it, by taking up pieces of paper that had any writing on them, and initiating the letters as well as I could. I employed my leisure hours in this way for near two months, after which time I wrote my own letters, in a bad hand, you may be sure; but it was plain and easy to read, which was all I cared for.'"""
"""I often privately took the Bible to bed with me, and in the long summer mornings read for hours together in bed'."""
"""Letter to Collector MacVicar June 30 1773 'I will not tire you with the detail of all the little circumstances that gradually acquired me the place in her favour which I ever continued to possess. She [ie Aunt Schuyler] saw me reading Paradise Lost with delighted attention; she was astonished to see a child take pleasure in such a book.'"""
"""We took Beroe incrassata, Medusa limpidissima, plicata and obliquata, Alcyonium anguillare (probably the thing that Shelvoke mentions in his """"""""Voyage Round the World"""""""" p. 60), and A. frustrum, Ulva intestinalis, and Corallina officinalis.'"""
"""Mrs. Montague, a lady distinguished for having written an Essay on Shakspeare [sic], being mentioned:—Reynolds. """"""""I think that essay does her honour."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Yes, Sir; it does her honour, but it would do nobody else honour. I have, indeed, not read it all. But when I take up the end of a web, and find it packthread. I do not expect, by looking further, to find embroidery. Sir, I will venture to say, there is not one sentence of true criticism in her book."""""""" Garrick. """"""""But, Sir, surely it shews how much Voltaire has mistaken Shakspeare, which nobody else has done."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Sir, nobody else has thought it worth while. And what merit is there in that ? You may as well praise a schoolmaster for whipping a boy who has construed ill"""""""".' """
"""Mrs. Montague, a lady distinguished for having written an Essay on Shakspeare [sic], being mentioned:—Reynolds. """"""""I think that essay does her honour."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Yes, Sir; it does her honour, but it would do nobody else honour. I have, indeed, not read it all. But when I take up the end of a web, and find it packthread. I do not expect, by looking further, to find embroidery. Sir, I will venture to say, there is not one sentence of true criticism in her book."""""""" Garrick. """"""""But, Sir, surely it shews how much Voltaire has mistaken Shakspeare, which nobody else has done."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Sir, nobody else has thought it worth while. And what merit is there in that ? You may as well praise a schoolmaster for whipping a boy who has construed ill"""""""".' """
"""After dinner our conversation first turned upon Pope. Johnson said, his characters of men were admirably drawn, those of women not so well. He repeated to us, in his forcible melodious manner, the concluding lines of the """"""""Dunciad"""""""". While he was talking loudly in praise of those lines, one of the company ventured to say, """"""""Too fine for such a poem:— a poem on what?"""""""" Johnson, (with a disdainful look,) """"""""Why, on [italics] dunces [italics]. It was worth while being a dunce then. Ah, Sir, hadst [italics] thou [italics] lived in those days! It is not worth while being a dunce now, when there are no wits."""""""" Bickerstaff observed, as a peculiar circumstance, that Pope's fame was higher when he was alive, than it was then. Johnson said, his Pastorals were poor things, though the versification was fine. He told us, with high satisfaction, the anecdote of Pope's enquiring who was the author of his """"""""London,"""""""" and saying, he will be soon [italics] deterré [italics]. He observed, that in Dryden's poetry there were passages drawn from a profundity which Pope could never reach. He repeated some fine lines on love, by the former, (which I have now forgotten,) and gave great applause to the character of Zimri. Goldsmith said, that Pope's character of Addison shewed a deep knowledge of the human heart. Johnson said, that the description of the temple, in """"""""The Mourning Bride,"""""""" was the finest poetical passage he had ever read; he recollected none in Shakspeare equal to it'."""
"""After dinner our conversation first turned upon Pope. Johnson said, his characters of men were admirably drawn, those of women not so well. He repeated to us, in his forcible melodious manner, the concluding lines of the """"""""Dunciad"""""""". While he was talking loudly in praise of those lines, one of the company ventured to say, """"""""Too fine for such a poem:— a poem on what?"""""""" Johnson, (with a disdainful look,) """"""""Why, on [italics] dunces [italics]. It was worth while being a dunce then. Ah, Sir, hadst [italics] thou [italics] lived in those days! It is not worth while being a dunce now, when there are no wits."""""""" Bickerstaff observed, as a peculiar circumstance, that Pope's fame was higher when he was alive, than it was then. Johnson said, his Pastorals were poor things, though the versification was fine. He told us, with high satisfaction, the anecdote of Pope's enquiring who was the author of his """"""""London,"""""""" and saying, he will be soon [italics] deterré [italics]. He observed, that in Dryden's poetry there were passages drawn from a profundity which Pope could never reach. He repeated some fine lines on love, by the former, (which I have now forgotten,) and gave great applause to the character of Zimri. Goldsmith said, that Pope's character of Addison shewed a deep knowledge of the human heart. Johnson said, that the description of the temple, in """"""""The Mourning Bride,"""""""" was the finest poetical passage he had ever read; he recollected none in Shakspeare equal to it'."""
"""After dinner our conversation first turned upon Pope. Johnson said, his characters of men were admirably drawn, those of women not so well. He repeated to us, in his forcible melodious manner, the concluding lines of the """"""""Dunciad"""""""". While he was talking loudly in praise of those lines, one of the company ventured to say, """"""""Too fine for such a poem:— a poem on what?"""""""" Johnson, (with a disdainful look,) """"""""Why, on [italics] dunces [italics]. It was worth while being a dunce then. Ah, Sir, hadst [italics] thou [italics] lived in those days! It is not worth while being a dunce now, when there are no wits."""""""" Bickerstaff observed, as a peculiar circumstance, that Pope's fame was higher when he was alive, than it was then. Johnson said, his Pastorals were poor things, though the versification was fine. He told us, with high satisfaction, the anecdote of Pope's enquiring who was the author of his """"""""London,"""""""" and saying, he will be soon [italics] deterré [italics]. He observed, that in Dryden's poetry there were passages drawn from a profundity which Pope could never reach. He repeated some fine lines on love, by the former, (which I have now forgotten,) and gave great applause to the character of Zimri. Goldsmith said, that Pope's character of Addison shewed a deep knowledge of the human heart. Johnson said, that the description of the temple, in """"""""The Mourning Bride,"""""""" was the finest poetical passage he had ever read; he recollected none in Shakspeare equal to it'."""
"""After dinner our conversation first turned upon Pope. Johnson said, his characters of men were admirably drawn, those of women not so well. He repeated to us, in his forcible melodious manner, the concluding lines of the """"""""Dunciad"""""""". While he was talking loudly in praise of those lines, one of the company ventured to say, """"""""Too fine for such a poem:— a poem on what?"""""""" Johnson, (with a disdainful look,) """"""""Why, on [italics] dunces [italics]. It was worth while being a dunce then. Ah, Sir, hadst [italics] thou [italics] lived in those days! It is not worth while being a dunce now, when there are no wits."""""""" Bickerstaff observed, as a peculiar circumstance, that Pope's fame was higher when he was alive, than it was then. Johnson said, his Pastorals were poor things, though the versification was fine. He told us, with high satisfaction, the anecdote of Pope's enquiring who was the author of his """"""""London,"""""""" and saying, he will be soon [italics] deterré [italics]. He observed, that in Dryden's poetry there were passages drawn from a profundity which Pope could never reach. He repeated some fine lines on love, by the former, (which I have now forgotten,) and gave great applause to the character of Zimri. Goldsmith said, that Pope's character of Addison shewed a deep knowledge of the human heart. Johnson said, that the description of the temple, in """"""""The Mourning Bride,"""""""" was the finest poetical passage he had ever read; he recollected none in Shakspeare equal to it'."""
"""After dinner our conversation first turned upon Pope. Johnson said, his characters of men were admirably drawn, those of women not so well. He repeated to us, in his forcible melodious manner, the concluding lines of the """"""""Dunciad"""""""". While he was talking loudly in praise of those lines, one of the company ventured to say, """"""""Too fine for such a poem:— a poem on what?"""""""" Johnson, (with a disdainful look,) """"""""Why, on [italics] dunces [italics]. It was worth while being a dunce then. Ah, Sir, hadst [italics] thou [italics] lived in those days! It is not worth while being a dunce now, when there are no wits."""""""" Bickerstaff observed, as a peculiar circumstance, that Pope's fame was higher when he was alive, than it was then. Johnson said, his Pastorals were poor things, though the versification was fine. He told us, with high satisfaction, the anecdote of Pope's enquiring who was the author of his """"""""London,"""""""" and saying, he will be soon [italics] deterré [italics]. He observed, that in Dryden's poetry there were passages drawn from a profundity which Pope could never reach. He repeated some fine lines on love, by the former, (which I have now forgotten,) and gave great applause to the character of Zimri. Goldsmith said, that Pope's character of Addison shewed a deep knowledge of the human heart. Johnson said, that the description of the temple, in """"""""The Mourning Bride,"""""""" was the finest poetical passage he had ever read; he recollected none in Shakspeare equal to it'."""
"""Mrs. Montague, a lady distinguished for having written an Essay on Shakspeare [sic], being mentioned:—Reynolds. """"""""I think that essay does her honour."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Yes, Sir; it does her honour, but it would do nobody else honour. I have, indeed, not read it all. But when I take up the end of a web, and find it packthread. I do not expect, by looking further, to find embroidery. Sir, I will venture to say, there is not one sentence of true criticism in her book."""""""" Garrick. """"""""But, Sir, surely it shews how much Voltaire has mistaken Shakspeare, which nobody else has done."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Sir, nobody else has thought it worth while. And what merit is there in that ? You may as well praise a schoolmaster for whipping a boy who has construed ill"""""""".' """
"""Johnson proceeded :— """"""""The Scotchman has taken the right method in his 'Elements of Criticism.' I do not mean that he has taught us any thing; but he has told us old things in a new way."""""""" Murphy. """"""""He seems to have read a great deal of French criticism, and wants to make it his own; as if he had been for years anatomizing the heart of man, and peeping into every cranny of it."""""""" Goldsmith. """"""""It is easier to write that book, than to read it."""""""" Johnson. """"""""We have an example of true criticism in Burke's 'Essay on the Sublime and Beautiful'; and, if I recollect, there is also Du Bos; and Bouhours, who shews all beauty to depend on truth. There is no great merit in telling how many plays have ghosts in them, and how this Ghost is better than that. You must shew how terrour is impressed on the human heart.— In the description of night in Macbeth, the beetle and the bat detract from the general idea of darkness,—inspissated gloom"""""""".'"""
"""Johnson proceeded :— """"""""The Scotchman has taken the right method in his 'Elements of Criticism.' I do not mean that he has taught us any thing; but he has told us old things in a new way."""""""" Murphy. """"""""He seems to have read a great deal of French criticism, and wants to make it his own; as if he had been for years anatomizing the heart of man, and peeping into every cranny of it."""""""" Goldsmith. """"""""It is easier to write that book, than to read it."""""""" Johnson. """"""""We have an example of true criticism in Burke's 'Essay on the Sublime and Beautiful'; and, if I recollect, there is also Du Bos; and Bouhours, who shews all beauty to depend on truth. There is no great merit in telling how many plays have ghosts in them, and how this Ghost is better than that. You must shew how terrour is impressed on the human heart.— In the description of night in Macbeth, the beetle and the bat detract from the general idea of darkness,—inspissated gloom"""""""".'"""
"""Johnson proceeded :— """"""""The Scotchman has taken the right method in his 'Elements of Criticism.' I do not mean that he has taught us any thing; but he has told us old things in a new way."""""""" Murphy. """"""""He seems to have read a great deal of French criticism, and wants to make it his own; as if he had been for years anatomizing the heart of man, and peeping into every cranny of it."""""""" Goldsmith. """"""""It is easier to write that book, than to read it."""""""" Johnson. """"""""We have an example of true criticism in Burke's 'Essay on the Sublime and Beautiful'; and, if I recollect, there is also Du Bos; and Bouhours, who shews all beauty to depend on truth. There is no great merit in telling how many plays have ghosts in them, and how this Ghost is better than that. You must shew how terrour is impressed on the human heart.— In the description of night in Macbeth, the beetle and the bat detract from the general idea of darkness,—inspissated gloom"""""""".'"""
"""Johnson proceeded :— """"""""The Scotchman has taken the right method in his 'Elements of Criticism.' I do not mean that he has taught us any thing; but he has told us old things in a new way."""""""" Murphy. """"""""He seems to have read a great deal of French criticism, and wants to make it his own; as if he had been for years anatomizing the heart of man, and peeping into every cranny of it."""""""" Goldsmith. """"""""It is easier to write that book, than to read it."""""""" Johnson. """"""""We have an example of true criticism in Burke's 'Essay on the Sublime and Beautiful'; and, if I recollect, there is also Du Bos; and Bouhours, who shews all beauty to depend on truth. There is no great merit in telling how many plays have ghosts in them, and how this Ghost is better than that. You must shew how terrour is impressed on the human heart.— In the description of night in Macbeth, the beetle and the bat detract from the general idea of darkness,—inspissated gloom"""""""".'"""
"""Johnson proceeded :— """"""""The Scotchman has taken the right method in his 'Elements of Criticism.' I do not mean that he has taught us any thing; but he has told us old things in a new way."""""""" Murphy. """"""""He seems to have read a great deal of French criticism, and wants to make it his own; as if he had been for years anatomizing the heart of man, and peeping into every cranny of it."""""""" Goldsmith. """"""""It is easier to write that book, than to read it."""""""" Johnson. """"""""We have an example of true criticism in Burke's 'Essay on the Sublime and Beautiful'; and, if I recollect, there is also Du Bos; and Bouhours, who shews all beauty to depend on truth. There is no great merit in telling how many plays have ghosts in them, and how this Ghost is better than that. You must shew how terrour is impressed on the human heart.— In the description of night in Macbeth, the beetle and the bat detract from the general idea of darkness,—inspissated gloom"""""""".'"""
"""Frances Burney at seventeen observes that she is about """"""""to charm myself for the third time with poor Sterne's 'Sentimental Journey'."""""""" """
"""Boswell. """"""""You have read his [Cibber's] apology, Sir ?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Yes, it is very entertaining. But as for Cibber himself, taking from his conversation all that he ought not to have said, he was a poor creature. I remember when he brought me one of his Odes to have my opinion of it, I could not bear such nonsense, and would not let him read it to the end; so little respect had I for [italics] that great man! [end italics] (laughing.)""""""""'"""
"""Possibly that might be Cape Horn, but a fog which overcast it almost immediately after we saw it, hindered our making any material observations upon it; so that all we can say is, that it was the southernmost land we saw, and does not answer badly to the description of Cape Horn given by the French, who place it upon an island, and say that it is two bluff headlands (vide Histoire des Navigat. aux terres australes, tom i. p. 356).'"""
"""""""""""The London Chronicle"""""""", which was the only newspaper he constantly took in, being brought, the office of reading it aloud was assigned to me. I was diverted by his impatience. He made me pass over so many parts of it, that my task was very easy. He would not suffer one of the petitions to the King about the Middlesex election to be read.'"""
"""""""""""The London Chronicle"""""""", which was the only newspaper he constantly took in, being brought, the office of reading it aloud was assigned to me. I was diverted by his impatience. He made me pass over so many parts of it, that my task was very easy. He would not suffer one of the petitions to the King about the Middlesex election to be read.'"""
"""[editor's words] Previous to her arrival in Stirlingshire she had learnt to read with distinctness and propriety; and, under the tuition of Mrs Marshall, became an adept in this rare accomplishment. In books she soon discovered a substitute even for a playmate: her first hero was Wallace, with whom she became enamoured, by learning to recite Blind Harry's Lays. Two or three of Shakespeare's historical plays came in her way; the history of England followed. She happened to meet with Ogilvie's translation of Homer's Iliad, and soon learnt to idolize Achilles, and almost to dream of Hector'."""
"""[editor's words] Previous to her arrival in Stirlingshire she had learnt to read with distinctness and propriety; and, under the tuition of Mrs Marshall, became an adept in this rare accomplishment. In books she soon discovered a substitute even for a playmate: her first hero was Wallace, with whom she became enamoured, by learning to recite Blind Harry's Lays. Two or three of Shakespeare's historical plays came in her way; the history of England followed. She happened to meet with Ogilvie's translation of Homer's Iliad, and soon learnt to idolize Achilles, and almost to dream of Hector'."""
"""[editor's words] Previous to her arrival in Stirlingshire she had learnt to read with distinctness and propriety; and, under the tuition of Mrs Marshall, became an adept in this rare accomplishment. In books she soon discovered a substitute even for a playmate: her first hero was Wallace, with whom she became enamoured, by learning to recite Blind Harry's Lays. Two or three of Shakespeare's historical plays came in her way; the history of England followed. She happened to meet with Ogilvie's translation of Homer's Iliad, and soon learnt to idolize Achilles, and almost to dream of Hector'."""
"""[editor's words] Previous to her arrival in Stirlingshire she had learnt to read with distinctness and propriety; and, under the tuition of Mrs Marshall, became an adept in this rare accomplishment. In books she soon discovered a substitute even for a playmate: her first hero was Wallace, with whom she became enamoured, by learning to recite Blind Harry's Lays. Two or three of Shakespeare's historical plays came in her way; the history of England followed. She happened to meet with Ogilvie's translation of Homer's Iliad, and soon learnt to idolize Achilles, and almost to dream of Hector'."""
"""He was covered with a fine cloth of a manufacture totally new to us; it was tied on exactly as represented in Mr. Dalrymple's book, p. 63; his hair was also tied in a knot on the top of his head, but there was no feather stuck in it; his complexion brown but not very dark.'"""
"""I have been told that this very method was proposed in the """"""""Gentleman's Magazine"""""""" many years ago, but have not the book on board.  Frezier, in his voyage to the South Sea, describes a contrivance of the Peruvian Indians upon the same principles, plate 31, p. 273, but his drawing and plan are difficult to understand, if not actually very faulty, and his description is nothing; the drawing may serve, however, to give an idea to a man who has never seen a thing of the kind.'"""
"""The chief inconvenience in handling the roots came from the infinite number; myriads would come in an instant out of many holes, and running over the hand tickle so as to be scarcely endurable.  Rhumphius has an account of this very bulb and its ants in vol. vi. p.120, where he describes also another sort, the ants of which are black.'"""
"""All the shoals that were dry at half ebb afforded plenty of fish, left dry in small hollows of the rocks, and a profusion of large shell-fish (Chama gigas) such as Dampier describes, vol. iii. p. 191.'"""
"""While botanising to-day I had the good fortune to take an animal of the opossum (""""""""Didelphis"""""""") tribe; it was a female, and with it I took two young ones.  It was not unlike that remarkable one which De Buffon has described by the name of """"""""Phalanger"""""""" as an American animal.  It was, however, not the same.  M. de Buffon is certainly wrong in asserting that this tribe is peculiar to America, and in all probability, as Pallas has said in his """"""""Zoologia"""""""" the """"""""Phalanger"""""""" itself is a native of the East Indies, as my animals and that agree in the extraordinary conformation of their feet, in which particular they differ from all the others.'"""
"""In examining a fig which we had found at our last going ashore, we found in the fruit a """"""""Cynips"""""""", very like, if not exactly the same species as """"""""Cynips sycomori"""""""", Linn., described by Hasselquist in his Iter Palestinum, a strong proof of the fact that figs must be impregnated by means of insects, though indeed that fact wanted not any additional proofs.'"""
"""In the evening a small bird of the noddy (Sterna) kind hovered about the ship, and at night settled on the rigging, where it was taken, and proved exactly the same bird as Dampier has described, and given a rude figure of, under the name of a noddy from New Holland (see his Voyages, vol. iii. p. 98, table of birds, Fig. 5).'"""
"""The gum-trees were like those in the last bay, both in leaf and in producing a very small proportion of gum; on the branches of them and other trees were large ants' nests, made of clay, as big as a bushel, something like those described in Sir Hans Sloane's """"""""History of Jamaica"""""""", vol. II. pp. 221 to 258, but not so smooth.'"""
"""Of Dr. Priestley's theological works, he remarked, that they tended to unsettle every thing, and yet settled nothing.' [account by Dr Maxwell, and Irish London priest friend of Johnson]"""
"""Speaking of the French novels, compared with Richardson's, he said, they might be pretty baubles, but a wren was not an eagle'. [account by Dr Maxwell, an Irish London priest friend of Dr Johnson]"""
"""Speaking of the French novels, compared with Richardson's, he said, they might be pretty baubles, but a wren was not an eagle'. [account by Dr Maxwell, an Irish London priest friend of Dr Johnson]"""
"""Lord Lyttelton's Dialogues he deemed a nugatory performance. """"""""That man, (said he,) sat down to write a book, to tell the world what the world had all his life been telling him"""""""".' [account by Dr Maxwell, an Irish London priest friend of Dr Johnson]"""
"""The poem of """"""""Fingal"""""""", he said, was a mere unconnected rhapsody, a tiresome repetition of the same images. """"""""In vain shall we look for the [italics] lucidus ordo [end italics], where there is neither end or object, design or moral, [italics] nec certa recurrit imago [italics]"""""""".' [account by Dr Maxwell, an Irish London priest friend of Dr Johnson]"""
"""Speaking of Boetius, who was the favourite writer of the middle ages, he said it was very surprising, that upon such a subject, and in such a situation, he should be [italics] magis philosophus quam Christianus [end italics]"""""""".'[account by Dr Maxwell, an Irish London priest friend of Dr Johnson]"""
"""Speaking of Arthur Murphy, whom he very much loved, """"""""I don't know (said he) that Arthur can be classed with the very first dramatick writers; yet at present I doubt much whether we have any thing superiour to Arthur"""""""".' [account by Dr Maxwell, an Irish London priest friend of Dr Johnson]"""
"""I was last night at the Club. Dr. Percy has written a long ballad in many [italics] fits [end italics]; it is pretty enough. He has printed, and will soon publish it.'"""
"""[At boarding school in Chelsea] I applied rigidly to study, and acquired a taste for books, which has never, from that time, deserted me. Mrs [Meribah] Lorrington frequently read to me after school hours, and I to her: I sometimes indulged my fancy in writing verses, or composing rebuses; and my governess never failed to applaud the juvenile compositions I presented to her.'"""
"""[At boarding school in Chelsea] I applied rigidly to study, and acquired a taste for books, which has never, from that time, deserted me. Mrs [Meribah] Lorrington frequently read to me after school hours, and I to her: I sometimes indulged my fancy in writing verses, or composing rebuses; and my governess never failed to applaud the juvenile compositions I presented to her.'"""
"""[At boarding school in Chelsea] I applied rigidly to study, and acquired a taste for books, which has never, from that time, deserted me. Mrs [Meribah] Lorrington frequently read to me after school hours, and I to her: I sometimes indulged my fancy in writing verses, or composing rebuses; and my governess never failed to applaud the juvenile compositions I presented to her.'"""
"""In her teens [Frances] Burney was tackling on her own such works as Plutarch's """"""""Lives"""""""" (in translation), Pope's """"""""Iliad"""""""", and ... all the works of Pope, including the Letters; Hume's """"""""History of England""""""""; Hooke's """"""""Roman History""""""""; and Conyers Middleton's """"""""Life of Cicero"""""""" ... She also ... studied music theory in Diderot's treatise ...'"""
"""In her teens [Frances] Burney was tackling on her own such works as Plutarch's """"""""Lives"""""""" (in translation), Pope's """"""""Iliad"""""""", and ... all the works of Pope, including the Letters; Hume's """"""""History of England""""""""; Hooke's """"""""Roman History""""""""; and Conyers Middleton's """"""""Life of Cicero"""""""" ... She also ... studied music theory in Diderot's treatise ...'"""
"""In her teens [Frances] Burney was tackling on her own such works as Plutarch's """"""""Lives"""""""" (in translation), Pope's """"""""Iliad"""""""", and ... all the works of Pope, including the Letters; Hume's """"""""History of England""""""""; Hooke's """"""""Roman History""""""""; and Conyers Middleton's """"""""Life of Cicero"""""""" ... She also ... studied music theory in Diderot's treatise ...'"""
"""In her teens [Frances] Burney was tackling on her own such works as Plutarch's """"""""Lives"""""""" (in translation), Pope's """"""""Iliad"""""""", and ... all the works of Pope, including the Letters; Hume's """"""""History of England""""""""; Hooke's """"""""Roman History""""""""; and Conyers Middleton's """"""""Life of Cicero"""""""" ... She also ... studied music theory in Diderot's treatise ...'"""
"""In her teens [Frances] Burney was tackling on her own such works as Plutarch's """"""""Lives"""""""" (in translation), Pope's """"""""Iliad"""""""", and ... all the works of Pope, including the Letters; Hume's """"""""History of England""""""""; Hooke's """"""""Roman History""""""""; and Conyers Middleton's """"""""Life of Cicero"""""""" ... She also ... studied music theory in Diderot's treatise ...'"""
"""In her teens [Frances] Burney was tackling on her own such works as Plutarch's """"""""Lives"""""""" (in translation), Pope's """"""""Iliad"""""""", and ... all the works of Pope, including the Letters; Hume's """"""""History of England""""""""; Hooke's """"""""Roman History""""""""; and Conyers Middleton's """"""""Life of Cicero"""""""" ... She also ... studied music theory in Diderot's treatise ...'"""
"""In her teens [Frances] Burney was tackling on her own such works as Plutarch's """"""""Lives"""""""" (in translation), Pope's """"""""Iliad"""""""", and ... all the works of Pope, including the Letters; Hume's """"""""History of England""""""""; Hooke's """"""""Roman History""""""""; and Conyers Middleton's """"""""Life of Cicero"""""""" ... She also ... studied music theory in Diderot's treatise ...'"""
"""In her teens [Frances] Burney was tackling on her own such works as Plutarch's """"""""Lives"""""""" (in translation), Pope's """"""""Iliad"""""""", and ... all the works of Pope, including the Letters; Hume's """"""""History of England""""""""; Hooke's """"""""Roman History""""""""; and Conyers Middleton's """"""""Life of Cicero"""""""" ... She also ... studied music theory in Diderot's treatise ...'"""
"""We talked of Tacitus, and I hazarded an opinion that with all his merit for penetration, shrewdness of judgment, and terseness of expression, he was too compact, too much broken into hints as it were, and therefore too difficult to be understood. To my great satisfaction Dr. Johnson sanctioned this opinion. """"""""Tacitus, sir, seems to me rather to have made notes for an historical work than to have written a history"""""""".'"""
"""We talked of Tacitus, and I hazarded an opinion that with all his merit for penetration, shrewdness of judgment, and terseness of expression, he was too compact, too much broken into hints as it were, and therefore too difficult to be understood. To my great satisfaction Dr. Johnson sanctioned this opinion. """"""""Tacitus, sir, seems to me rather to have made notes for an historical work than to have written a history"""""""".'"""
"""He had said in the morning that """"""""Macaulay's 'History of St. Kilda' was very well written, except some foppery about liberty and slavery. I mentioned to him that Macaulay told me, he was advised to leave out of his book the wonderful story that upon the approach of a stranger all the inhabitants catch cold; but that it had been so well authenticated, he determined to retain it. Johnson. """"""""Sir, to leave things out of a book merely because people tell you they will not be believed is meanness. Macaulay acted with more magnanimity"""""""".'"""
"""I then reminded him of the schoolmaster's cause [a legal case on corporal punisment that Boswell was defending], and proposed to read to him the printed papers concerning it. """"""""No, sir (said he), I can read quicker than I can hear."""""""" So he read them to himself.'"""
"""What philosophy suggests to us on this topick [the possibility of life after death] is probable: what Scripture tells us is certain. Dr. Henry More has carried it as far as philosophy can. You may buy both his theological and philosophical works in two volumes folio, for about eight shillings'."""
"""[Johnson said] """"""""I see they have published a splendid edition of Akenside's works. One bad ode may be suffered; but a number of them together makes one sick."""""""" Boswell. """"""""Akenside's distinguished poem is his 'Pleasures of Imagination': but, for my part, I never could admire it so much as most people do."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Sir, I could not read it through."""""""" Boswell. """"""""I have read it through; but I do not find any great power in it"""""""".'"""
"""[Johnson said] """"""""I see they have published a splendid edition of Akenside's works. One bad ode may be suffered; but a number of them together makes one sick."""""""" Boswell. """"""""Akenside's distinguished poem is his 'Pleasures of Imagination': but, for my part, I never could admire it so much as most people do."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Sir, I could not read it through."""""""" Boswell. """"""""I have read it through; but I do not find any great power in it"""""""".'"""
"""Beattie's book is, I believe, every day more liked; at least, I like it more as I look more upon it.'"""
"""[editor's words. A family friend having tried to shake EH's religious faith,] To terminate this state of doubt, which to her ardent temper was insupportable, she took the prompt resolution of reading the scriptures by stealth, and deciding the question from her own unbiassed judgment. The result of this examination was, a conviction of their truth; and she observed that the moral precepts connected with the doctrine of Christianity, were too pure to have been promulgated by an impostor'."""
"""He [Dr Johnson] said, """"""""Goldsmith's 'Life of Parnell' is poor; not that it is poorly written, but that he had poor materials; for nobody can write the life of a man but those who have eat and drunk and lived in social intercourse with him"""""""".'"""
"""He censured Ruffhead's """"""""Life of Pope""""""""; -and said, """"""""he knew nothing of Pope, and nothing of poetry."""""""" He praised Dr. Joseph Warton's """"""""Essay on Pope""""""""; but said, he supposed we should have no more of it, as the author had not been able to persuade the world to think of Pope as he did. Boswell. """"""""Why, sir, should that prevent him from continuing his work? He is an ingenious counsel who has made the most of his cause: he is not obliged to gain it."""""""" Johnson. """"""""But, sir, there is a difference when the cause is of a man's own making"""""""".'"""
"""He censured Ruffhead's """"""""Life of Pope""""""""; -and said, """"""""he knew nothing of Pope, and nothing of poetry."""""""" He praised Dr. Joseph Warton's """"""""Essay on Pope""""""""; but said, he supposed we should have no more of it, as the author had not been able to persuade the world to think of Pope as he did. Boswell. """"""""Why, sir, should that prevent him from continuing his work? He is an ingenious counsel who has made the most of his cause: he is not obliged to gain it."""""""" Johnson. """"""""But, sir, there is a difference when the cause is of a man's own making"""""""".'"""
"""The conversation now turned on critical subjects. Johnson. """"""""Bayes, in 'The Rehearsal', is a mighty silly character. If it was intended to be like a particular man, it could only be diverting while that man was remembered. But I question whether it was meant for Dryden, as has been reported; for we know some of the passages said to be ridiculed were written since 'The Rehearsal'; at least a passage mentioned in the Preface is of a later date."""""""" I maintained that it had merit as a general satire on the self-importance of dramatick authours. But even in this light he held it very cheap.'"""
"""He censured Ruffhead's """"""""Life of Pope""""""""; -and said, """"""""he knew nothing of Pope, and nothing of poetry."""""""" He praised Dr. Joseph Warton's """"""""Essay on Pope""""""""; but said, he supposed we should have no more of it, as the author had not been able to persuade the world to think of Pope as he did. Boswell. """"""""Why, sir, should that prevent him from continuing his work? He is an ingenious counsel who has made the most of his cause: he is not obliged to gain it."""""""" Johnson. """"""""But, sir, there is a difference when the cause is of a man's own making"""""""".'"""
"""The conversation now turned on critical subjects. Johnson. """"""""Bayes, in 'The Rehearsal', is a mighty silly character. If it was intended to be like a particular man, it could only be diverting while that man was remembered. But I question whether it was meant for Dryden, as has been reported; for we know some of the passages said to be ridiculed were written since 'The Rehearsal'; at least a passage mentioned in the Preface is of a later date."""""""" I maintained that it had merit as a general satire on the self-importance of dramatick authours. But even in this light he held it very cheap.'"""
"""Fielding being mentioned, Johnson exclaimed, """"""""he was a blockhead :"""""""" and upon my expressing my astonishment at so strange an assertion, he said, """"""""What I mean by his being a blockhead is, that he was a barren rascal."""""""" Boswell. """"""""Will you not allow, sir, that he draws very natural pictures of human life?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why, sir, it is of very low life. Richardson used to say, that had he not known who Fielding was, he should have believed he was an ostler. Sir, there is more knowledge of the heart in one letter of Richardson's than in all 'Tom Jones'. I indeed, never read 'Joseph Andrews.'"""""""" Erskine. """"""""Surely, sir, Richardson is very tedious."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why, sir, if you were to read Richardson for the story, your impatience would be so much fretted that you would hang yourself. But you must read him for the sentiment, and consider the story as only giving occasion to the sentiment."""""""" I have already given my opinion of Fielding ; but I cannot refrain from repeating here my wonder at Johnson's excessive and unaccountable depreciation of one of the best writers that England has produced. """"""""Tom Jones"""""""" has stood the test of publick opinion with such success as to have established its great merit, both for the story, the sentiments, and the manners, and also the varieties of diction, so as to leave no doubt of its having an animated truth of execution throughout.'"""
"""Fielding being mentioned, Johnson exclaimed, """"""""he was a blockhead :"""""""" and upon my expressing my astonishment at so strange an assertion, he said, """"""""What I mean by his being a blockhead is, that he was a barren rascal."""""""" Boswell. """"""""Will you not allow, sir, that he draws very natural pictures of human life?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why, sir, it is of very low life. Richardson used to say, that had he not known who Fielding was, he should have believed he was an ostler. Sir, there is more knowledge of the heart in one letter of Richardson's than in all 'Tom Jones'. I indeed, never read 'Joseph Andrews.'"""""""" Erskine. """"""""Surely, sir, Richardson is very tedious."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why, sir, if you were to read Richardson for the story, your impatience would be so much fretted that you would hang yourself. But you must read him for the sentiment, and consider the story as only giving occasion to the sentiment."""""""" I have already given my opinion of Fielding ; but I cannot refrain from repeating here my wonder at Johnson's excessive and unaccountable depreciation of one of the best writers that England has produced. """"""""Tom Jones"""""""" has stood the test of publick opinion with such success as to have established its great merit, both for the story, the sentiments, and the manners, and also the varieties of diction, so as to leave no doubt of its having an animated truth of execution throughout.'"""
"""Fielding being mentioned, Johnson exclaimed, """"""""he was a blockhead :"""""""" and upon my expressing my astonishment at so strange an assertion, he said, """"""""What I mean by his being a blockhead is, that he was a barren rascal."""""""" Boswell. """"""""Will you not allow, sir, that he draws very natural pictures of human life?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why, sir, it is of very low life. Richardson used to say, that had he not known who Fielding was, he should have believed he was an ostler. Sir, there is more knowledge of the heart in one letter of Richardson's than in all 'Tom Jones'. I indeed, never read 'Joseph Andrews.'"""""""" Erskine. """"""""Surely, sir, Richardson is very tedious."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why, sir, if you were to read Richardson for the story, your impatience would be so much fretted that you would hang yourself. But you must read him for the sentiment, and consider the story as only giving occasion to the sentiment."""""""" I have already given my opinion of Fielding ; but I cannot refrain from repeating here my wonder at Johnson's excessive and unaccountable depreciation of one of the best writers that England has produced. """"""""Tom Jones"""""""" has stood the test of publick opinion with such success as to have established its great merit, both for the story, the sentiments, and the manners, and also the varieties of diction, so as to leave no doubt of its having an animated truth of execution throughout.'"""
"""A book of travels, lately published under the title of [italics] Coriat Junior [end italics], and written by Mr. Paterson, was mentioned. Johnson said, this book was in imitation of Sterne, and not of Coriat, whose name Paterson had chosen as a whimsical one. """"""""Tom Coriat (said he) was a humourist about the court of James the First. He had a mixture of learning, of wit, and of buffoonery. He first travelled through Europe, and published his travels. He afterwards travelled on foot through Asia, and had made many remarks; but he died at Mandoa, and his remarks were lost"""""""".'"""
"""A book of travels, lately published under the title of [italics] Coriat Junior [end italics], and written by Mr. Paterson, was mentioned. Johnson said, this book was in imitation of Sterne, and not of Coriat, whose name Paterson had chosen as a whimsical one. """"""""Tom Coriat (said he) was a humourist about the court of James the First. He had a mixture of learning, of wit, and of buffoonery. He first travelled through Europe, and published his travels. He afterwards travelled on foot through Asia, and had made many remarks; but he died at Mandoa, and his remarks were lost"""""""".'"""
"""A book of travels, lately published under the title of [italics] Coriat Junior [end italics], and written by Mr. Paterson, was mentioned. Johnson said, this book was in imitation of Sterne, and not of Coriat, whose name Paterson had chosen as a whimsical one. """"""""Tom Coriat (said he) was a humourist about the court of James the First. He had a mixture of learning, of wit, and of buffoonery. He first travelled through Europe, and published his travels. He afterwards travelled on foot through Asia, and had made many remarks; but he died at Mandoa, and his remarks were lost"""""""".'"""
"""Fielding being mentioned, Johnson exclaimed, """"""""he was a blockhead :"""""""" and upon my expressing my astonishment at so strange an assertion, he said, """"""""What I mean by his being a blockhead is, that he was a barren rascal."""""""" Boswell. """"""""Will you not allow, sir, that he draws very natural pictures of human life?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why, sir, it is of very low life. Richardson used to say, that had he not known who Fielding was, he should have believed he was an ostler. Sir, there is more knowledge of the heart in one letter of Richardson's than in all 'Tom Jones'. I indeed, never read 'Joseph Andrews.'"""""""" Erskine. """"""""Surely, sir, Richardson is very tedious."""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why, sir, if you were to read Richardson for the story, your impatience would be so much fretted that you would hang yourself. But you must read him for the sentiment, and consider the story as only giving occasion to the sentiment."""""""" I have already given my opinion of Fielding ; but I cannot refrain from repeating here my wonder at Johnson's excessive and unaccountable depreciation of one of the best writers that England has produced. """"""""Tom Jones"""""""" has stood the test of publick opinion with such success as to have established its great merit, both for the story, the sentiments, and the manners, and also the varieties of diction, so as to leave no doubt of its having an animated truth of execution throughout.'"""
"""I expressed a liking for Mr. Francis Osborne's works, and asked him what he thought of that writer. He answered, """"""""A conceited fellow. Were a man to write so now, the boys would throw stones at him."""""""" He, however, did not alter my opinion of a favourite authour, to whom I was first directed by his being quoted in """"""""The Spectator,"""""""" and in whom I have found much shrewd and lively sense, expressed indeed in a style somewhat quaint, which, however, I do not dislike. His book has an air of originality. We figure to ourselves an ancient gentleman talking to us.'"""
"""I expressed a liking for Mr. Francis Osborne's works, and asked him what he thought of that writer. He answered, """"""""A conceited fellow. Were a man to write so now, the boys would throw stones at him."""""""" He, however, did not alter my opinion of a favourite authour, to whom I was first directed by his being quoted in """"""""The Spectator,"""""""" and in whom I have found much shrewd and lively sense, expressed indeed in a style somewhat quaint, which, however, I do not dislike. His book has an air of originality. We figure to ourselves an ancient gentleman talking to us.'"""
"""I expressed a liking for Mr. Francis Osborne's works, and asked him what he thought of that writer. He answered, """"""""A conceited fellow. Were a man to write so now, the boys would throw stones at him."""""""" He, however, did not alter my opinion of a favourite authour, to whom I was first directed by his being quoted in """"""""The Spectator,"""""""" and in whom I have found much shrewd and lively sense, expressed indeed in a style somewhat quaint, which, however, I do not dislike. His book has an air of originality. We figure to ourselves an ancient gentleman talking to us.'"""
"""Talking of puns, Johnson, who had a great contempt for that species of wit, deigned to allow that there was one good pun in """"""""Menagiana,"""""""" I think on the word corps'."""
"""Johnson said, I might see the subject [a controversy about the Church of Scotland] well treated in the """"""""Defence of Pluralities"""""""".' """
"""Boswell. """"""""I rather think, Sir, that Toryism prevails in this reign."""""""" Johnson. """"""""I know not why you should think so, Sir. You see your friend Lord Lyttelton, a nobleman, is obliged, in his """"""""History"""""""", to write the most vulgar Whiggism"""""""".'"""
"""Mr. Elphinston talked of a new book that was much admired, and asked Dr. Johnson if he had read it. Johnson. """"""""I have looked into it."""""""" """"""""What (said Elphinston), have you not read it through?"""""""" Johnson, offended at being thus pressed, and so obliged to own his cursory mode of reading, answered tartly, """"""""No, sir; do [italics] you [end italics] read books [italics] through [end italics]?""""""""'"""
"""Mr. Elphinston talked of a new book that was much admired, and asked Dr. Johnson if he had read it. Johnson. """"""""I have looked into it."""""""" """"""""What (said Elphinston), have you not read it through?"""""""" Johnson, offended at being thus pressed, and so obliged to own his cursory mode of reading, answered tartly, """"""""No, sir; do [italics] you [end italics] read books [italics] through [end italics]?""""""""'"""
"""Letter to Collector MacVicar, June 20 1773 'In the mean time I hope the best, and endeavour to pursue Oliver Cromwell through all his crooked paths. I have gone but a short way, my attention having been completely engrossed by a book that has bewitched me for the time; ?tis the Vicar of Wakefield, which you must certainly read. Goldsmith puts one in mind of Shakespear [sic]; his narrative is improbable and absurd in many instances, yet all his characters do and say exactly what might be supposed of them ?'"""
"""Letter to Miss Reid May 24 1773 'O! how I wished for some one to share a luxury that wealth cannot purchase, and that thousands are not born to taste! """"""""O! blind to truth, to virtue blind,/ Who slight the sweetly pensive mind,/ On whose birth the graces  mild,/ Ands every Muse prophetic smil?d."""""""" ... ?There are the spirits born to know and prove,/ All nature?s charms immense, and heavens unbounded love.""""""""' [ie two separate quotations from the same verse]"""
"""Letter to Collector MacVicar, May 28 1773 'Since I wrote to you last, I have been most intent on biography, and quite engrossed by heroes and legislatures' [and later in same letter] 'You bid me read biography, to teach me to think; I have thought and here is the result [ie re Peter the Great]. If I have not made you very angry, I will next give my thought of this rival hero.'[and in the following two letters to same recipient May 30 and June 20 1773] 'The poor dear Odyssey is quite neglected; I have forsaken it for biography; I can speak of nobody less than a king or a general, and shall take the first opportunity of introducing you to prince Mazeppa. Tweed and Clyde are not worth a farthing now, I can think of nothing but Dneiper and the Boristhenes. I have some toleration too for the Wolga [sic]. """"""""Oh voman [sic], voman!"""""""" as Win Jenkins says, """""""" If you knew but the plesur [sic] we scullers have when we censter the crabbit werds."""""""" ?';  [and] ... 'To quit the flowery paths of ingenious fiction [ie the Vicar of Wakefield] for the thorny maze in which I am slowly advancing, [ie a biography of Cromwell] is no pleasing transition to female fancy?.'"""
"""On Saturday, April 3, the day after my arrival in London this year, I went to his house late in the evening, and sat with Mrs. Williams till he came home. I found in the """"""""London Chronicle"""""""" Dr. Goldsmith's apology to the publick for beating Evans, a bookseller, on account of a paragraph 5 in a newspaper published by him, which Goldsmith thought impertinent to him and to a lady of his acquaintance. The apology was written so much in Dr. Johnson's manner that both Mrs. Williams and I supposed it to be his; but when he came home, he soon undeceived us. When he said to Mrs. Williams, """"""""Well, Dr. Goldsmith's manifesto has got into your paper;"""""""" I asked him if Dr. Goldsmith had written it, with an air that made him see I suspected it was his, though subscribed by Goldsmith. Johnson. """"""""Sir, Dr. Goldsmith would no more have asked me to write such a thing as that for him than he would have asked me to feed him with a spoon, or to do any thing else that denoted his imbecility. I as much believe that he wrote it as if I had seen him do it"""""""".' """
"""He talked with approbation of an intended edition of """"""""The Spectator,"""""""" with notes; two volumes of which had been prepared by a gentleman eminent in the literary world, and the materials which he had collected for the remainder had been transferred to another hand. He observed, that all works which describe manners require notes in sixty or seventy years, or less; and told us he had communicated all he knew that could throw light upon """"""""The Spectator."""""""" He said, """"""""Addison had made his Sir Andrew Freeport a true Whig, arguing against giving charity to beggars, and throwing out other such ungracious sentiments; but that he had thought better, and made amends by making him found an hospital for decayed farmers."""""""" He called for the volume of """"""""The Spectator,"""""""" in which that account is contained, and read it aloud to us. He read so well that every thing acquired additional weight and grace from his utterance.'"""
"""He talked with approbation of an intended edition of """"""""The Spectator,"""""""" with notes; two volumes of which had been prepared by a gentleman eminent in the literary world, and the materials which he had collected for the remainder had been transferred to another hand. He observed, that all works which describe manners require notes in sixty or seventy years, or less; and told us he had communicated all he knew that could throw light upon """"""""The Spectator."""""""" He said, """"""""Addison had made his Sir Andrew Freeport a true Whig, arguing against giving charity to beggars, and throwing out other such ungracious sentiments; but that he had thought better, and made amends by making him found an hospital for decayed farmers."""""""" He called for the volume of """"""""The Spectator,"""""""" in which that account is contained, and read it aloud to us. He read so well that every thing acquired additional weight and grace from his utterance.'"""
"""On Saturday, April 3, the day after my arrival in London this year, I went to his house late in the evening, and sat with Mrs. Williams till he came home. I found in the """"""""London Chronicle"""""""" Dr. Goldsmith's apology to the publick for beating Evans, a bookseller, on account of a paragraph 5 in a newspaper published by him, which Goldsmith thought impertinent to him and to a lady of his acquaintance. The apology was written so much in Dr. Johnson's manner that both Mrs. Williams and I supposed it to be his; but when he came home, he soon undeceived us. When he said to Mrs. Williams, """"""""Well, Dr. Goldsmith's manifesto has got into your paper;"""""""" I asked him if Dr. Goldsmith had written it, with an air that made him see I suspected it was his, though subscribed by Goldsmith. Johnson. """"""""Sir, Dr. Goldsmith would no more have asked me to write such a thing as that for him than he would have asked me to feed him with a spoon, or to do any thing else that denoted his imbecility. I as much believe that he wrote it as if I had seen him do it"""""""".' """
""" [Johnson said of Goldsmith] """"""""Take him as a poet, his 'Traveller' is a very fine performance; ay, and so is his 'Deserted Village,' were it not sometimes too much the echo of his 'Traveller.' Whether, indeed, we take him as a poet,—as a comick writer,—or as an historian, he stands in the first class."""""""" Boswell. """"""""An historian! My dear sir, you surely will not rank his compilation of the Roman History with the works of other historians of this age ?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why, who are before him?"""""""" Boswell. """"""""Hume, —Robertson,—Lord Lyttelton."""""""" Johnson. (His antipathy to the Scotch beginning to rise). """"""""I have not read Hume; but, doubtless, Goldsmith's 'History' is better than the [italics] verbiage [end italics] of Robertson, or the foppery of Dalrymple."""""""" Boswell. """"""""Will you not admit the superiority of Robertson, in whose 'History' we find such penetration—such painting?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Sir, you must consider how that penetration and that painting are employed. It is not history, it is imagination. He who describes what he never saw draws from fancy. Robertson paints minds as Sir Joshua paints faces in a history piece: he imagines an heroick countenance. You must look upon Robertson's work as romance, and try it by that standard. History it is not. Besides, sir, it is the great excellence of a writer to put into his book as much as his book will hold. Goldsmith has done this in his 'History'. Now Robertson might have put twice as much into his book. Robertson is like a man who has packed gold in wool: the wool takes up more room than the gold. No, sir; I always thought Robertson would be crushed by his own weight,—would be buried under his own ornaments. Goldsmith tells you shortly all you want to know: Robertson detains you a great deal too long. No man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second time; but Goldsmith's plain narrative will please again and again. I would say to Robertson what an old tutor of a college said to one of his pupils: 'Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.' Goldsmith's abridgement is better than that of Lucius Florus or Eutropius; and I will venture to say, that if you compare him with Vertot, in the same places of the Roman History, you will find that he excels Vertot.""""""""'"""
""" [Johnson said of Goldsmith] """"""""Take him as a poet, his 'Traveller' is a very fine performance; ay, and so is his 'Deserted Village,' were it not sometimes too much the echo of his 'Traveller.' Whether, indeed, we take him as a poet,—as a comick writer,—or as an historian, he stands in the first class."""""""" Boswell. """"""""An historian! My dear sir, you surely will not rank his compilation of the Roman History with the works of other historians of this age ?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why, who are before him?"""""""" Boswell. """"""""Hume, —Robertson,—Lord Lyttelton."""""""" Johnson. (His antipathy to the Scotch beginning to rise). """"""""I have not read Hume; but, doubtless, Goldsmith's 'History' is better than the [italics] verbiage [end italics] of Robertson, or the foppery of Dalrymple."""""""" Boswell. """"""""Will you not admit the superiority of Robertson, in whose 'History' we find such penetration—such painting?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Sir, you must consider how that penetration and that painting are employed. It is not history, it is imagination. He who describes what he never saw draws from fancy. Robertson paints minds as Sir Joshua paints faces in a history piece: he imagines an heroick countenance. You must look upon Robertson's work as romance, and try it by that standard. History it is not. Besides, sir, it is the great excellence of a writer to put into his book as much as his book will hold. Goldsmith has done this in his 'History'. Now Robertson might have put twice as much into his book. Robertson is like a man who has packed gold in wool: the wool takes up more room than the gold. No, sir; I always thought Robertson would be crushed by his own weight,—would be buried under his own ornaments. Goldsmith tells you shortly all you want to know: Robertson detains you a great deal too long. No man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second time; but Goldsmith's plain narrative will please again and again. I would say to Robertson what an old tutor of a college said to one of his pupils: 'Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.' Goldsmith's abridgement is better than that of Lucius Florus or Eutropius; and I will venture to say, that if you compare him with Vertot, in the same places of the Roman History, you will find that he excels Vertot.""""""""'"""
""" [Johnson said of Goldsmith] """"""""Take him as a poet, his 'Traveller' is a very fine performance; ay, and so is his 'Deserted Village,' were it not sometimes too much the echo of his 'Traveller.' Whether, indeed, we take him as a poet,—as a comick writer,—or as an historian, he stands in the first class."""""""" Boswell. """"""""An historian! My dear sir, you surely will not rank his compilation of the Roman History with the works of other historians of this age ?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why, who are before him?"""""""" Boswell. """"""""Hume, —Robertson,—Lord Lyttelton."""""""" Johnson. (His antipathy to the Scotch beginning to rise). """"""""I have not read Hume; but, doubtless, Goldsmith's 'History' is better than the [italics] verbiage [end italics] of Robertson, or the foppery of Dalrymple."""""""" Boswell. """"""""Will you not admit the superiority of Robertson, in whose 'History' we find such penetration—such painting?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Sir, you must consider how that penetration and that painting are employed. It is not history, it is imagination. He who describes what he never saw draws from fancy. Robertson paints minds as Sir Joshua paints faces in a history piece: he imagines an heroick countenance. You must look upon Robertson's work as romance, and try it by that standard. History it is not. Besides, sir, it is the great excellence of a writer to put into his book as much as his book will hold. Goldsmith has done this in his 'History'. Now Robertson might have put twice as much into his book. Robertson is like a man who has packed gold in wool: the wool takes up more room than the gold. No, sir; I always thought Robertson would be crushed by his own weight,—would be buried under his own ornaments. Goldsmith tells you shortly all you want to know: Robertson detains you a great deal too long. No man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second time; but Goldsmith's plain narrative will please again and again. I would say to Robertson what an old tutor of a college said to one of his pupils: 'Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.' Goldsmith's abridgement is better than that of Lucius Florus or Eutropius; and I will venture to say, that if you compare him with Vertot, in the same places of the Roman History, you will find that he excels Vertot.""""""""'"""
""" [Johnson said of Goldsmith] """"""""Take him as a poet, his 'Traveller' is a very fine performance; ay, and so is his 'Deserted Village,' were it not sometimes too much the echo of his 'Traveller.' Whether, indeed, we take him as a poet,—as a comick writer,—or as an historian, he stands in the first class."""""""" Boswell. """"""""An historian! My dear sir, you surely will not rank his compilation of the Roman History with the works of other historians of this age ?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why, who are before him?"""""""" Boswell. """"""""Hume, —Robertson,—Lord Lyttelton."""""""" Johnson. (His antipathy to the Scotch beginning to rise). """"""""I have not read Hume; but, doubtless, Goldsmith's 'History' is better than the [italics] verbiage [end italics] of Robertson, or the foppery of Dalrymple."""""""" Boswell. """"""""Will you not admit the superiority of Robertson, in whose 'History' we find such penetration—such painting?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Sir, you must consider how that penetration and that painting are employed. It is not history, it is imagination. He who describes what he never saw draws from fancy. Robertson paints minds as Sir Joshua paints faces in a history piece: he imagines an heroick countenance. You must look upon Robertson's work as romance, and try it by that standard. History it is not. Besides, sir, it is the great excellence of a writer to put into his book as much as his book will hold. Goldsmith has done this in his 'History'. Now Robertson might have put twice as much into his book. Robertson is like a man who has packed gold in wool: the wool takes up more room than the gold. No, sir; I always thought Robertson would be crushed by his own weight,—would be buried under his own ornaments. Goldsmith tells you shortly all you want to know: Robertson detains you a great deal too long. No man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second time; but Goldsmith's plain narrative will please again and again. I would say to Robertson what an old tutor of a college said to one of his pupils: 'Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.' Goldsmith's abridgement is better than that of Lucius Florus or Eutropius; and I will venture to say, that if you compare him with Vertot, in the same places of the Roman History, you will find that he excels Vertot.""""""""'"""
""" [Johnson said of Goldsmith] """"""""Take him as a poet, his 'Traveller' is a very fine performance; ay, and so is his 'Deserted Village,' were it not sometimes too much the echo of his 'Traveller.' Whether, indeed, we take him as a poet,—as a comick writer,—or as an historian, he stands in the first class."""""""" Boswell. """"""""An historian! My dear sir, you surely will not rank his compilation of the Roman History with the works of other historians of this age ?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why, who are before him?"""""""" Boswell. """"""""Hume, —Robertson,—Lord Lyttelton."""""""" Johnson. (His antipathy to the Scotch beginning to rise). """"""""I have not read Hume; but, doubtless, Goldsmith's 'History' is better than the [italics] verbiage [end italics] of Robertson, or the foppery of Dalrymple."""""""" Boswell. """"""""Will you not admit the superiority of Robertson, in whose 'History' we find such penetration—such painting?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Sir, you must consider how that penetration and that painting are employed. It is not history, it is imagination. He who describes what he never saw draws from fancy. Robertson paints minds as Sir Joshua paints faces in a history piece: he imagines an heroick countenance. You must look upon Robertson's work as romance, and try it by that standard. History it is not. Besides, sir, it is the great excellence of a writer to put into his book as much as his book will hold. Goldsmith has done this in his 'History'. Now Robertson might have put twice as much into his book. Robertson is like a man who has packed gold in wool: the wool takes up more room than the gold. No, sir; I always thought Robertson would be crushed by his own weight,—would be buried under his own ornaments. Goldsmith tells you shortly all you want to know: Robertson detains you a great deal too long. No man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second time; but Goldsmith's plain narrative will please again and again. I would say to Robertson what an old tutor of a college said to one of his pupils: 'Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.' Goldsmith's abridgement is better than that of Lucius Florus or Eutropius; and I will venture to say, that if you compare him with Vertot, in the same places of the Roman History, you will find that he excels Vertot.""""""""'"""
""" [Johnson said of Goldsmith] """"""""Take him as a poet, his 'Traveller' is a very fine performance; ay, and so is his 'Deserted Village,' were it not sometimes too much the echo of his 'Traveller.' Whether, indeed, we take him as a poet,—as a comick writer,—or as an historian, he stands in the first class."""""""" Boswell. """"""""An historian! My dear sir, you surely will not rank his compilation of the Roman History with the works of other historians of this age ?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why, who are before him?"""""""" Boswell. """"""""Hume, —Robertson,—Lord Lyttelton."""""""" Johnson. (His antipathy to the Scotch beginning to rise). """"""""I have not read Hume; but, doubtless, Goldsmith's 'History' is better than the [italics] verbiage [end italics] of Robertson, or the foppery of Dalrymple."""""""" Boswell. """"""""Will you not admit the superiority of Robertson, in whose 'History' we find such penetration—such painting?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Sir, you must consider how that penetration and that painting are employed. It is not history, it is imagination. He who describes what he never saw draws from fancy. Robertson paints minds as Sir Joshua paints faces in a history piece: he imagines an heroick countenance. You must look upon Robertson's work as romance, and try it by that standard. History it is not. Besides, sir, it is the great excellence of a writer to put into his book as much as his book will hold. Goldsmith has done this in his 'History'. Now Robertson might have put twice as much into his book. Robertson is like a man who has packed gold in wool: the wool takes up more room than the gold. No, sir; I always thought Robertson would be crushed by his own weight,—would be buried under his own ornaments. Goldsmith tells you shortly all you want to know: Robertson detains you a great deal too long. No man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second time; but Goldsmith's plain narrative will please again and again. I would say to Robertson what an old tutor of a college said to one of his pupils: 'Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.' Goldsmith's abridgement is better than that of Lucius Florus or Eutropius; and I will venture to say, that if you compare him with Vertot, in the same places of the Roman History, you will find that he excels Vertot.""""""""'"""
""" [Johnson said of Goldsmith] """"""""Take him as a poet, his 'Traveller' is a very fine performance; ay, and so is his 'Deserted Village,' were it not sometimes too much the echo of his 'Traveller.' Whether, indeed, we take him as a poet,—as a comick writer,—or as an historian, he stands in the first class."""""""" Boswell. """"""""An historian! My dear sir, you surely will not rank his compilation of the Roman History with the works of other historians of this age ?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why, who are before him?"""""""" Boswell. """"""""Hume, —Robertson,—Lord Lyttelton."""""""" Johnson. (His antipathy to the Scotch beginning to rise). """"""""I have not read Hume; but, doubtless, Goldsmith's 'History' is better than the [italics] verbiage [end italics] of Robertson, or the foppery of Dalrymple."""""""" Boswell. """"""""Will you not admit the superiority of Robertson, in whose 'History' we find such penetration—such painting?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Sir, you must consider how that penetration and that painting are employed. It is not history, it is imagination. He who describes what he never saw draws from fancy. Robertson paints minds as Sir Joshua paints faces in a history piece: he imagines an heroick countenance. You must look upon Robertson's work as romance, and try it by that standard. History it is not. Besides, sir, it is the great excellence of a writer to put into his book as much as his book will hold. Goldsmith has done this in his 'History'. Now Robertson might have put twice as much into his book. Robertson is like a man who has packed gold in wool: the wool takes up more room than the gold. No, sir; I always thought Robertson would be crushed by his own weight,—would be buried under his own ornaments. Goldsmith tells you shortly all you want to know: Robertson detains you a great deal too long. No man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second time; but Goldsmith's plain narrative will please again and again. I would say to Robertson what an old tutor of a college said to one of his pupils: 'Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.' Goldsmith's abridgement is better than that of Lucius Florus or Eutropius; and I will venture to say, that if you compare him with Vertot, in the same places of the Roman History, you will find that he excels Vertot.""""""""'"""
"""Johnson praised John Bunyan highly. """"""""His '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 remarkable, that it begins very much like the poem of Dante; yet there was no translation of Dante when Bunyan wrote. There is reason to think that he had read Spenser"""""""".'"""
"""Johnson praised John Bunyan highly. """"""""His '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 remarkable, that it begins very much like the poem of Dante; yet there was no translation of Dante when Bunyan wrote. There is reason to think that he had read Spenser"""""""".'"""
""" [Johnson said of Goldsmith] """"""""Take him as a poet, his 'Traveller' is a very fine performance; ay, and so is his 'Deserted Village,' were it not sometimes too much the echo of his 'Traveller.' Whether, indeed, we take him as a poet,—as a comick writer,—or as an historian, he stands in the first class."""""""" Boswell. """"""""An historian! My dear sir, you surely will not rank his compilation of the Roman History with the works of other historians of this age ?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Why, who are before him?"""""""" Boswell. """"""""Hume, —Robertson,—Lord Lyttelton."""""""" Johnson. (His antipathy to the Scotch beginning to rise). """"""""I have not read Hume; but, doubtless, Goldsmith's 'History' is better than the [italics] verbiage [end italics] of Robertson, or the foppery of Dalrymple."""""""" Boswell. """"""""Will you not admit the superiority of Robertson, in whose 'History' we find such penetration—such painting?"""""""" Johnson. """"""""Sir, you must consider how that penetration and that painting are employed. It is not history, it is imagination. He who describes what he never saw draws from fancy. Robertson paints minds as Sir Joshua paints faces in a history piece: he imagines an heroick countenance. You must look upon Robertson's work as romance, and try it by that standard. History it is not. Besides, sir, it is the great excellence of a writer to put into his book as much as his book will hold. Goldsmith has done this in his 'History'. Now Robertson might have put twice as much into his book. Robertson is like a man who has packed gold in wool: the wool takes up more room than the gold. No, sir; I always thought Robertson would be crushed by his own weight,—would be buried under his own ornaments. Goldsmith tells you shortly all you want to know: Robertson detains you a great deal too long. No man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second time; but Goldsmith's plain narrative will please again and again. I would say to Robertson what an old tutor of a college said to one of his pupils: 'Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.' Goldsmith's abridgement is better than that of Lucius Florus or Eutropius; and I will venture to say, that if you compare him with Vertot, in the same places of the Roman History, you will find that he excels Vertot.""""""""'"""
"""Letter to Collector MacVicar, May 30 1773 'I will no longer bewilder myself among figures, for I see you ready to compare me to Hudibras, """"""""Who could not ope/ His mouth but out there flew a trope""""""""?'"""
"""Reader makes several references to the work: V.1, p.9, p.15, p.25, p.142; V.2 p.200. eg.: V.1 p.9 'Well, now I was very sure I would not smile this summer, nor yet read any book but the Bible and Night Thoughts*; even the Odyssey was to be rejected'.  *'The Night Thoughts, and the Odyssey, were favourite studies among these friends, to which they were wont to make many serious and playful allusions' [footnote, p. 9] from Letter II to Miss Harriet Reid of Glasgow, April 28 1773. eg. p.25 'Though my sorrows should be multiplied, as very likely they may, I shall have consolations peculiarly my own, that, like Milton?s sweet music, ?will breathe above, about, and underneath?. How literal this truth is ?. A little dress, a little Odyssey, a little breakfast, and then ? I shall behold the faces of my kindred' from Letter III To Miss Reid."""
"""Anne Grant to Miss Harriet Reid, April 28 1773: 'Well, now I was very sure I would not smile this summer, nor yet read any book but the Bible and Night Thoughts*; even the Odyssey was to be rejected'.  *The Night Thoughts, and the Odyssey, were favourite studies among these friends, to which they were wont to make many serious and playful allusions? [footnote, p. 9]. """
"""Letter to Miss Reid May 17,1773 'As far as a mountain can resemble a man, it resembles the person Smollet has marked out by the name of Captain Gawky.'"""
"""Talking of birds, I mentioned Mr. Daines Barrington's ingenions Essay against the received notion of their migration'."""
"""On Thursday, April 8, I sat a good part of the evening with him, but he was very silent. He said, """"""""Burnet's 'History of his own Times' is very entertaining. The style, indeed, is mere chit-chat. I do not believe that Burnet intentionally lyed; but he was so much prejudiced that he took no pains to find out the truth. He was like a man who resolves to regulate his time by a certain watch; but will not inquire whether the watch is right or not"""""""".'"""
"""Nothing Remarkable happend the Morning Noon nor evening of that Day, only Read the play called the Scool for Wifes."""
"""Read the Second Part of Mr. Roderick Random"""
"""[letter from Boswell, to Johnson] It gives me much pleasure to hear that a republication of """"""""Isaac Walton's Lives"""""""" is intended. You have been in a mistake in thinking that Lord Hailes had it in view. I remember one morning, while he sat with you in my house, he said, that there should be a new edition of """"""""Walton's Lives""""""""; and you said that """"""""they should be benoted a little."""""""" This was all that passed on that subject. You must, therefore, inform Dr. Horne, that he may resume his plan. I enclose a note concerning it; and if Dr. Horne will write to me, all the attention that I can give shall be cheerfully bestowed, upon what I think a pious work, the preservation and elucidation of Walton, by whose writings I have been pleasingly edified'."""
"""[letter from Boswell, to Johnson] It gives me much pleasure to hear that a republication of """"""""Isaac Walton's Lives"""""""" is intended. You have been in a mistake in thinking that Lord Hailes had it in view. I remember one morning, while he sat with you in my house, he said, that there should be a new edition of """"""""Walton's Lives""""""""; and you said that """"""""they should be benoted a little."""""""" This was all that passed on that subject. You must, therefore, inform Dr. Horne, that he may resume his plan. I enclose a note concerning it; and if Dr. Horne will write to me, all the attention that I can give shall be cheerfully bestowed, upon what I think a pious work, the preservation and elucidation of Walton, by whose writings I have been pleasingly edified'."""
"""[letter from Boswell, to Johnson] It gives me much pleasure to hear that a republication of """"""""Isaac Walton's Lives"""""""" is intended. You have been in a mistake in thinking that Lord Hailes had it in view. I remember one morning, while he sat with you in my house, he said, that there should be a new edition of """"""""Walton's Lives""""""""; and you said that """"""""they should be benoted a little."""""""" This was all that passed on that subject. You must, therefore, inform Dr. Horne, that he may resume his plan. I enclose a note concerning it; and if Dr. Horne will write to me, all the attention that I can give shall be cheerfully bestowed, upon what I think a pious work, the preservation and elucidation of Walton, by whose writings I have been pleasingly edified'."""
""" [Letter from Johnson to Boswell] Last night I corrected the last page of our """"""""Journey to the Hebrides"""""""".' """
"""Read the News"""
"""[Letter from Johnson to Boswell]  There has appeared lately in the papers an account of a boat overset between Mull and Ulva, in which many passengers were lost, and among them Maclean of Col. We, you know, were once drowned; I hope, therefore, that the story is either wantonly or erroneously told. Pray satisfy me by the next post.'"""
""" [Letter from Boswell to Johnson] Your critical notes on the specimen of Lord Hailes's """"""""Annals of Scotland"""""""" are excellent. I agreed with you on every one of them. He himself objected only to the alteration of [italics] free [end italics] to [italics] brave [end italics], in the passage where he says that Edward """"""""departed with the glory dne to the conqueror of a free people"""""""". He says to call the Scots brave would only add to the glory of their conqueror. You will make allowance for the national zeal of our annalist. I now send a few more leaves of the """"""""Annals"""""""", which I hope you will peruse, and return with observations, as you did upon the former occasion. Lord Hailes writes to me thus: """"""""Mr. Boswell will be pleased to express the grateful sense which Sir David Dalrymple has of Dr. Johnson's attention to his little specimen"""""""".'"""
""" [Letter from Boswell to Johnson] Your critical notes on the specimen of Lord Hailes's """"""""Annals of Scotland"""""""" are excellent. I agreed with you on every one of them. He himself objected only to the alteration of [italics] free [end italics] to [italics] brave [end italics], in the passage where he says that Edward """"""""departed with the glory dne to the conqueror of a free people"""""""". He says to call the Scots brave would only add to the glory of their conqueror. You will make allowance for the national zeal of our annalist. I now send a few more leaves of the """"""""Annals"""""""", which I hope you will peruse, and return with observations, as you did upon the former occasion. Lord Hailes writes to me thus: """"""""Mr. Boswell will be pleased to express the grateful sense which Sir David Dalrymple has of Dr. Johnson's attention to his little specimen"""""""".'"""
"""the famous Tristram Shandy itself is not absolutely original: for when I was at Derby in the Summer of 1774 I strolled by mere chance into a Bookseller's Shop, where however I could find nothing to tempt Curiosity but a strange Book about Corporal Bates, which I bought & read for want of better Sport, and found it to be the very Novel from which Sterne took his first Idea: the Character of Uncle Toby, the Behaviour of Coporal Trim, even the name of Tristram itself seems to be borrowed from this stupid History of Corporal Bates forsooth'."""
"""the famous Tristram Shandy itself is not absolutely original: for when I was at Derby in the Summer of 1774 I strolled by mere chance into a Bookseller's Shop, where however I could find nothing to tempt Curiosity but a strange Book about Corporal Bates, which I bought & read for want of better Sport, and found it to be the very Novel from which Sterne took his first Idea: the Character of Uncle Toby, the Behaviour of Coporal Trim, even the name of Tristram itself seems to be borrowed from this stupid History of Corporal Bates forsooth'."""
"""The dead lights [shutters used to protect ships' interiors during storms at sea]were no sooner up and a candle made fast to the table by many a knot and twist of small cord, than my young companion took up a book, and very composedly began to read to herself. I begged her to let me share her amusement by reading aloud. This she instantly complied with. She had however taken up the first book that came to hand, which happened to be not very apropos to the present occasion, as it proved to be Lord Kaims's Elements of Criticism. She read on however and I listen'd with much seeming attention, tho' neither she nor I knew a word it contained [...] The storm roared over and around us, the Candle cast a melancholy gleam across the Cabin, which we now considered as our tomb. We did not, however, assist each other's distress, for neither of us mentioned our own.' """
"""The dead lights [shutters used to protect ships' interiors during storms at sea]were no sooner up and a candle made fast to the table by many a knot and twist of small cord, than my young companion took up a book, and very composedly began to read to herself. I begged her to let me share her amusement by reading aloud. This she instantly complied with. She had however taken up the first book that came to hand, which happened to be not very apropos to the present occasion, as it proved to be Lord Kaims's Elements of Criticism. She read on however and I listen'd with much seeming attention, tho' neither she nor I knew a word it contained [...] The storm roared over and around us, the Candle cast a melancholy gleam across the Cabin, which we now considered as our tomb. We did not, however, assist each other's distress, for neither of us mentioned our own.' """
"""We have had a very blowing night [...] I was set this morning very gingerly by the fire-side in an elbow chair I had made lash to for me close by the Cabin Stove, with my back to the door. I had taken up a book and was reading as composedly as if sitting in my closet. I did not however enjoy this calm situation long, for presently I heard a rumbling just behind me [...] what was my surprize, when the cabin-door burst open and I was overwhelmed with an immense wave, which broke my chair from its moorings [...] I found myself swimming amongst joint-stools, chests, Tables and all the various furniture of our parlour.'"""
"""I read much, collected Extracts & translated Latin Books of physic with a view of double improvement; I studied the Materia Medica, & made some progress in Botany; I dissected Dogs & fancied myself an Anatomist, quitting entirely Poetry Novels & Books of Entertainment'."""
"""I read much, collected Extracts & translated Latin Books of physic with a view of double improvement; I studied the Materia Medica, & made some progress in Botany; I dissected Dogs & fancied myself an Anatomist, quitting entirely Poetry Novels & Books of Entertainment'."""
"""I read much, collected Extracts & translated Latin Books of physic with a view of double improvement; I studied the Materia Medica, & made some progress in Botany; I dissected Dogs & fancied myself an Anatomist, quitting entirely Poetry Novels & Books of Entertainment'."""
"""I have seen a newspaper published by the [Wilmington] committee's order, where the whole story of the battle [of Bunker Hill] is denied, tho' it is said that the Americans had made an attack on us and killed many of our officers, amongst others they mentioned Major Pitcairn. I hope it is not the Pitcairn that was married to a Miss Dalrymple, as I know many of her relations.'"""
"""Letter to Miss Ourry March 10 1775 'I had indeed heard that the 15th were under orders for America, but did not dream of Captain Ourry?s accompanying them; and I examined every newspaper in hopes of finding his name changed, or sold out.'"""
"""[Johnson said] """"""""Hudibras"""""""" affords a strong proof how much hold political principles had then upon the minds of men. There is in """"""""Hudibras"""""""" a great deal of bullion which will always last. But to be sure the brightest strokes of his wit owed their force to the impression of the characters which was upon men's minds at the time; to their knowing them at table and in the street; in short, being familiar with them; and above all, to his satire being directed against those whom a little while before they had hated and feared.'"""
"""Johnson praised """"""""The Spectator,"""""""" particularly the character of Sir Roger de Coverley. He said, """"""""Sir Roger did not die a violent death, as has been generally fancied. He was not killed; he died only because others were to die, and because his death afforded an opportunity to Addison for some very fine writing. We have the example of Cervantes making Don Quixote die.— I never could see why Sir Roger is represented as a little cracked. It appears to me that the story of the widow was intended to have something superinduced upon it; but the superstructure did not come."""""""""""
"""[Letter from Boswell to Johnson] Be pleased to accept of my best thanks for your """"""""Journey to the Hebrides"""""""", which came to me by last night's post. I did really ask the favour twice; but you have been even with me by granting it so speedily. [italics] Bis dat qui cito dat [end italics]. Though ill of a head cold, you kept me up the greatest part of last night: for I did not stop till I had read every word of your book. I looked back to our first talking of a visit to the Hebrides, which was many years ago, when sitting by ourselves in the Mitre tavern, in London, I think about [italics] witching time o'night [end italics]; and then exulted in contemplating our scheme fulfilled, and a [italics]monumentum perenne [end italics] of it erected by your superiour abilities. I shall only say, that your book has afforded me a high gratification. I shall afterwards give you my thoughts on particular passages. In the mean time, I hasten to tell you of your having mistaken two names, which you will correct in London, as I shall do here, that the gentlemen who deserve the valuable compliments which you have paid them, may enjoy their honours. In page 106, for [italics] Gordon [end italics], read [italics] Murchison [end italics]; and in page 357, for [italics] Maclean [end italics] read [italics] Macleod [end italics].'"""
"""The """"""""Odes to Obscurity and Oblivion,"""""""" in ridicule of """"""""cool Mason and warm Gray"""""""", being mentioned, Johnson said, """"""""They are Colman's best things."""""""" [Boswell reports a conversation about their possible joint authorship] Johnson. """"""""The first of these Odes is the best: but they are both good. They exposed a very bad kind of writing."""""""" Boswell. """"""""Surely, sir, Mr. Mason's 'Elfrida' is a fine Poem: at least, you will allow there are some good passages in it."""""""" Johnson. """"""""There are now and then some good imitations of Milton's bad manner"""""""".'"""
"""Lady Miller's collection of verses by fashionable people, which were put into her Vase at Batheaston Villa, near Bath, in competition for honorary prizes, being mentioned, he held them very cheap: """"""""[italics] Bouts rimes [end italics] (said he), is a mere conceit, and an [italics] old [end italics] conceit [italics] now [end italics]; I wonder how people were persuaded to write in that manner for this lady."""""""""""
"""The """"""""Odes to Obscurity and Oblivion,"""""""" in ridicule of """"""""cool Mason and warm Gray"""""""", being mentioned, Johnson said, """"""""They are Colman's best things."""""""" [Boswell reports a conversation about their possible joint authorship] Johnson. """"""""The first of these Odes is the best: but they are both good. They exposed a very bad kind of writing."""""""" Boswell. """"""""Surely, sir, Mr. Mason's 'Elfrida' is a fine Poem: at least, you will allow there are some good passages in it."""""""" Johnson. """"""""There are now and then some good imitations of Milton's bad manner"""""""".'"""
"""I often wondered at his [Johnson's] low estimation of the writings of Gray and Mason. Of Gray's poetry I have, in a former part of this work, expressed my high opinion; and for that of Mr. Mason I have ever entertained a warm admiration. His """"""""Elfrida"""""""" is exquisite, both in poetical description and moral sentiment; and his """"""""Caractacus"""""""" is a noble drama. Nor can I omit paying my tribute of praise to some of his smaller poems, which I have read with pleasure, and which no criticism shall persuade me not to like'."""
"""I often wondered at his [Johnson's] low estimation of the writings of Gray and Mason. Of Gray's poetry I have, in a former part of this work, expressed my high opinion; and for that of Mr. Mason I have ever entertained a warm admiration. His """"""""Elfrida"""""""" is exquisite, both in poetical description and moral sentiment; and his """"""""Caractacus"""""""" is a noble drama. Nor can I omit paying my tribute of praise to some of his smaller poems, which I have read with pleasure, and which no criticism shall persuade me not to like'."""
"""I often wondered at his [Johnson's] low estimation of the writings of Gray and Mason. Of Gray's poetry I have, in a former part of this work, expressed my high opinion; and for that of Mr. Mason I have ever entertained a warm admiration. His """"""""Elfrida"""""""" is exquisite, both in poetical description and moral sentiment; and his """"""""Caractacus"""""""" is a noble drama. Nor can I omit paying my tribute of praise to some of his smaller poems, which I have read with pleasure, and which no criticism shall persuade me not to like'."""
"""[Letter from Boswell to Johnson] Lord Hailes writes to me [...] """"""""I am singularly obliged to Dr. Johnson for accurate and useful criticisms. Had he given some strictures on the general plan of the work, it would have added much to his favours"""""""". He is charmed with your verses on Inchkenneth, says they are very elegant, but bids me tell you he doubts whether """""""" [italics] Legitimat faciunt pectora pura preces [end italics]"""""""" be according to the rubrick ; but that is your concern; for, you know, he is a Presbyterian.'"""
"""[Letter from Boswell to Johnson] Lord Hailes writes to me [...] """"""""I am singularly obliged to Dr. Johnson for accurate and useful criticisms. Had he given some strictures on the general plan of the work, it would have added much to his favours"""""""". He is charmed with your verses on Inchkenneth, says they are very elegant, but bids me tell you he doubts whether """""""" [italics] Legitimat faciunt pectora pura preces [end italics]"""""""" be according to the rubrick ; but that is your concern; for, you know, he is a Presbyterian.'"""
"""[Letter from Johnson to Boswell]  I have at last sent back Lord Hailes's sheets, I never think about returning them, because I alter nothing. You will see that I might as well have kept them. However, I am ashamed of my delay; and if I have the honour of receiving any more, promise punctually to return them by the next post'."""
"""Johnson. """"""""Sheridan is a wonderful admirer of the tragedy of Douglas, and presented its authour with a gold medal. Some years ago, at a coffee-house in Oxford, I called to him, 'Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Sheridan, how came you to give a gold medal to Home for writing that foolish play ?' This, you see, was wanton and insolent; but I meant to be wanton and insolent. A medal has no value but as a stamp of merit. And was Sheridan to assume to himself the right of giving that stamp?""""""""'"""
"""Johnson was in high spirits this evening at the club, and talked with great animation and success. He attacked Swift, as he used to do upon all occasions. """"""""The 'Tale of a Tub' is so much superiour to his other writings that one can hardly believe he was the authour of it. There is in it such a vigour of mind, such a swarm of thoughts, so much of nature, and art, and life."""""""" I wondered to hear him say of """"""""Gulliver's Travels"""""""", """"""""When once you have thought of big men and little men, it is very easy to do all the rest."""""""" I endeavoured to make a stand for Swift, and tried to rouse those who were much more able to defend him; but in vain. Johnson at last, of his own accord, allowed very great merit to the inventory of articles found in the pocket of [italics] The Man Mountain [end italics],  particularly the description of his watch, which, it was conjectured, was his God, as he consulted it upon all occasions. He observed, that """"""""Swift put his name to but two things (after he had a name to put), 'The Plan of the Improvement of the English Language,' and the last 'Drapier's Letter'.""""""""'"""
"""Johnson was in high spirits this evening at the club, and talked with great animation and success. He attacked Swift, as he used to do upon all occasions. """"""""The 'Tale of a Tub' is so much superiour to his other writings that one can hardly believe he was the authour of it. There is in it such a vigour of mind, such a swarm of thoughts, so much of nature, and art, and life."""""""" I wondered to hear him say of """"""""Gulliver's Travels"""""""", """"""""When once you have thought of big men and little men, it is very easy to do all the rest."""""""" I endeavoured to make a stand for Swift, and tried to rouse those who were much more able to defend him; but in vain. Johnson at last, of his own accord, allowed very great merit to the inventory of articles found in the pocket of [italics] The Man Mountain [end italics],  particularly the description of his watch, which, it was conjectured, was his God, as he consulted it upon all occasions. He observed, that """"""""Swift put his name to but two things (after he had a name to put), 'The Plan of the Improvement of the English Language,' and the last 'Drapier's Letter'.""""""""'"""
"""Johnson was in high spirits this evening at the club, and talked with great animation and success. He attacked Swift, as he used to do upon all occasions. """"""""The 'Tale of a Tub' is so much superiour to his other writings that one can hardly believe he was the authour of it. There is in it such a vigour of mind, such a swarm of thoughts, so much of nature, and art, and life."""""""" I wondered to hear him say of """"""""Gulliver's Travels"""""""", """"""""When once you have thought of big men and little men, it is very easy to do all the rest."""""""" I endeavoured to make a stand for Swift, and tried to rouse those who were much more able to defend him; but in vain. Johnson at last, of his own accord, allowed very great merit to the inventory of articles found in the pocket of [italics] The Man Mountain [end italics],  particularly the description of his watch, which, it was conjectured, was his God, as he consulted it upon all occasions. He observed, that """"""""Swift put his name to but two things (after he had a name to put), 'The Plan of the Improvement of the English Language,' and the last 'Drapier's Letter'.""""""""'"""
"""Johnson was in high spirits this evening at the club, and talked with great animation and success. He attacked Swift, as he used to do upon all occasions. """"""""The 'Tale of a Tub' is so much superiour to his other writings that one can hardly believe he was the authour of it. There is in it such a vigour of mind, such a swarm of thoughts, so much of nature, and art, and life."""""""" I wondered to hear him say of """"""""Gulliver's Travels"""""""", """"""""When once you have thought of big men and little men, it is very easy to do all the rest."""""""" I endeavoured to make a stand for Swift, and tried to rouse those who were much more able to defend him; but in vain. Johnson at last, of his own accord, allowed very great merit to the inventory of articles found in the pocket of [italics] The Man Mountain [end italics],  particularly the description of his watch, which, it was conjectured, was his God, as he consulted it upon all occasions. He observed, that """"""""Swift put his name to but two things (after he had a name to put), 'The Plan of the Improvement of the English Language,' and the last 'Drapier's Letter'.""""""""'"""
"""Johnson. """"""""Sheridan is a wonderful admirer of the tragedy of Douglas, and presented its author with a gold medal. Some years ago, at a coffee-house in Oxford, I called to him, 'Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Sheridan, how came you to give a gold medal to Home for writing that foolish play ?' This, you see, was wanton and insolent; but I meant to be wanton and insolent. A medal has no value but as a stamp of merit. And was Sheridan to assume to himself the right of giving that stamp?""""""""'"""
"""Oct. 24. Tuesday. We visited the King's library.—I saw the """"""""Speculum humanae Salvationis"""""""", rudely printed with ink, sometimes pale, sometimes black; part supposed to be with wooden types, and part with pages cut in boards.—The Bible, supposed to be older than that of Mentz, in 62 [1462]; it has no date, it is supposed to have been printed with wooden types.—I am in doubt; the print is large and fair, in two folios.—Another book was shewn me, supposed to have been printed with wooden types;—I think, """"""""Durandi Sanctuarium in 58 [1458]. This is inferred from the difference of form sometimes seen in the same letter, which might be struck with different puncheons.—The regular similitude of most letters proves better that they are metal.—I saw nothing but the """"""""Speculum"""""""" which I had not seen, I think, before'."""
"""Several of the officers [participating in military review at Wilmingtown] came up to dine, amongst others Coll: Howe, who with less ceremony than might have been expected from his general politeness stept into an apartment adjoining the hall, and took up a book I had been reading, which he brought open in his hand into the company. I was piqued at his freedom, and reproved him with a half compliment to his general good breeding. He owned his fault and with much gallantry promised to submit to whatever punishment I would inflict. You shall only, said I, read aloud a few pages which I will point out, and I am sure you will do Shakespear justice. He bowed and took up the book, but no sooner observed that I had turned up for him, that part of Henry the fourth, where Falstaff describes his company, than he coloured like Scarlet. I saw he made the application instantly; however he read it thro', tho' not with the vivacity he generally speaks; however he recovered himself and coming close up to me, whispered, you will certainly get yourself tarred and feathered; shall I apply to be executioner?'  """
"""[quoting from the pamphlet """"""""A Letter to Dr. Samuel Johnson, occasioned by his late Political Publications."""""""" by Joseph Towers] """"""""I would, however, wish you to remember, should you again address the publick under the character of a political writer, that luxuriance of imagination or energy of language will ill compensate for the want of candour, of justice, and of truth. And I shall only add, that should I hereafter be disposed to read, as I heretofore have done, the most excellent of all your performances, 'The Rambler,' the pleasure which I have been accustomed to find in it will be much diminished by the reflection that the writer of so moral, so elegant, and so valuable a work was capable of prostituting his talents in such productions as 'The False Alarm,' the 'Thoughts on the Transactions respecting Falkland's Islands,' and 'The Patriot.' """""""""""
"""Several of the officers [participating in military review at Wilmingtown] came up to dine, amongst others Coll: Howe, who with less ceremony than might have been expected from his general politeness stept into an apartment adjoining the hall, and took up a book I had been reading, which he brought open in his hand into the company. I was piqued at his freedom, and reproved him with a half compliment to his general good breeding. He owned his fault and with much gallantry promised to submit to whatever punishment I would inflict. You shall only, said I, read aloud a few pages which I will point out, and I am sure you will do Shakespear justice. He bowed and took up the book, but no sooner observed that I had turned up for him, that part of Henry the fourth, where Falstaff describes his company, than he coloured like Scarlet. I saw he made the application instantly; however he read it thro', tho' not with the vivacity he generally speaks; however he recovered himself and coming close up to me, whispered, you will certainly get yourself tarred and feathered; shall I apply to be executioner?'  """
"""I read novels and poetry and began to contribute to Magazines and Diaries.'"""
"""When a boy [William Gifford] had read the Bible left to him by his mother, together with her """"""""Imitatio Christi,"""""""" and a few odd numbers of magazines.'"""
"""When a boy [William Gifford] had read the Bible left to him by his mother, together with her """"""""Imitatio Christi,"""""""" and a few odd numbers of magazines.'"""
"""When a boy [William Gifford] had read the Bible left to him by his mother, together with her """"""""Imitatio Christi,"""""""" and a few odd numbers of magazines.'"""
"""Mary Berry, 'Notes of Early Life': 'My dear grandmother [...] made me read the Psalms and chapters to her every morning; but, as neither explanation nor comment was made upon them, nor their history followed up in any way, I hated the duty and escaped it when I could.'"""
"""Mary Berry, 'Notes of Early Life': 'My dear grandmother [...] made me read the Psalms and chapters to her every morning; but, as neither explanation nor comment was made upon them, nor their history followed up in any way, I hated the duty and escaped it when I could.  The same consequence took place by the same dear parent making me read every Sunday to her a Saturday paper in the """"""""Spectator,"""""""" which, till the middle of life, prevented my ever looking at those exquisite essays, or being aware of the beauties of the volumes they were in.' """
"""Unfavourable as I am constrained to say my opinion of this pamphlet [Johnson's 'Taxation no Tyranny; an answer to the Resolutions and Address of the American Congress'] was, yet, since it was congenial with the sentiments of numbers at that time, and as every thing relating to the writings of Dr. Johnson is of importance in literary history, I shall therefore insert some passages which were struck out, it does not appear why, either by himself or those who revised it. They appear printed in a few proof leaves of it in my possession, marked with corrections in his own handwriting. I shall distinguish them by Italicks. [various passages are then reproduced]'"""
"""I found his """""""" Journey"""""""" the common topick of conversation in London at this time, wherever I happened to be. At one of Lord Mansfield's formal Sunday evening conversations, strangely called [italics] Levees [end italics], his Lordship addressed me, """"""""We have all been reading your travels, Mr. Boswell."""""""" I answered, """"""""I was but the humble attendant of Dr. Johnson."""""""" The Chief Justice replied, with that air and manner which none who ever saw and heard him can forget, """"""""He speaks ill of nobody but Ossian"""""""".'"""
"""Dr. Johnson, as usual, spoke contemptuously of Colley Cibber. """"""""It is wonderful that a man, who for forty years had lived with the great and the witty, should have acquired so ill the talents of conversation: and he had but half to furnish; for one half of what he said was oaths."""""""" He, however, allowed considerable merit to some of his comedies, and said there was no reason to believe that the """"""""Careless Husband"""""""" was not written by himself.' """
"""Friday, April 7, I dined with him at a Tavern, with a numerous company. Johnson. """"""""I have been reading Twiss's 'Travels in Spain', which are just come out. They are as good as the first book of travels that you will take up. They are as good as those of Keysler or Blainville: nay, as Addison's, if you except the learning. They are not so good as Brydone's, but they are better than Pococke's. I have not, indeed, cut the leaves yet; but I have read in them where the pages are open, and I do not suppose that what is in the pages which are closed is worse than what is in the open pages. It would seem (he added), that Addison had not acquired much Italian learning, for we do not find it introduced into his writings. The only instance that I recollect is his quoting '[italics] Stavo bene, per star meglio, sto qui' [end italics]"""""""".'"""
"""Friday, April 7, I dined with him at a Tavern, with a numerous company. Johnson. """"""""I have been reading Twiss's 'Travels in Spain', which are just come out. They are as good as the first book of travels that you will take up. They are as good as those of Keysler or Blainville: nay, as Addison's, if you except the learning. They are not so good as Brydone's, but they are better than Pococke's. I have not, indeed, cut the leaves yet; but I have read in them where the pages are open, and I do not suppose that what is in the pages which are closed is worse than what is in the open pages. It would seem (he added), that Addison had not acquired much Italian learning, for we do not find it introduced into his writings. The only instance that I recollect is his quoting '[italics] Stavo bene, per star meglio, sto qui' [end italics]"""""""".'"""
"""Friday, April 7, I dined with him at a Tavern, with a numerous company. Johnson. """"""""I have been reading Twiss's 'Travels in Spain', which are just come out. They are as good as the first book of travels that you will take up. They are as good as those of Keysler or Blainville: nay, as Addison's, if you except the learning. They are not so good as Brydone's, but they are better than Pococke's. I have not, indeed, cut the leaves yet; but I have read in them where the pages are open, and I do not suppose that what is in the pages which are closed is worse than what is in the open pages. It would seem (he added), that Addison had not acquired much Italian learning, for we do not find it introduced into his writings. The only instance that I recollect is his quoting '[italics] Stavo bene, per star meglio, sto qui' [end italics]"""""""".'"""
"""Friday, April 7, I dined with him at a Tavern, with a numerous company. Johnson. """"""""I have been reading Twiss's 'Travels in Spain', which are just come out. They are as good as the first book of travels that you will take up. They are as good as those of Keysler or Blainville: nay, as Addison's, if you except the learning. They are not so good as Brydone's, but they are better than Pococke's. I have not, indeed, cut the leaves yet; but I have read in them where the pages are open, and I do not suppose that what is in the pages which are closed is worse than what is in the open pages. It would seem (he added), that Addison had not acquired much Italian learning, for we do not find it introduced into his writings. The only instance that I recollect is his quoting '[italics] Stavo bene, per star meglio, sto qui' [end italics]"""""""".'"""
"""I read (said he [Johnson],) Sharpe's letters on Italy over again, when I was at Bath. There is a great deal of matter in them.'"""
"""He recommended Dr. Cheyne's books. I said, I thought Cheyne had been reckoned whimsical. """"""""So he was, (said he,) in some things; but there is no end of objections. There are few books to which some objection or other may not be made."""""""" He added, """"""""I would not have you read anything else of Cheyne, but his book on Health, and his 'English Malady'"""""""".'"""
"""He recommended Dr. Cheyne's books. I said, I thought Cheyne had been reckoned whimsical. """"""""So he was, (said he,) in some things; but there is no end of objections. There are few books to which some objection or other may not be made."""""""" He added, """"""""I would not have you read anything else of Cheyne, but his book on Health, and his 'English Malady'"""""""".'"""
"""[Dr Johnson] expressed his disapprobation of Dr. Hurd, for having published a mutilated edition under the title of """"""""Select Works of Abraham Cowley"""""""". Mr. Murphy thought it a bad precedent; observing that any authour might be used in the same manner; and that it was pleasing to see the variety of an authour's compositions, at different periods'. """
"""Talking of the Reviews, Johnson said, """"""""I think them very impartial: I do not know an instance of partiality"""""""". He mentioned what had passed upon the subject of the """"""""Monthly"""""""" and """"""""Critical Reviews"""""""", in the conversation with which his Majesty had honoured him. He expatiated a little more on them this evening. """"""""The Monthly Reviewers (said he) are not Deists; but they are Christians with as little christianity as may be; and are for pulling down all establishments. The Critical Reviewers are for supporting the constitution both in church and state. The Critical Reviewers, I believe, often review without reading the books through; but lay hold of a topick, and write chiefly from their own minds. The Monthly Reviewers are duller men, and are glad to read the books through"""""""".' """
"""Talking of the Reviews, Johnson said, """"""""I think them very impartial: I do not know an instance of partiality"""""""". He mentioned what had passed upon the subject of the """"""""Monthly"""""""" and """"""""Critical Reviews"""""""", in the conversation with which his Majesty had honoured him. He expatiated a little more on them this evening. """"""""The Monthly Reviewers (said he) are not Deists; but they are Christians with as little christianity as may be; and are for pulling down all establishments. The Critical Reviewers are for supporting the constitution both in church and state. The Critical Reviewers, I believe, often review without reading the books through; but lay hold of a topick, and write chiefly from their own minds. The Monthly Reviewers are duller men, and are glad to read the books through"""""""".' """
"""Talking of """"""""The Spectator"""""""", he said, """"""""It is wonderful that there is such a proportion of bad papers, in the half of the work which was not written by Addison; for there was all the world to write that half, yet not a half of that half is good. One of the finest pieces in the English language is the paper on Novelty, yet we do not hear it talked of. It was written by Grove, a dissenting [italics] teacher [end italics]"""""""".' """
""" [Johnson said] You may find wit and humour in verse, and yet no poetry. """"""""Hudibras"""""""" has a profusion of these; yet it is not to be reckoned a poem. 'The Spleen', in Dodsley's """"""""Collection"""""""", on which you say he chiefly rested, is not poetry'."""
"""Dr. Johnson said, """"""""Thomson had a true poetical genius, the power of viewing every thing in a poetical light. His fault is such a cloud of words sometimes, that the sense can hardly peep through. Shiels, who compiled Cibber's """"""""Lives of the Poets"""""""", was one day sitting with me. I took down Thomson, and read aloud a large portion of him, and then asked,-Is not this fine? Shiels having expressed the highest admiration. Well, Sir, (said I,) I have omitted every other line"""""""".' """
"""We talked of the Reviews, and Dr. Johnson spoke of them as he did at Thrale's. Sir Joshua [Reynolds] said, what I have often thought, that he wondered to find so much good writing employed in them, when the authours were to remain unknown, and so could not have the motive of fame. JOHNSON. """"""""Nay, Sir, those who write in them, write well, in order to be paid well"""""""".' """
"""Sir Joshua [Reynolds] mentioned Mr. Cumberland's """"""""Odes"""""""", which were just published. JOHNSON. """"""""Why, Sir, they would have been thought as good as Odes commonly are, if Cumberland had not put his name to them; but a name immediately draws censure, unless it be a name that bears down everything before it. Nay, Cumberland has made his """"""""Odes"""""""" subsidiary to the fame of another man. They might have run well enough by themselves; but he has not only loaded them with a name, but has made them carry double"""""""".'"""
"""We talked of the Reviews, and Dr. Johnson spoke of them as he did at Thrale's. Sir Joshua [Reynolds] said, what I have often thought, that he wondered to find so much good writing employed in them, when the authours were to remain unknown, and so could not have the motive of fame. JOHNSON. """"""""Nay, Sir, those who write in them, write well, in order to be paid well"""""""".' """
"""[Boswell having complained that he was suffering from melancholy, Johnson wrote] 'Read Cheyne's """"""""English Malady""""""""; but do not let him teach you a foolish notion that melancholy is a proof of acuteness.' """
"""[Johnson opined that] Burton's """"""""Anatomy of Melancholy"""""""" is a valuable work. It is, perhaps, overloaded with quotation. But there is a great spirit and great power in what Burton says, when he writes from his own mind'."""
"""I censured some ludicrous fantastick dialogues between two coach horses and other such stuff, which Baretti had lately published. He joined with me and said, """"""""Nothing odd will do long. 'Tristram Shandy' did not last"""""""".'"""
"""I censured some ludicrous fantastick dialogues between two coach horses and other such stuff, which Baretti had lately published. He joined with me and said, """"""""Nothing odd will do long. 'Tristram Shandy' did not last"""""""".'"""
"""[letter from Boswell to Johnson] I have, since I saw you, read every word of Granger's """"""""Biographical History"""""""". It has entertained me exceedingly, and I do not think him the [italics] Whig [end italics] that you supposed'."""
"""[letter from Boswell to Johnson] I have, since I saw you, read every word of Granger's """"""""Biographical History"""""""". It has entertained me exceedingly, and I do not think him the [italics] Whig [end italics] that you supposed'."""
""" [letter from Johnson to Boswell] Dr. Blair is printing some sermons. If they are all like the first, which I have read, they are [italics] sermones aurei, ac auro magis aurei [end italics]. It is excellently written both as to doctrine and language.'"""
"""Johnson had with him upon this jaunt, """"""""Il Palmerino d'Inghilterra"""""""", a romance praised by Cervantes; but did not like it much. He said, he read it for the language, by way of preparation for his Italian expedition'. """
"""Rousseau says that the Man who finding his Affairs embarrassed - puts an end to his own Life; is like one who finding his House in Disorder sets it on Fire in stead of setting it to rights.'"""
"""With regard to little French Epitaphs I have always had an Itch to translate them, & some times have fancied that I could do them successfully' [she gives an example of her efforts]"""
"""Doctor Collier used to say that although Milton was so violent a Whig himself, he was obliged to write his poem upon the purest Tory principles - it is very observable and very true'."""
"""[having given the text of Parker's poem 'To Miss Salusbury', Mrs Thrale writes] For a long Time I believed this Conceit original; but it is not - There is an old Greek Epigram on Dercylis only of two Lines which the Doctor has here spun into Length. Vide Anthol: Lib: 7.2 & there is some account of it too in Bouhours'."""
"""[having given the text of Parker's poem 'To Miss Salusbury', Mrs Thrale writes] For a long Time I believed this Conceit original; but it is not - There is an old Greek Epigram on Dercylis only of two Lines which the Doctor has here sopun into Length. Vide Anthol: Lib: 7.2 & there is some account of it too in Bouhours'."""
"""[Mrs Thrale gives an epitaph translated from French by Bennet Langton, and her own translation] 'I remember Johnson preferred mine at the Time it was fresh among us'."""
"""[Lord Lyttleton] presented me with the works of Miss Aikin (now Mrs Barbauld). I read them with rapture; I thought them the most beautiful Poems I had ever seen, and considered the woman who could invent such poetry, as the most to be envied of human creatures.'"""
"""I was yesterday at Belleim, the winter palace of the King [of Portugal] [...] The house is by no means fine, and did not the garden and other appurtenances atone for it, it would hardly be worth the trouble of going to see, but those indeed are well worthy of a traveller's Notice. This garden contains within it variety enough to satisfy a Sir William Chalmers [sic], and had I not read his account of what a garden ought to be, I should not venture to express all I saw under that single appellation, but tho' it is far from being so extensive as his plan, yet it contains a great deal more than his three natural notes of earth, air and water, water, earth and air.'"""
"""Gifford had read only some ballads, the black-letter romance Parismus and Parismenus, some odd loose magazines of his mother's, the Bible (which he studied with his grandmother) and """"""""The Imitation of Christ"""""""" (read to his mother on her deathbed). He then learned algebra by surreptitiously reading Fenning's textbook: his master's son owned the book and had deliberately hidden it from him'."""
"""Gifford had read only some ballads, the black-letter romance Parismus and Parismenus, some odd loose magazines of his mother's, the Bible (which he studied with his grandmother) and """"""""The Imitation of Christ"""""""" (read to his mother on her deathbed). He then learned algebra by surreptitiously reading Fenning's textbook: his master's son owned the book and had deliberately hidden it from him'."""
"""Gifford had read only some ballads, the black-letter romance Parismus and Parismenus, some odd loose magazines of his mother's, the Bible (which he studied with his grandmother) and """"""""The Imitation of Christ"""""""" (read to his mother on her deathbed). He then learned algebra by surreptitiously reading Fenning's textbook: his master's son owned the book and had deliberately hidden it from him'."""
"""Gifford had read only some ballads, the black-letter romance Parismus and Parismenus, some odd loose magazines of his mother's, the Bible (which he studied with his grandmother) and """"""""The Imitation of Christ"""""""" (read to his mother on her deathbed). He then learned algebra by surreptitiously reading Fenning's textbook: his master's son owned the book and had deliberately hidden it from him'."""
"""Gifford had read only some ballads, the black-letter romance Parismus and Parismenus, some odd loose magazines of his mother's, the Bible (which he studied with his grandmother) and """"""""The Imitation of Christ"""""""" (read to his mother on her deathbed). He then learned algebra by surreptitiously reading Fenning's textbook: his master's son owned the book and had deliberately hidden it from him'."""
"""Gifford had read only some ballads, the black-letter romance Parismus and Parismenus, some odd loose magazines of his mother's, the Bible (which he studied with his grandmother) and """"""""The Imitation of Christ"""""""" (read to his mother on her deathbed). He then learned algebra by surreptitiously reading Fenning's textbook: his master's son owned the book and had deliberately hidden it from him'."""
"""On Sunday, March 31, I called on him, and shewed him as a curiosity which I had discovered, his """"""""Translation of Lobo's Account of Abyssinia"""""""", which Sir John Pringle had lent me, it being then little known as one of his works. He said, """"""""Take no notice of it"""""""" or """"""""don't talk of it"""""""". He seemed to think it beneath him, though done at six-and-twenty. I said to him, """"""""Your style, Sir, is much improved since you translated this"""""""".'"""
""" [Johnson said] Lord Chesterfield's """"""""Letters to his Son"""""""", I think, might be made a very pretty book. Take out the immorality, and it should be put into the hands of every young gentleman.'"""
""" [Johnson said] Lord Hailes's """"""""Annals of Scotland"""""""" have not that painted form which is the taste of this age; but it is a book which will always sell, it has such a stability of dates, such a certainty of facts, and such a punctuality of citation. I never before read Scotch history with certainty.' """
"""I asked him whether he would advise me to read the Bible with a commentary, and what commentaries he would recommend. JOHNSON. """"""""To be sure, Sir, I would have you read the Bible with a commentary; and I would recommend Lowth and Patrick on the Old Testament, and Hammond on the New"""""""".' """
"""I asked him whether he would advise me to read the Bible with a commentary, and what commentaries he would recommend. JOHNSON. """"""""To be sure, Sir, I would have you read the Bible with a commentary; and I would recommend Lowth and Patrick on the Old Testament, and Hammond on the New"""""""".' """
"""I asked him whether he would advise me to read the Bible with a commentary, and what commentaries he would recommend. JOHNSON. """"""""To be sure, Sir, I would have you read the Bible with a commentary; and I would recommend Lowth and Patrick on the Old Testament, and Hammond on the New"""""""".' """
"""When I read this [Johnson's argument regarding a legal case on the liberty of the pulpit in which Boswell was involved] to Mr. Burke, he was highly pleased, and exclaimed, """"""""Well; he does his work in a workman-like manner"""""""".'"""
""" [letter from Johnson to Boswell] Since I wrote, I have looked over Mr. Maclaurin's plea, and think it excellent. [ a legal case Boswell was involved in] How is the suit carried on? If by subscription, I commission you to contribute, in my name, what is proper.'"""
"""The story of Percy is simple, pathetic, distressing, this worked up to the most moving height of distress; the power of virtue on the mind is well contrasted with the mad way of passion, Elwina's is an almost perfect character... A pure love of virtue appearing throughout and filling the virtuous heart with glowing pleasure... the struggle in Elwina's mind between love and duty is fine, the triumph of the latter nobly painted. There is a charming delicacy, and elevation of sentiment.' [opinion of More's """"""""Percy"""""""" entered in diary]. """
"""On Monday, September 15, Dr. Johnson observed, that every body commended such parts of his """"""""Journey to the Western Islands"""""""", as were in their own way. """"""""For instance, (said he,) Mr. Jackson (the all-knowing) told me there was more good sense upon trade in it, than he should hear in the House of Commons in a year, except from Burke. Jones commended the part which treats of language; Burke that which describes the inhabitants of mountainous countries'."""
""" [letter from Sir Alexander Dick to Johnson] I had yesterday the honour of receiving your book of your """"""""Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland"""""""", which you was so good as to send me, by the hands of our mutual friend, Mr. Boswell, of Auchinleck; for which I return you my most hearty thanks; and after carefully reading it over again, shall deposit in my little collection of choice books, next our worthy friend's """"""""Journey to Corsica"""""""". As there are many things to admire in both performances, I have often wished that no Travels or Journeys should be published but those undertaken by persons of integrity and capacity to judge well, and describe faithfully, and in good language, the situation, condition, and manners of the countries past through.' """
""" [letter from Sir Alexander Dick to Johnson] I had yesterday the honour of receiving your book of your """"""""Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland"""""""", which you was so good as to send me, by the hands of our mutual friend, Mr. Boswell, of Auchinleck; for which I return you my most hearty thanks; and after carefully reading it over again, shall deposit in my little collection of choice books, next our worthy friend's """"""""Journey to Corsica"""""""". As there are many things to admire in both performances, I have often wished that no Travels or Journeys should be published but those undertaken by persons of integrity and capacity to judge well, and describe faithfully, and in good language, the situation, condition, and manners of the countries past through.' """
"""[letter from Johnson to Charles O' Connor] Dr. Leland begins his history too late: the ages which deserve an exact enquiry are those times (for such there were) when Ireland was the school of the west, the quiet habitation of sanctity and literature.' """
"""Talking of Rochester's Poems, he said, he had given them to Mr. Steevens to castrate for the edition of the poets, to which he was to write Prefaces. Dr. Taylor (the only time I ever heard him say any thing witty) observed, that """"""""if Rochester had been castrated himself, his exceptionable poems would not have been written"""""""". I asked if Burnet had not given a good Life of Rochester. JOHNSON. """"""""We have a good [italics] Death [end italics]: there is not much [italics] Life[end italics]"""""""".' """
"""Talking of Rochester's Poems, he said, he had given them to Mr. Steevens to castrate for the edition of the poets, to which he was to write Prefaces. Dr. Taylor (the only time I ever heard him say any thing witty) observed, that """"""""if Rochester had been castrated himself, his exceptionable poems would not have been written"""""""". I asked if Burnet had not given a good Life of Rochester. JOHNSON. """"""""We have a good [italics] Death [end italics]: there is not much [italics] Life[end italics]"""""""".' """
"""Talking of Rochester's Poems, he said, he had given them to Mr. Steevens to castrate for the edition of the poets, to which he was to write Prefaces. Dr. Taylor (the only time I ever heard him say any thing witty) observed, that """"""""if Rochester had been castrated himself, his exceptionable poems would not have been written"""""""". I asked if Burnet had not given a good Life of Rochester. JOHNSON. """"""""We have a good [italics] Death [end italics]: there is not much [italics] Life[end italics]"""""""".' """
"""Talking of Rochester's Poems, he said, he had given them to Mr. Steevens to castrate for the edition of the poets, to which he was to write Prefaces. Dr. Taylor (the only time I ever heard him say any thing witty) observed, that """"""""if Rochester had been castrated himself, his exceptionable poems would not have been written"""""""". I asked if Burnet had not given a good Life of Rochester. JOHNSON. """"""""We have a good [italics] Death [end italics]: there is not much [italics] Life[end italics]"""""""".' """
"""I have read, conversed, and thought much upon the subject, and would recommend to all who are capable of conviction, an excellent Tract by my learned and ingenious friend John Ranby, Esq. entitled """"""""Doubts on the Abolition of the Slave Trade."""""""" To Mr. Ranby's """"""""Doubts,"""""""" I will apply Lord Chancellor Hardwicke's expression in praise of a Scotch Law Book, called """"""""Dirleton's Doubts""""""""; """"""""HIS [italics] Doubts [end italics], (said his Lordship,) are better than most people's [italics] Certainties [end italics]."""""""""""
"""[letter from Boswell to Johnson] Our worthy friend Thrale's death having appeared in the newspapers, and been afterwards contradicted, I have been placed in a state of very uneasy uncertainty, from which I hoped to be relieved by you: but my hopes have as yet been vain.' """
""" [letter from Boswell to Johnson] What do you say of Lord Chesterfield's """"""""Memoirs and last Letters""""""""?' """
"""Doctor Marriott wrote the prettiest Verses in French of any Englishman I know'.[she then gives lengthy examples]"""
"""How difficult it is to come at petty Literature! the long Note at the end of Pope's Odyssey is it seems written purposely to mislead one; Pope translated but two of the books as Doctor Warburton himself told Mr Johnson, when they met at Mrs French's Rout'"""
"""The Tag at the close of the last Act of Cato is written by Mr Pope, and is apparently the worst Tag in the whole Play, cold spiritless & dull - did Pope write them ill on purpose?'"""
"""Here is an odd Book come out to prove Falstaff was no Coward, when says Dr Johnson will one come forth to prove Iago an honest Man?'"""
"""Baretti used to read here with vast Avidity - do you remember all you read said I one day - Scarce a word replyed Baretti but it produces a general Effect: if you dip your Hand into the Tub at the Door, you gather up no Water but your Hand remains wet.'"""
"""Doctor Burney said prettily of James Harris's Book that it was the pourquoi de Pourquoi'."""
""" [letter from Johnson to Boswell] Please to return Dr. Blair thanks for his sermons. The Scotch write English wonderfully well.'"""
"""[Mr Pepys] is admirably described by the same Words with which Menage describes Mr de Costar; C'est (dit il), le Galant le plus Pedant, et le Pedant le plus galant qu'on puisse voir. His verses on Mrs Greville and Mrs Crewe I think are very [italics] smart [end italics] ones, and have a Turn remarkably elegant at the End'. [she gives the verses]"""
"""[Mr Pepys] is admirably described by the same Words with which Menage describes Mr de Costar; C'est (dit il), le Galant le plus Pedant, et le Pedant le plus galant qu'on puisse voir. His verses on Mrs Greville and Mrs Crewe I think are very [italics] smart [end italics] ones, and have a Turn remarkably elegant at the End'. [she gives the verses]"""
"""The Famous Sonnet of Sir H: Wooton beginning. Ye meaner Beauties of the Night is likewise exquisitely pretty, and I shall never forget Baretti's Critique upon it as I think it was a capital one - and for a Foreigner - astonishing. The last Stanza says he ought to be the first, for it is now A Climax Down Stairs, beginning with the Stars; and ending with the Roses'."""
"""The Famous Sonnet of Sir H: Wooton beginning. Ye meaner Beauties of the Night is likewise exquisitely pretty, and I shall never forget Baretti's Critique upon it as I think it was a capital one - and for a Foreigner - astonishing. The last Stanza says he ought to be the first, for it is now A Climax Down Stairs, beginning with the Stars; and ending with the Roses'."""
"""[Mrs Thrale is about to give 'an Ode written when I was between sixteen and seventeen Years old'] As I read it over this Moment I resolved once to burn it, but recollecting that my poor Father had in his foolish Fondness given Copies to a Friend or two, I thought it might as well have a place here'."""
"""[Having given some verses 'To Miss Salusbury', thought to be by Sarah Fielding] These verses are nothing extraordinary God knows, but I dare say they are hers; though there seems to be no great attention to Grammar in them considering she was an able Scholar both in the Latin Language and the Greek'."""
"""he [Mr Hale] was a clever man enough too, valued himself on his Literature, and made some pretty verses. as for Example he translated the Arria Pateo well enough'. [a sample is given]"""
"""I heard an odd Anecdote to Day of Fordyce the Dissenter, who wrote a few pretty little Essays lately call'd Sermons to young Women'"""
"""there came out a Pamphlet setting forth the Felicity & Benefit of a numerous Offspring; some Arch Body of his acquaintance sent it to Dr Stonehouse in a Joke; he read it, and profess'd himself so changed in his Opinion, & so convinced by the Arguments of the Writer that he was now perfectly delighted to see his Wife with Child every Year after he had so complained of his nine Young ones. - The Characteristick of this Man's Mind seems to be ductility'."""
"""when he was at the University he [Edward Gibbon] used frequently to come to Town, and go to Lewis the bookseller's in Covt Garden, by way of buying Books, and sometimes merely to read or chat in the Shop'."""
"""An Officer in the Army once asked old Major Markham how he could make any Pleasure out of such a Book, it was Pope's Ethic Epistles - why says the Major did you ever try? Not [italics] this very [end italics] Book replies the Friend: then take and read it now says Markham, and read the Notes too for that explains the Text: Our Officer sate awhile with the Book in his Hand - why now Major says he after a Quarter of an hour's Study - what Stuff this is - explain quotha - why the Notes as you call 'em only make t'other more unintelligible. The Truth was he read fairly down the Page without ever stopping - Text - Notes and all.'"""
"""Mr Jackson - a quondam Chymist, well known for his Projects to destroy the Worm which perforates the Bottoms of Ships - and Husband to the Woman mentioned on Page 58. had a mind to turn Scholar, so got him a Greek Testament & took to reading history'."""
"""Mr Jackson - a quondam Chymist, well known for his Projects to destroy the Worm which perforates the Bottoms of Ships - and Husband to the Woman mentioned on Page 58. had a mind to turn Scholar, so got him a Greek Testament & took to reading history'."""
"""Here follows a Sonnet written by Giuseppe Pecio to call Voltaire into Italy; Lord Sandys read it here as excellent in its kind, & I took a Copy more to please him however than myself, - I do not see much in it'. [the sonnet follows]"""
"""Cumberland had written two Odes, what says Mrs Montagu to me do you think of them? I think said I they are as like Gray's Odes as he can make them, Ay, replied She, as like as a little Thing can be to a big Thing, Why to be sure Madam said I he is not the great Mr Gray - he is only the [italics] Petit Gris [end italics].'"""
"""the Ode to Indifference is a most superior Piece of elegant Writing The Occasion of it was however dreadfully unhappy'. [Mrs Thrale then tells of Mrs Greville's son's death]"""
"""Cumberland had written two Odes, what says Mrs Montagu to me do you think of them? I think said I they are as like Gray's Odes as he can make them, Ay, replied She, as like as a little Thing can be to a big Thing, Why to be sure Madam said I he is not the great Mr Gray - he is only the [italics] Petit Gris [end italics].'"""
"""I was told to-day that Joshua and Jesus are the very same Name. I never heard it before, and suppose it not commonly known among Christians - 'tis a Shame however not to have known it always - Milton mentions it in the last Book of Paradise Lost'."""
"""Cumberland had written two Odes, what says Mrs Montagu to me do you think of them? I think said I they are as like Gray's Odes as he can make them, Ay, replied She, as like as a little Thing can be to a big Thing, Why to be sure Madam said I he is not the great Mr Gray - he is only the [italics] Petit Gris [end italics].'"""
"""Cumberland had written two Odes, what says Mrs Montagu to me do you think of them? I think said I they are as like Gray's Odes as he can make them, Ay, replied She, as like as a little Thing can be to a big Thing, Why to be sure Madam said I he is not the great Mr Gray - he is only the [italics] Petit Gris [end italics].'"""
"""[letter from Boswell to Johnson] You forget that Mr. Shaw's """"""""Erse Grammar"""""""" was put into your hands by myself last year. Lord Eglintoune put it into mine. I am glad that Mr. Macbean approves of it. I have received Mr. Shaw's Proposals for its publication, which I can perceive are written [italics] by the hand of a MASTER [end italics]' [Master here refers to Johnson]"""
"""[opinion of William Mason's play, """"""""Caractacus"""""""", entered in diary]: 'My soul melted into every pleasing sensation, the language charming! divine harmony, beams in every line such a love of virtue! such examples of piety, resignation and fortitude! raise the soul to an ecstatic height. Sweet Evelinda how my heart throbbed for her!'."""
""" [letter from Boswell to Johnson] Without doubt you have read what is called """"""""The Life of David Hume"""""""", written by himself, with the letter from Dr. Adam Smith subjoined to it. Is not this an age of daring effrontery?'"""
"""[letter from Boswell to Johnson] I lately read Rasselas over again with great satisfaction'."""
"""[Letter from Boswell to Johnson] The alarm of your late illness distressed me but a few  hours ; for on the evening of the day that it reached me, I found it contradicted in 'The London Chronicle,' which I could depend  upon as authentick concerning you, Mr. Strahan being the printer of it'. """
"""Letter to Miss Ewing November 14 1778 'I have cut all the leaves out of a great old goose of  a book, and there I have placed those pretty pictures in regular succession; with Miss Ourry?s, and Mrs Sprot?s; cousin Jean?s letters, which I value much for the vein of original humour that runs through them, are there too: so are some of Beattie?s poems. You can?t think how diligently I peruse this good book. Watts on the Passions is not dearer to you; for, warm as he is in your workbag, do you think your paper bag of epistles can ever lift its head in competition to my great book?' """
"""DILLY. """"""""Mrs. Glasse's """"""""Cookery"""""""", which is the best, was written by Dr. Hill. Half the trade know this.' JOHNSON. """"""""Well, Sir. This shews how much better the subject of cookery may be treated by a philosopher. I doubt if the book be written by Dr. Hill; for, in Mrs. Glasse's """"""""Cookery"""""""", which I have looked into, salt-petre and sal-prunella are spoken of as different substances, whereas sal-prunella is only salt-petre burnt on charcoal; and Hill could not be ignorant of this. However, as the greatest part of such a book is made by transcription, this mistake may have been carelessly adopted. But you shall see what a Book of Cookery I shall make! I shall agree with Mr. Dilly for the copy-right"""""""". Miss SEWARD. """"""""That would be Hercules with the distaff indeed"""""""". JOHNSON. """"""""No, Madam. Women can spin very well; but they cannot make a good book of Cookery"""""""".'"""
"""JOHNSON. """"""""O! Mr. Dilly-you must know that an English Benedictine Monk at Paris has translated """"""""The Duke of Berwick's Memoirs"""""""", from the original French, and has sent them to me to sell. I offered them to Strahan, who sent them back with this answer:--""""""""That the first book he had published was the Duke of Berwick's Life, by which he had lost: and he hated the name.""""""""--Now I honestly tell you, that Strahan has refused them; but I also honestly tell you, that he did it upon no principle, for he never looked into them"""""""". DILLY. """"""""Are they well translated, Sir?"""""""" JOHNSON. """"""""Why, Sir, very well--in a style very current and very clear"""""""".'"""
"""Dr. Mayo having asked Johnson's opinion of Soame Jenyns's """"""""View of the Internal Evidence of the Christian Religion"""""""";--JOHNSON. """"""""I think it a pretty book; not very theological indeed; and there seems to be an affectation of ease and carelessness, as if it were not suitable to his character to be very serious about the matter"""""""". BOSWELL. """"""""He may have intended this to introduce his book the better among genteel people, who might be unwilling to read too grave a treatise. There is a general levity in the age. We have physicians now with bag-wigs; may we not have airy divines, at least somewhat less solemn in their appearance than they used to be?"""""""" JOHNSON. """"""""Jenyns might mean as you say"""""""". BOSWELL. """"""""[italics]You[end italics] should like his book, Mrs. Knowles, as it maintains, as you [italics] friends [end italics] do, that courage is not a Christian virtue"""""""".' """
"""Dr. Mayo having asked Johnson's opinion of Soame Jenyns's """"""""View of the Internal Evidence of the Christian Religion"""""""";--JOHNSON. """"""""I think it a pretty book; not very theological indeed; and there seems to be an affectation of ease and carelessness, as if it were not suitable to his character to be very serious about the matter"""""""". BOSWELL. """"""""He may have intended this to introduce his book the better among genteel people, who might be unwilling to read too grave a treatise. There is a general levity in the age. We have physicians now with bag-wigs; may we not have airy divines, at least somewhat less solemn in their appearance than they used to be?"""""""" JOHNSON. """"""""Jenyns might mean as you say"""""""". BOSWELL. """"""""[italics]You[end italics] should like his book, Mrs. Knowles, as it maintains, as you [italics] friends [end italics] do, that courage is not a Christian virtue"""""""".' """
"""DR. MAYO (to Dr. Johnson). """"""""Pray, Sir, have you read Edwards, of New England, on """"""""Grace""""""""?"""""""" JOHNSON. """"""""No, Sir"""""""". BOSWELL. """"""""It puzzled me so much as to the freedom of the human will, by stating, with wonderful acute ingenuity, our being actuated by a series of motives which we cannot resist, that the only relief I had was to forget it"""""""". MAYO. """"""""But he makes the proper distinction between moral and physical necessity"""""""".'"""
"""Mr. Allen, the printer, brought a book on agriculture, which was printed, and was soon to be published. It was a very strange performance, the authour having mixed in it his own thoughts upon various topicks, along with his remarks on ploughing, sowing, and other farming operations. He seemed to be an absurd profane fellow, and had introduced in his book many sneers at religion, with equal ignorance and conceit. Dr. Johnson permitted me to read some passages aloud.'"""
"""This year the Reverend Mr. Horne published his """"""""Letter to Mr. Dunning on the English Particle""""""""; Johnson read it, and though not treated in it with sufficient respect, he had candour enough to say to Mr. Seward, """"""""Were I to make a new edition of my Dictionary, I would adopt several of Mr. Horne's etymologies; I hope they did not put the dog in the pillory for his libel; he has too much literature for that"""""""".' """
"""He [Johnson] said, """"""""the lyrical part of Horace never can be perfectly translated; so much of the excellence is in the numbers and the expression. Francis has done it the best; I'll take his, five out of six, against them all"""""""".' """
"""Charles Burney on his first reading of Frances Burney, """"""""Evelina"""""""": 'I perused the first Vol. with fear and trembling, not supposing she wd disgrace her parentage, but not having the least idea that without ... knowledge of the world, she cd write a book worth reading.  The dedication to myself ... brought tears to my eyes, and [I] found so much good sense & good writing in the Letters of Mr. Villiers, that ... I hastn'd to tell her... that I had read part of the book with such pleasure, that instead of being angry, I congratulated her on being able to write so well ...'"""
"""[letter from Boswell to Johnson] 'I am eager to see more of your Prefaces to the Poets; I solace myself with the few proof sheets which I have'."""
"""You need not be at all afraid that I should think your journal an odd composition. I am so much charmed with it that I long for the second part, and want to see the characters you have painted in action; but I pity you for being forced to spend so much of your time visiting and playing at cards by daylight'."""
"""The schoolhouse, however, being almost at our door, I had attended it for a short time, and had the honour of standing at the head of a juvenile class, who read the Shorter Catechism and the Proverbs of Solomon'."""
"""We had a quiet comfortable meeting at Mr. Dilly's; nobody there but ourselves. Mr. Dilly mentioned somebody having wished that Milton's """"""""Tractate on Education"""""""" should be printed along with his Poems in the edition of """"""""The English Poets"""""""" then going on. JOHNSON. """"""""It would be breaking in upon the plan; but would be of no great consequence. So far as it would be any thing, it would be wrong. Education in England has been in danger of being hurt by two of its greatest men, Milton and Locke. Milton's plan is impracticable, and I suppose has never been tried. Locke's, I fancy, has been tried often enough, but is very imperfect; it gives too much to one side, and too little to the other; it gives too little to literature.--I shall do what I can for Dr. Watts; but my materials are very scanty. His poems are by no means his best works; I cannot praise his poetry itself highly; but I can praise its design"""""""".'"""
"""We had a quiet comfortable meeting at Mr. Dilly's; nobody there but ourselves. Mr. Dilly mentioned somebody having wished that Milton's """"""""Tractate on Education"""""""" should be printed along with his Poems in the edition of """"""""The English Poets"""""""" then going on. JOHNSON. """"""""It would be breaking in upon the plan; but would be of no great consequence. So far as it would be any thing, it would be wrong. Education in England has been in danger of being hurt by two of its greatest men, Milton and Locke. Milton's plan is impracticable, and I suppose has never been tried. Locke's, I fancy, has been tried often enough, but is very imperfect; it gives too much to one side, and too little to the other; it gives too little to literature.--I shall do what I can for Dr. Watts; but my materials are very scanty. His poems are by no means his best works; I cannot praise his poetry itself highly; but I can praise its design"""""""".'"""
"""We had a quiet comfortable meeting at Mr. Dilly's; nobody there but ourselves. Mr. Dilly mentioned somebody having wished that Milton's """"""""Tractate on Education"""""""" should be printed along with his Poems in the edition of """"""""The English Poets"""""""" then going on. JOHNSON. """"""""It would be breaking in upon the plan; but would be of no great consequence. So far as it would be any thing, it would be wrong. Education in England has been in danger of being hurt by two of its greatest men, Milton and Locke. Milton's plan is impracticable, and I suppose has never been tried. Locke's, I fancy, has been tried often enough, but is very imperfect; it gives too much to one side, and too little to the other; it gives too little to literature.--I shall do what I can for Dr. Watts; but my materials are very scanty. His poems are by no means his best works; I cannot praise his poetry itself highly; but I can praise its design"""""""".'"""
"""He begged of General Paoli to repeat one of the introductory stanzas of the first book of Tasso's """"""""Jerusalem"""""""", which he did, and then Johnson found fault with the simile of sweetening the edges of a cup for a child, being transferred from Lucretius into an epick poem. The General said he did not imagine Homer's poetry was so ancient as is supposed, because he ascribes to a Greek colony circumstances of refinement not found in Greece itself at a later period, when Thucydides wrote. JOHNSON. """"""""I recollect but one passage quoted by Thucydides from Homer, which is not to be found in our copies of Homer's works; I am for the antiquity of Homer, and think that a Grecian colony, by being nearer Persia, might be more refined than the mother country."""""""".'"""
"""He begged of General Paoli to repeat one of the introductory stanzas of the first book of Tasso's """"""""Jerusalem"""""""", which he did, and then Johnson found fault with the simile of sweetening the edges of a cup for a child, being transferred from Lucretius into an epick poem. The General said he did not imagine Homer's poetry was so ancient as is supposed, because he ascribes to a Greek colony circumstances of refinement not found in Greece itself at a later period, when Thucydides wrote. JOHNSON. """"""""I recollect but one passage quoted by Thucydides from Homer, which is not to be found in our copies of Homer's works; I am for the antiquity of Homer, and think that a Grecian colony, by being nearer Persia, might be more refined than the mother country."""""""".'"""
"""He begged of General Paoli to repeat one of the introductory stanzas of the first book of Tasso's """"""""Jerusalem"""""""", which he did, and then Johnson found fault with the simile of sweetening the edges of a cup for a child, being transferred from Lucretius into an epick poem. The General said he did not imagine Homer's poetry was so ancient as is supposed, because he ascribes to a Greek colony circumstances of refinement not found in Greece itself at a later period, when Thucydides wrote. JOHNSON. """"""""I recollect but one passage quoted by Thucydides from Homer, which is not to be found in our copies of Homer's works; I am for the antiquity of Homer, and think that a Grecian colony, by being nearer Persia, might be more refined than the mother country."""""""".'"""
"""RAMSAY. """"""""I suppose Homer's 'Iliad' to be a collection of pieces which had been written before his time. I should like to see a translation of it in poetical prose like the book of Ruth or Job"""""""".' """
"""RAMSAY. """"""""I suppose Homer's 'Iliad' to be a collection of pieces which had been written before his time. I should like to see a translation of it in poetical prose like the book of Ruth or Job"""""""".' """
"""He begged of General Paoli to repeat one of the introductory stanzas of the first book of Tasso's """"""""Jerusalem"""""""", which he did, and then Johnson found fault with the simile of sweetening the edges of a cup for a child, being transferred from Lucretius into an epick poem. The General said he did not imagine Homer's poetry was so ancient as is supposed, because he ascribes to a Greek colony circumstances of refinement not found in Greece itself at a later period, when Thucydides wrote. JOHNSON. """"""""I recollect but one passage quoted by Thucydides from Homer, which is not to be found in our copies of Homer's works; I am for the antiquity of Homer, and think that a Grecian colony, by being nearer Persia, might be more refined than the mother country."""""""".'"""
"""He begged of General Paoli to repeat one of the introductory stanzas of the first book of Tasso's """"""""Jerusalem"""""""", which he did, and then Johnson found fault with the simile of sweetening the edges of a cup for a child, being transferred from Lucretius into an epick poem. The General said he did not imagine Homer's poetry was so ancient as is supposed, because he ascribes to a Greek colony circumstances of refinement not found in Greece itself at a later period, when Thucydides wrote. JOHNSON. """"""""I recollect but one passage quoted by Thucydides from Homer, which is not to be found in our copies of Homer's works; I am for the antiquity of Homer, and think that a Grecian colony, by being nearer Persia, might be more refined than the mother country."""""""".'"""
"""He begged of General Paoli to repeat one of the introductory stanzas of the first book of Tasso's """"""""Jerusalem"""""""", which he did, and then Johnson found fault with the simile of sweetening the edges of a cup for a child, being transferred from Lucretius into an epick poem. The General said he did not imagine Homer's poetry was so ancient as is supposed, because he ascribes to a Greek colony circumstances of refinement not found in Greece itself at a later period, when Thucydides wrote. JOHNSON. """"""""I recollect but one passage quoted by Thucydides from Homer, which is not to be found in our copies of Homer's works; I am for the antiquity of Homer, and think that a Grecian colony, by being nearer Persia, might be more refined than the mother country."""""""".'"""
"""We talked of antiquarian researches. JOHNSON. """"""""All that is really known of the ancient state of Britain is contained in a few pages. We can know no more than what the old writers have told us; yet what large books have we upon it, the whole of which, excepting such parts as are taken from those old writers, is all a dream, such as Whitaker's """"""""Manchester"""""""".' """
"""Letter to MIss Ewing October 3, 1778 'I am glad you were so well entertained at the Fairley by my old acquaintance Clarissa, and your new acquaintance Mr. Monteith. I observe you frequently preferred the company of the former to the latter, and am pleased to find you so partial to my favourite heroine. Never, sure, were characters so well drawn, discriminated and supported as those in ?Clarissa?. ...' [comment continues]"""
"""I mentioned that I had in my possession the Life of Sir Robert Sibbald, the celebrated Scottish antiquary, and founder of the Royal College of Physicians at Edinburgh, in the original manuscript in his own hand-writing ; and that it was, I believed, the most natural and candid account of himself that ever was given by any man'."""
"""Letter to Miss Ewing, November 14, 1778 '? the former [ie Highlanders] indeed are a people never to be known unless you live among them, and learn their language. Smollet, in Humphrey Clinker, is the only writer that has given a genuine sketch of Scotch manners ?.'"""
"""?The day after this being the last of the year, I managed to finish reading Blackstone?s Commentaries and Goldsmith?s History of England, both for the 2d time over & in the evening danced out the year at the Assembly.?"""
"""?The day after this being the last of the year, I managed to finish reading Blackstone?s Commentaries and Goldsmith?s History of England, both for the 2d time over & in the evening danced out the year at the Assembly.?"""
"""My fears shook my weak and tender frame in reading Edwards on the Affections. A heartsearching book. A truly valuable author'"""
"""[letter from Boswell to Johnson] Did you ever look at a book written by Wilson, a Scotchman, under the Latin name of Volusenus, according to the custom of literary men at a certain period. It is entitled """"""""De Animi Tranquillitate"""""""" I earnestly desire tranquillity'. """
"""He [Johnson] said, """"""""I have been reading Lord Kames's 'Sketches of the History of Man'. In treating of severity of punishment, he mentions that of Madame Lapouchin, in Russia, but he does not give it fairly; for I have looked at 'Chappe de l'Auteroche', from whom he has taken it. He stops where it is said that the spectators thought her innocent, and leaves out what follows; that she nevertheless was guilty"""""""".'"""
"""He [Johnson] said, """"""""I have been reading Lord Kames's 'Sketches of the History of Man'. In treating of severity of punishment, he mentions that of Madame Lapouchin, in Russia, but he does not give it fairly; for I have looked at Chappe de l'Auteroche, from whom he has taken it. He stops where it is said that the spectators thought her innocent, and leaves out what follows; that she nevertheless was guilty"""""""".'"""
"""1: August 1779.] Johnson has been diverting himself with imitating Potter's Aeschylus in a translation of some verses of Euripides - he has translated them seriously besides, & given them to Burney for his  history of Musick. here are the Burlesque ones - but they are a [italics] Caricatura [end italics] of Potter whose Verses are obscure enough too. [the verses are given] Poor Potter! he does write strange unintelligible Verses to be sure, but I think none as bad as these neither'."""
"""1: August 1779.] Johnson has been diverting himself with imitating Potter's Aeschylus in a translation of some verses of Euripides - he has translated them seriously besides, & given them to Burney for his  history of Musick. here are the Burlesque ones - but they are a [italics] Caricatura [end italics] of Potter whose Verses are obscure enough too. [the verses are given] Poor Potter! he does write strange unintelligible Verses to be sure, but I think none as bad as these neither'."""
"""1: August 1779.] Johnson has been diverting himself with imitating Potter's Aeschylus in a translation of some verses of Euripides - he has translated them seriously besides, & given them to Burney for his  history of Musick. here are the Burlesque ones - but they are a [italics] Caricatura [end italics] of Potter whose Verses are obscure enough too. [the verses are given] Poor Potter! he does write strange unintelligible Verses to be sure, but I think none as bad as these neither'."""
"""1: August 1779.] Johnson has been diverting himself with imitating Potter's Aeschylus in a translation of some verses of Euripides - he has translated them seriously besides, & given them to Burney for his  history of Musick. here are the Burlesque ones - but they are a [italics] Caricatura [end italics] of Potter whose Verses are obscure enough too. [the verses are given] Poor Potter! he does write strange unintelligible Verses to be sure, but I think none as bad as these neither'."""
"""Fanny Burney has read me her new Comedy; nobody else has seen it except her Father, who will not suffer his Partiality to overbiass his Judgment I am sure, and he likes it vastly. - but one has no Guess what will do on a Stage, at least I have none; Murphy must read an Act tomorrow, I wonder what he'll say to't. I like it very well for my own part, though none of the scribbling Ladies have the Right to admire its general Tendency.'"""
"""There is no Reading that so changes the Scene upon one, and carries one so completely out of one's self I think, as Astronomical Speculation: unless indeed the Study of the Ancient prophecies and modern Calculations of this World's final Dissolution: when we read Burnet on the Conflagration, or Whiston on the expected Comet, how little seem to Common Objects of our Care!'"""
"""There is no Reading that so changes the Scene upon one, and carries one so completely out of one's self I think, as Astronomical Speculation: unless indeed the Study of the Ancient prophecies and modern Calculations of this World's final Dissolution: when we read Burnet on the Conflagration, or Whiston on the expected Comet, how little seem to Common Objects of our Care!'"""
"""Fanny Burney has read me her new Comedy; nobody else has seen it except her Father, who will not suffer his Partiality to overbiass his Judgment I am sure, and he likes it vastly. - but one has no Guess what will do on a Stage, at least I have none; Murphy must read an Act tomorrow, I wonder what he'll say to't. I like it very well for my own part, though none of the scribbling Ladies have the Right to admire its general Tendency.'"""
"""[Mrs Thrale gives some verses of hers about bathing] these Lines are imitated from some Verses in Ben Jonson's Volpone, which are too obscene to be borne, otherwise very fine I think. What a prodigious Effort of human Genius is that Volpone! when one reads it one is tempted to say - this is Perfection, let us look no further.'"""
"""Found much edification in reading Doctor Owen on Indwelling sin in the heart of a believer. I hope to read it often, that I may transcribe it on my memory and note the many useful remarks contained in it.'"""
"""My arrival interrupted for a little while the important business of this true representative of Bayes[a clergyman who wanted Johnson's opinions on his literary works]; upon its being resumed, I found that the subject under immediate consideration was a translation, yet in manuscript, of the """"""""Carmen Seculare"""""""" of Horace, which had this year been set to musick, and performed as a publick entertainment in London, for the joint benefit of Monsieur Philidor and Signor Baretti. When Johnson had done reading, the authour asked him bluntly, """"""""If upon the whole it was a good translation?"""""""" Johnson, whose regard for truth was uncommonly strict, seemed to be puzzled for a moment, what answer to make; as he certainly could not honestly commend the performance: with exquisite address he evaded the question thus, """"""""Sir, I do not say that it may not be made a very good translation."""""""" Here nothing whatever in favour of the performance was affirmed, and yet the writer was not shocked. A printed """"""""Ode to the Warlike Genius of Britain"""""""", came next in review; the bard was a lank bony figure, with short black hair; he was writhing himself in agitation, while Johnson read, and shewing his teeth in a grin of earnestness, exclaimed in broken sentences, and in a keen sharp tone, """"""""Is that poetry, Sir?--Is it Pindar?"""""""" JOHNSON. """"""""Why, Sir, there is here a great deal of what is called poetry"""""""".'"""
"""?As during my confinement I amused myself with light reading, I now for the 1st time read the """"""""Spiritual Quixote"""""""" (w?th which I was much entertain?d) & other books of the kind, which I got from the circulating library.?"""
"""Letter to Miss Ewing April 18, 1779 'I do not know whether you will view this in the same light, but I think it is the most affecting and heroic instance of true friendship I have met with in real life. One can?t help comparing it with the lively and impressive portrait Rousseau draws of Clara and Eloisa.'"""
"""I returned home and read four chapters of Winn's abridgement of Lock[e] on the human understanding. The transition from such a dissipate scene [a party she has left] to the deep reflection of my study [...] was easier than I expected: how much more was I pleased with myself whilst thus exercising the faculties of a reasonable mind, in endeavouring to discover the sources of those faculties, to form them properly; to improve them, than when I was dipping a curtsey to one, forcing a smile for another, hearing nonsense from a 3rd or what is worse talking nonsense to a fourth.'"""
"""On Friday, April 2, being Good-Friday, I visited him in the morning as usual; and finding that we insensibly fell into a train of ridicule upon the foibles of one of our friends, a very worthy man, I, by way of a check, quoted some good admonition from """"""""The Government of the Tongue"""""""", that very pious book.'"""
"""Nobody reads Spenser's Pastorals, and they are exquisitely pretty; the Story in his February of the Oak and the Breere, and the other in his May of the Fox and the Kid are admirable'."""
"""[Mrs Thrale proposes writing a comedy, but] as I have not a Spark of Originality about me, I must take a French Model - it shall be """"""""L'Homme Singulier"""""""".'"""
"""[ letter from Boswell to Johnson] The Bishop, to whom I had the honour to be known several years ago, shews me much attention; and I am edified by his conversation. I must not omit to tell you, that his Lordship admires, very highly, your """"""""Prefaces to the Poets"""""""".'"""
"""I have this Moment put into my Hand a Poem concerning the Geranium Flower; tis not very long, and tis I think exceedingly Ingenious: but so obscene I will not pollute my Book with it. Though nobody sees the Thraliana but myself, I can not bear that our Father who seeth in Secret & is of purer Eyes than to behold uncleanness, should know my beastly privacies - though strongly tempted therefore to copy or get it by heart I have done neither, but returned it to Mrs Byron who lent it me - without any Comment. I cannot think of the Man's Name who wrote it but tis mightly clever in its way [italics] that it is [end italics].'"""
"""Next year my parents took me home during the winter quarter, and put me to school with a lad named Ker, who was teaching the children of a neighbouring farmer. Here I advanced so far as to get into the class who read in the Bible'."""
"""In Page 153 of the 2d Volume of Thraliana [p252], I hazarded a Conjecture that the Worms were often in old Times, & even now perhaps in popish Countries, mistaken for Demoniacal Possession: I have now this Moment read a Story in Cornelius Gemma lib: 2: de nat: Mirac: C: 4 how a young Maiden named Katharine Gualters, a Coopers Daughter, was exorcised of the Devil; when after violent Convulsive Throes, She evacuated a [italics] live Eel [end italics], (A Worm no doubt) wch he himself measured a foot & a half long, and was well convinced it could be no other than a [italics] Devil [end italics] or [italics] Fiend [end italics].'"""
"""[Johnson said] """"""""I remember a passage in Goldsmith's """"""""Vicar of Wakefield"""""""", which he was afterwards fool enough to expunge: 'I do not love a man who is zealous for nothing'."""""""" BOSWELL. """"""""That was a fine passage"""""""". JOHNSON. """"""""Yes, Sir: there was another fine passage too, which he struck out: 'When I was a young man, being anxious to distinguish myself, I was perpetually starting new propositions. But I soon gave this over; for, I found that generally what was new was false'.""""""""' """
"""Talking of the wonderful concealment of the authour of the celebrated letters signed [italics] Junius [end italics]; he said, """"""""I should have believed Burke to be Junius, because I know no man but Burke who is capable of writing these letters; but Burke spontaneously denied it to me. The case would have been different had I asked him if he was the authour; a man so questioned, as to an anonymous publication, may think he has a right to deny it"""""""".' """
"""her [Fanny Burney's] Scoundrel Bookseller having advertised the Sylph along with it [Evelina] lately, and endeavouring to make the World believe it [italics] hers [end italics]; Mrs Leveson runs about Town saying how clever Miss Burney must be! & what Knowledge of [italics] Mankind [end italics] She must have! Knowledge of Mankind! in good time; the Sylph is an obscene Novel, and more [italics] Knowledge of Mankind [end italics] is indeed wanting to't than any [italics] professed [end italics] Virgin should have.'"""
"""Having studied my letters, the see-saw drone of the 'Primer, ' and waded through the 'Reading Made Easy, 'and 'Dyche's Spelling Book;' I was now turned over [to another teacher and] learned to write."""
"""Having studied my letters, the see-saw drone of the 'Primer, ' and waded through the 'Reading Made Easy, 'and 'Dyche's Spelling Book;' Iwas now turned over [to another teacher and] learned to write."""
"""Having studied my letters, the see-saw drone of the 'Primer, ' and waded through the 'Reading Made Easy, 'and 'Dyche's Spelling Book;' Iwas now turned over [to another teacher and] learned to write."""
"""Though [William Gifford] had few means of improvement, he made the most of what he had. A treatise on algebra had been given him by a young woman, who had found it in a lodging-house. This he considered as a treasure, and he was enabled to study it by means of """"""""Fenning's Introduction,"""""""" which he found hid away among the books of his master's son. The way in which he was enabled to produce algebraic signs was remarkable. Being deprived by his hard master of pen, ink, and paper, he beat out pieces of leather as smooth as possible, and worked out his problems on them with a blunted awl.'"""
"""Though [William Gifford] had few means of improvement, he made the most of what he had. A treatise on algebra had been given him by a young woman, who had found it in a lodging-house. This he considered as a treasure, and he was enabled to study it by means of """"""""Fenning's Introduction,"""""""" which he found hid away among the books of his master's son. The way in which he was enabled to produce algebraic signs was remarkable. Being deprived by his hard master of pen, ink, and paper, he beat out pieces of leather as smooth as possible, and worked out his problems on them with a blunted awl.'"""
"""While under the tuition of Mr. Smerdon, Gifford had translated the """"""""Tenth Satire"""""""" of Juvenal for a holiday task.'"""
"""I was sent to another school in Wine Office Court, Fleet Street, when I was about seven years of age. At this old woman's school it can scarcely be said that I learnt anything, all I knew, when I left it, was how to read in Dilworths Spelling Book and that too badly."""
"""[Miss Sophia Pitches] died of a Disorder common enough to Young Women the desire of Beauty; She had I fancy taken Quack Med'cines to prevent growing fat, or perhaps to repress Appetite, I have seen strange Stuff advertised in Ladies Memorandum books for such vile purposes, & the Pitches Girls were mightly likely to be dabblers in 'em'."""
"""[Johnson said] """"""""King James says in his 'Daemonology', 'Magicians command the devils: witches are their servants. The Italian magicians are elegant beings'.""""""""'"""
"""By some one of these publications, but most probably from the last-mentioned [i.e. Withering], Mr.Aikin was inspired with a taste for this delightful study...'"""
"""""""""""Ye Grots & Caverns shagg'd with horrid Thorn!"""""""" This Verse from Pope's Eloisa was originally Milton's - 'tis in Comus, but I think very little remember'd'"""
"""""""""""Ye Grots & Caverns shagg'd with horrid Thorn!"""""""" This Verse from Pope's Eloisa was originally Milton's - 'tis in Comus, but I think very little remember'd'"""
"""We have got a sort of literary Curiosity amongst us; the foul Copy of Pope's Homer, with all his old intended Verses, Sketches, emendations &c. strange that a Man shd keep such Things!'"""
"""In the Evening we had Mrs. Lambert, who brought us a Tale, called Edwy & Edilda by the sentimental Clergyman Mr. Whaley, ? & [ital.] unreadably  [ital.] soft & tender & senseless is it!'  """
"""He [Dr Johnson] says Dr. Barnard, the Provost of Eaton, has been singing the praises of my Book . . .' """
"""Bruce of Abyssinia has been greatly ridiculed, particularly for trying to make the World believe that the people in Abyssinia eat cuts from the live Beast; yet Mr Coxe & I found the same thing in an old Book of Travels here at Brighthelmston the other day'."""
"""such is my Tenderness for Johnson, when he is out of my Sight I always keep his Books about me, which I never think of reading at any other Time: but they remind me of [italics] him [end italics], & please me more than even his Letters; for in [italics] them [end italics] he is often scrupulous of opening his heart & has an Idea they will be seen sometime, perhaps published'."""
"""The Characters in the modern Comedies of Puff, Snake & Spatter are quite new, & peculiar to this age I think; it is to Novels & Dramatic Representations that one owes the History of Manners certainly, yet those which give one nothing else are paltry performances: witness Tom Jones and the Clandestine Marriage, yet they are the best in their kind acording to my Notion'."""
"""The Characters in the modern Comedies of Puff, Snake & Spatter are quite new, & peculiar to this age I think; it is to Novels & Dramatic Representations that one owes the History of Manners certainly, yet those which give one nothing else are paltry performances: witness Tom Jones and the Clandestine Marriage, yet they are the best in their kind acording to my Notion'."""
"""The Characters in the modern Comedies of Puff, Snake & Spatter are quite new, & peculiar to this age I think; it is to Novels & Dramatic Representations that one owes the History of Manners certainly, yet those which give one nothing else are paltry performances: witness Tom Jones and the Clandestine Marriage, yet they are the best in their kind acording to my Notion'."""
"""The Characters in the modern Comedies of Puff, Snake & Spatter are quite new, & peculiar to this age I think; it is to Novels & Dramatic Representations that one owes the History of Manners certainly, yet those which give one nothing else are paltry performances: witness Tom Jones and the Clandestine Marriage, yet they are the best in their kind acording to my Notion'."""
"""Johnson's newly written Lives are delightful, but he is too hard on Prior's Alma: he will be keenly reproached for his Toryism, but what cares he? he calls himself a Tory, & glories in it. he should have been more sparing of Praise to the Fair Penitent I think, because the Characters are from Massinger - I care not how much good is said of the language; but Old Phil: has the Merit of that Contrast, more happy perhaps than any on our Stage, of the Gay Rake, and the virtuous dependent Gentleman'."""
"""Johnson's newly written Lives are delightful, but he is too hard on Prior's Alma: he will be keenly reproached for his Toryism, but what cares he? he calls himself a Tory, & glories in it. he should have been more sparing of Praise to the Fair Penitent I think, because the Characters are from Massinger - I care not how much good is said of the language; but Old Phil: has the Merit of that Contrast, more happy perhaps than any on our Stage, of the Gay Rake, and the virtuous dependent Gentleman'."""
"""Johnson's newly written Lives are delightful, but he is too hard on Prior's Alma: he will be keenly reproached for his Toryism, but what cares he? he calls himself a Tory, & glories in it. he should have been more sparing of Praise to the Fair Penitent I think, because the Characters are from Massinger - I care not how much good is said of the language; but Old Phil: has the Merit of that Contrast, more happy perhaps than any on our Stage, of the Gay Rake, and the virtuous dependent Gentleman'."""
"""Johnson's newly written Lives are delightful, but he is too hard on Prior's Alma: he will be keenly reproached for his Toryism, but what cares he? he calls himself a Tory, & glories in it. he should have been more sparing of Praise to the Fair Penitent I think, because the Characters are from Massinger - I care not how much good is said of the language; but Old Phil: has the Merit of that Contrast, more happy perhaps than any on our Stage, of the Gay Rake, and the virtuous dependent Gentleman'."""
"""?Being now became a constant attendant of the gent?n ringers once or twice a week, I ? began to aspire towards ringing a longer peal, for w?ch purpose I wrote the changes out in figures with the rules & got a little old book called """"""""Campanologia, or the Art of Change Ringing"""""""", w?ch within the insight I had now got into the mystery, I began to understand very well.? """
"""I see Mr Pope's skilful Adaptation of Names to his Spirits in the Rape of the Lock, and to his Mud-Nymphs in the Dunciad, are all borrowed from one of Ben Jonson's Masques, perform'd at Court in the Reign of King James the first.'"""
"""I see Mr Pope's skilful Adaptation of Names to his Spirits in the Rape of the Lock, and to his Mud-Nymphs in the Dunciad, are all borrowed from one of Ben Jonson's Masques, perform'd at Court in the Reign of King James the first.'"""
"""the Story of Elmerick in Lillo's Play seems taken from the Conte d'Andre & Gertrude in the Chevreana, but perhaps Lillo never saw it there - the Charge of Plagiarism should be well supported'."""
"""the Story of Elmerick in Lillo's Play seems taken from the Conte d'Andre & Gertrude in the Chevreana, but perhaps Lillo never saw it there - the Charge of Plagiarism should be well supported'."""
"""I must ask Baretti who translated the Sonnet of Anacreon into such pretty Italian Verse.' [some lines are given]"""
"""Sunday [2 Apr.] We went to St. James?s Church?heard a very indifferent Preacher, & returned to read better sermons of our own chusing.' """
"""2 February 1780.] Here is Dr Pepys come with a Manuscript of Dr Spence's for Johnson's Use & Inspection now he is writing the Lives of the poets: It is an admirable [italics] Ana [end italics] to be sure, containing anecdotes of Pope, Prior, &c. &c. everybody who has a Name: poor Spence thought he had taken care to keep it from the public Eye, & now we are all reading it; well!'"""
"""Of all the People I ever heard read Verse in my whole Life the best, the most perfect reader is the Bishop of Peterboro'.'"""
""". . . the Morning Post had yesterday this Paragraph?We hear Lieutenant Burney has succeeded to the command of Capt. Clerke?s ship.'"""
"""What a fine Book is """"""""Law's Serious Call""""""""! written with such force of Thinking, such purity of Style, & such penetration into human Nature; the Characters too so neatly, nay so highly finished: yet nobody reads it I think, from the Notion of its being a Religious work most probably. Johnson has however studied it hard I am sure, & many of the Ramblers apparently took their Rise from that little Volume, as the Nile flows majestically from a Source dificult to be discovered or even discerned.'"""
"""What a fine Book is """"""""Law's Serious Call""""""""! written with such force of Thinking, such purity of Style, & such penetration into human Nature; the Characters too so neatly, nay so highly finished: yet nobody reads it I think, from the Notion of its being a Religious work most probably. Johnson has however studied it hard I am sure, & many of the Ramblers apparently took their Rise from that little Volume, as the Nile flows majestically from a Source dificult to be discovered or even discerned.'"""
"""Man's Life being divided into five Acts like a Play - in the Sorberiana - what an Affinity it has to Shakespear's seven Ages of Man!'"""
""". . . let me recommend to You, to borrow or get from the Circulating Library, """"""""An Apology for the Life of Mr Colley Cibber""""""""?This book has Chance thrown in my Way since I spoke last to You . . .?My book is of the 2d Edition in 1740?Page 284 whatever may be the Page of the Book you procure.'"""
"""Besides their own Family we met Mr Jerningham, the Poet.  I have lately been reading his poems,- if [italics] his [close italics] they may be called, for he never writes 3 lines following of which one is not borrowed,-he has not a thought, a phrase, an [italics] epithet [close italics] that is not palpably stolen!- He seems a mighty delicate Gentleman, - he looks to be [italics] painted, [close italics] & is all daintification, in manner, speech and Dress.' """
"""Lord, Ma'am, I was so entertained & I was quite ill, too, Ma'am, quite ill when I read it! - but for all that, Lord, Ma'am, why I was as eager, -& I wanted sadly to see the author.-'  """
"""Lord Bolingbroke said he learned Spanish so as to read & write Letters in it with only three Weeks Application, - Baretti said the same of Miss Horneck - I suppose both are Lyes. I read it in Spence.'"""
"""When I read the Character of Cambray in this Collection, I could not keep from falling on my Knees to give God thanks for having created such a Man: It is a common Trick with me to kiss a Book that particularly pleases me - Oh this dear Bishop of Cambray! how willingly could I kiss his Robe!'"""
"""... it is his son that is the Rev. Henry Harrington who published those very curious, entertaining & valuable remains of his Ancestor under the Title """"""""Nugae Antiquae"""""""", which my Father & all of us were formerly so fond of.'"""
"""We had much talk among us of Chatterton, &, as he was best known in this part of the world, I attended particularly to the opinion of Dr. Harrington concerning him; & the more paricularly because he is uncommonly well versed in the knowledge of English Antiquities,- therefore was I much surprised to find it [italics] his [close italics] opinion that Chatterton was no Imposter, & that the Poems were authentic & Rowley's.  Much, indeed, he said they had been modernised in his Copies, not by design, but from the difficulty of reading the old manuscript.'"""
""".  . . but I am going to the Library immediately for the Book, -though I assure you I read it all when it first came out,-. . .'"""
""". . . Mrs Kynaston, good humouredly ,called out -""""""""I'm sure, Ladies, I am very glad to see you so merry, - ah - one of you young ladies, - I don't say which, has given me a deal of entertainment! - I'm sure I could never leave off reading,- & when Miss Owen came into my Room, says I, don't speak a Word to me, for I'm so engaged! - Lord, I could not bear to be stopt!. . .""""""""'"""
"""[letter from Johnson to Boswell] 'The bearer of this is Dr. Dunbar, of Aberdeen, who has written and published a very ingenious book'."""
"""Psalmanazar wrote the Cosmogony, and the History of the Jews after his Conversion; how odd that he shold quote the Formosan Opinions therefore as corroborative of some Hypothesis; which he certainly does, and with a Touch of his old Effrontery too. see Page 84: Vol: I. Universal History.'"""
"""I was shewed a curious Thing today - a Letter written by Lord Strafford to his Daughter three Weeks before his Execution - he apparently expected no such Sentence, but rather apprehended Diminution of Income; and in that Apprehension recommends Oeconomy to his Family.'"""
"""Greville draws Prose Characters incomparably well; that Man's book of Maxims &c. has not had credit enough in the World - Adrastus, Sicinius & Strabo are admirable in their kind; & shew a vast deal of thinking, besides perfect Knowledge of the gay World'."""
"""Doctr Burney has translated the famous old French Chanson Militaire - [italics] all about Roland [end italics]: how happy, how skilful, how elegant is that dear Creature's Pen!'"""
"""My mind was early formed (or half formed) by the old exploded """"""""Spectator"""""""", and Addison's assertion that he had seen """"""""A woman's face break out into heats as she was railing against a great man she never saw in her life"""""""" hindered my ever being a female politician, even when I became an old maid, though the two characters are as congenial as those of barber and newsmonger'."""
"""[from the 1780 Johnsoniana passed to Boswell by Bennet Langton] 'Mattaire's account of the Stephani is a heavy book. He seems to have been a puzzle-headed man, with a large share of scholarship, but with little geometry or logick in his head, without method, and possessed of little genius. He wrote Latin verses from time to time, and published a set in his old age, which he called """"""""Senilia""""""""; in which he shews so little learning or taste in writing, as to make [italics] Carteret [end italics] a dactyl. In matters of genealogy it is necessary to give the bare names as they are; but in poetry, and in prose of any elegance in the writing, they require to have inflection given to them. His book of the Dialects is a sad heap of confusion; the only way to write on them is to tabulate them with Notes, added at the bottom of the page, and references'."""
"""[from Bennet Langton's collection of 1780 Johnsoniana, passed to Boswell] Of the Preface to Capel's """"""""Shakspeare"""""""", he said, """"""""If the man would have come to me, I would have endeavoured to endow his purposes with words; for as it is, he doth gabble monstrously"""""""".' """
"""[from the Johnsoniana imparted by Bennet Langton to Boswell in 1780] Johnson one day gave high praise to Dr. Bentley's verses in Dodsley's """"""""Collection"""""""", which he recited with his usual energy.' """
"""Burney has translated a provencale Ballad written by Thibout King of Navarre 500 Years ago, into the prettiest English Verses I ever read, but as they will be published in his 2d Vol: I shall not trouble myself to transcribe them here'."""
"""The two Stories of Marlboro's Avarice are very capital: Sr Godfrey's Dream is [a] good Thing too - they are all too long to transcribe'."""
"""?Miss Burney I am come to thank you for the vast entertainment you have given me; ? I am quite happy to see you,? I wished to see you very much; ? it?s a charming book indeed, ? the Characters are vastly well supported,??"""
"""I had, indeed been extremely anxious to hear of poor Pacchierotti, for the account of his Illness in the newspapers had alarmed me very much.'"""
"""When we were speaking of Dr. Moore?s Travels, I told her that the Character of Mr. C.?reminded me of our friend Mr. Seward . . .'"""
""". . . You must, doubtless, have seen in the Gazette the account of 2 ships appearing in the north of Russia which are presumed to have been those of Captn Cooke & Capt. Clerke'.  """
"""Mr Johnson believes nothing - the Hurricane which has torn Barbadoes to pieces, & is related so pathetically in the Gazette - """"""""not true Madam depend on't - People so delight to fill their Mouths with big Words, and their Minds with a Wonder"""""""".'"""
"""I love Johnson's Prose better than Addison's, I like the Dunciad beyond all Pope's Poems; I delight in Young's Satires & in Rubens's Painting, Cowley captivates my Heart; & when I read Bruyere, I often catch myself kissing the Book for fondness of the Author['s] strong-marked Characters, glowing Colours, striking Sentiments - to please - H:L: T.'"""
"""I love Johnson's Prose better than Addison's, I like the Dunciad beyond all Pope's Poems; I delight in Young's Satires & in Rubens's Painting, Cowley captivates my Heart; & when I read Bruyere, I often catch myself kissing the Book for fondness of the Author['s] strong-marked Characters, glowing Colours, striking Sentiments - to please - H:L: T.'"""
"""I love Johnson's Prose better than Addison's, I like the Dunciad beyond all Pope's Poems; I delight in Young's Satires & in Rubens's Painting, Cowley captivates my Heart; & when I read Bruyere, I often catch myself kissing the Book for fondness of the Author['s] strong-marked Characters, glowing Colours, striking Sentiments - to please - H:L: T.'"""
"""I love Johnson's Prose better than Addison's, I like the Dunciad beyond all Pope's Poems; I delight in Young's Satires & in Rubens's Painting, Cowley captivates my Heart; & when I read Bruyere, I often catch myself kissing the Book for fondness of the Author['s] strong-marked Characters, glowing Colours, striking Sentiments - to please - H:L: T.'"""
"""I love Johnson's Prose better than Addison's, I like the Dunciad beyond all Pope's Poems; I delight in Young's Satires & in Rubens's Painting, Cowley captivates my Heart; & when I read Bruyere, I often catch myself kissing the Book for fondness of the Author['s] strong-marked Characters, glowing Colours, striking Sentiments - to please - H:L: T.'"""
"""I love Johnson's Prose better than Addison's, I like the Dunciad beyond all Pope's Poems; I delight in Young's Satires & in Rubens's Painting, Cowley captivates my Heart; & when I read Bruyere, I often catch myself kissing the Book for fondness of the Author['s] strong-marked Characters, glowing Colours, striking Sentiments - to please - H:L: T.'"""
"""I was reading Congreve's Way of the World two Evenings ago, the character of Petulant is borrowed from Shakespear's Nym in Henry V: and the Expressions are in no few Passages literally copied. [italics] neither [end italics] Character strikes me much, Nym is so little known, he might safely be pilfer'd, but it seems not worth the while.'"""
"""I was reading Congreve's Way of the World two Evenings ago, the character of Petulant is borrowed from Shakespear's Nym in Henry V: and the Expressions are in no few Passages literally copied. [italics] neither [end italics] Character strikes me much, Nym is so little known, he might safely be pilfer'd, but it seems not worth the while.'"""
"""Povoleri the Italian who dedicated the Tragedy of Rosmunda to me some years ago, has translated Gray's Church Yard Elegy into Tuscan: tis enchantment to hear the Fellow read his own Language, he does it so divinely; & has indeed great Taste and Skill in ours'."""
"""Dr Franklyn, the famous Franklyn contrived a Stove in such a Manner as to make the Flame descend instead of rising upward. it was in the Form of an Urn: here are some pretty Verses on the Subject - I [italics] hope [end italics] they are Dr Burney's He Shewed them me once with the true Author's Manner; but Johnson not approving he would not own them'. [the verses on Franklin are given]"""
"""Dr Franklyn, the famous Franklyn contrived a Stove in such a Manner as to make the Flame descend instead of rising upward. it was in the Form of an Urn: here are some pretty Verses on the Subject - I [italics] hope [end italics] they are Dr Burney's He Shewed them me once with the true Author's Manner; but Johnson not approving he would not own them'. [the verses on Franklin are given]"""
"""[Piozzi] brought me an Italian sonnet written in his praise by Marco Capello, which I instantly translated of course: but He prudent Creature, insisted on my burning it, as he said it wd inevitably get about the Town how [italics] he [end italics] was Praised, & how [italics] Mrs Thrale [end italics] translated & echoed his Praises'"""
"""When one reads in Fenelon's last Letter to the Kings Confessor """"""""Quand j'aurai l'honneur de voir Dieu, je lui demanderai cette Grace"""""""" - speaking of the Life & Health of Louis 14ze one thinks of the Fellow hanged for murder here some Years ago, on his Brother's Evidence: who sayd to the Clergyman that attended him - """"""""When I see God Almighty I will not give my Brother Charles a good Character to him"""""""".'"""
"""Doctor Burney has permitted me to write out this Imitation of an old French Tale written in the Year 1548. he has always had an astonishing Power of doing such Things. [the tale, of 'St Peterand the Minstrel' follows]"""
"""One little book that my father had given me the last time he was at home, was for a long time afterwards my inseparable companion... My dear Papa's beautiful storybook."""
"""He allowed high praise to Thomson, as a poet; but when one of the company said he was also a very good man, our moralist contested this with very great warmth, accusing him of gross sensuality and licentiousness of manners. I was very much afraid that in writing Thomson's """"""""Life"""""""", Dr. Johnson would have treated his private character with a stern severity, but I was agreeably disappointed; and I may claim a little merit in it, from my having been at pains to send him authentic accounts of the affectionate and generous conduct of that poet to his sisters, one of whom, the wife of Mr. Thomson, schoolmaster, of Lanark, I knew, and was presented by her with three of his letters, one of which Dr. Johnson has inserted in his """"""""Life"""""""".'"""
"""I was reading something of Swift one Day & commending him as a Writer - I cannot endure Swift replied my eldest Daughter; every thing of his seems to be [italics] Froth [end italics] I think, and that Froth is [italics] Dirty [end italics].'"""
"""I was however turning over Horace yesterday to look for the Expression [italics] tenui fronte [end italics] in Vindication of my Assertion to Johnson that low Foreheads were classical, when the 8th Ode of the 1st Book of Horace struck me so, I could not help Imitating it while the Scandal [of Pacchierotti and Lady Mary Duncan] was warm in my head.' [the verses follow]"""
"""A clergyman at Bath wrote to him, that in """"""""The Morning Chronicle"""""""", a passage in """"""""The Beauties of Johnson"""""""" [unauthorised collection of Johnson's words], article DEATH, had been pointed out as supposed by some readers to recommend suicide, the words being, """"""""To die is the fate of man; but to die with lingering anguish is generally his folly""""""""; and respectfully suggesting to him, that such an erroneous notion of any sentence in the writings of an acknowledged friend of religion and virtue, should not pass uncontradicted.' """
"""Mrs. Thrale offered the kind of readings [of work in progress, ie Cecilia] Burney ... most valued, instant impressions before the whole novel had been read -- or finished.'"""
"""Mrs John Hunter, Wife to the famous Anatomist has made a Base to the Tune [reputed to be North American Indian]; & set these Words to it; I had no Notion She could write so well.' ['North American Death Song' follows]"""
"""I have had put into my Hand the First Copy of Pope's Pastorals, with the gradual Alterations and Emendations marked in the Margin: that he should Attain to Perfection by repeated Touches, & slow Degrees, is not at all strange tho' 'tis curious; it is however odd enough that a Man should be so [italics] imbued [end italics] with the classicks as to write Love Verses from one Shepherd to another, because Virgil wote his Corydon & Alexis; The Third Pastoral runs all thro' with the name Thyrsis instead of Delia in the Book before me'."""
"""I have had put into my Hand the First Copy of Pope's Pastorals, with the gradual Alterations and Emendations marked in the Margin: that he should Attain to Perfection by repeated Touches, & slow Degrees, is not at all strange tho' 'tis curious; it is however odd enough that a Man should be so [italics] imbued [end italics] with the classicks as to write Love Verses from one Shepherd to another, because Virgil wote his Corydon & Alexis; The Third Pastoral runs all thro' with the name Thyrsis instead of Delia in the Book before me'."""
"""I have had put into my Hand the First Copy of Pope's Pastorals, with the gradual Alterations and Emendations marked in the Margin: that he should Attain to Perfection by repeated Touches, & slow Degrees, is not at all strange tho' 'tis curious; it is however odd enough that a Man should be so [italics] imbued [end italics] with the classicks as to write Love Verses from one Shepherd to another, because Virgil wote his Corydon & Alexis; The Third Pastoral runs all thro' with the name Thyrsis instead of Delia in the Book before me'."""
"""[Fanny Burney's] new Novel called """"""""Cecilia"""""""" is the Picture of Life such as the Author sees it: while therefore this Mode of Life lasts, her Book will be of Value, as the Representation is astonishingly perfect: but as nothing in the Book is derived from Study, so it can have no Principle of duration - Burney's Cecilia is to Richardson's Clarissa - what a Camera Obscura in the Window of a London parlour, - is to a view of Venice by the clear Pencil of Canaletti [sic.]'"""
"""I have heard that all the kept Mistresses read Pope's Eloisa with singular delight - 'tis a great Testimony to its Ingenuity; they are commonly very ignorant Women, & can only be pleased with it as it expresses strong Feelings of Nature & Passion'."""
"""What a strange Book is Burton's """"""""Anatomy of Melancholy""""""""! & how it has been plunder'd! Milton took his Allegro and Penseroso from the Verses at the beginning, Savage his Speech of Suicide in the Wanderer from Page 216. Swift his Tale of the Woman that held water in her Mouth to regain her Husband's Love by Silence - 'tis printed in the Tatler; Johnson got his Story of the Magnet that detects unchaste Wives from the same Farrago, & even Shakespear I believe the Trick put on the Tinker Christopher Sly in the taming of the Shrew. See page 277 of Burton.'"""
"""What a strange Book is Burton's """"""""Anatomy of Melancholy""""""""! & how it has been plunder'd! Milton took his Allegro and Penseroso from the Verses at the beginning, Savage his Speech of Suicide in the Wanderer from Page 216. Swift his Tale of the Woman that held water in her Mouth to regain her Husband's Love by Silence - 'tis printed in the Tatler; Johnson got his Story of the Magnet that detects unchaste Wives from the same Farrago, & even Shakespear I believe the Trick put on the Tinker Christopher Sly in the taming of the Shrew. See page 277 of Burton.'"""
"""What a strange Book is Burton's """"""""Anatomy of Melancholy""""""""! & how it has been plunder'd! Milton took his Allegro and Penseroso from the Verses at the beginning, Savage his Speech of Suicide in the Wanderer from Page 216. Swift his Tale of the Woman that held water in her Mouth to regain her Husband's Love by Silence - 'tis printed in the Tatler; Johnson got his Story of the Magnet that detects unchaste Wives from the same Farrago, & even Shakespear I believe the Trick put on the Tinker Christopher Sly in the taming of the Shrew. See page 277 of Burton.'"""
"""What a strange Book is Burton's """"""""Anatomy of Melancholy""""""""! & how it has been plunder'd! Milton took his Allegro and Penseroso from the Verses at the beginning, Savage his Speech of Suicide in the Wanderer from Page 216. Swift his Tale of the Woman that held water in her Mouth to regain her Husband's Love by Silence - 'tis printed in the Tatler; Johnson got his Story of the Magnet that detects unchaste Wives from the same Farrago, & even Shakespear I believe the Trick put on the Tinker Christopher Sly in the taming of the Shrew. See page 277 of Burton.'"""
"""What a strange Book is Burton's """"""""Anatomy of Melancholy""""""""! & how it has been plunder'd! Milton took his Allegro and Penseroso from the Verses at the beginning, Savage his Speech of Suicide in the Wanderer from Page 216. Swift his Tale of the Woman that held water in her Mouth to regain her Husband's Love by Silence - 'tis printed in the Tatler; Johnson got his Story of the Magnet that detects unchaste Wives from the same Farrago, & even Shakespear I believe the Trick put on the Tinker Christopher Sly in the taming of the Shrew. See page 277 of Burton.'"""
"""What a strange Book is Burton's """"""""Anatomy of Melancholy""""""""! & how it has been plunder'd! Milton took his Allegro and Penseroso from the Verses at the beginning, Savage his Speech of Suicide in the Wanderer from Page 216. Swift his Tale of the Woman that held water in her Mouth to regain her Husband's Love by Silence - 'tis printed in the Tatler; Johnson got his Story of the Magnet that detects unchaste Wives from the same Farrago, & even Shakespear I believe the Trick put on the Tinker Christopher Sly in the taming of the Shrew. See page 277 of Burton.'"""
"""What a strange Book is Burton's """"""""Anatomy of Melancholy""""""""! & how it has been plunder'd! Milton took his Allegro and Penseroso from the Verses at the beginning, Savage his Speech of Suicide in the Wanderer from Page 216. Swift his Tale of the Woman that held water in her Mouth to regain her Husband's Love by Silence - 'tis printed in the Tatler; Johnson got his Story of the Magnet that detects unchaste Wives from the same Farrago, & even Shakespear I believe the Trick put on the Tinker Christopher Sly in the taming of the Shrew. See page 277 of Burton.'"""
"""Here's a pretty Sonnet of Povoleri's; I must translate it. [the verse is given in Italian and English] over the Page we shall see another Sonnet, written by the Abbate Buondelmonte: I live with the Italians till I run mad after their Literature, their Talents &c.'"""
"""Here's a pretty Sonnet of Povoleri's; I must translate it. [the verse is given in Italian and English] over the Page we shall see another Sonnet, written by the Abbate Buondelmonte: I live with the Italians till I run mad after their Literature, their Talents &c.'"""
"""The Frenchman who wrote Maxims says 'there is hardly anyone who does not repay great obligations with Ingratitude'."""
"""Wyndham and Johnson were talking of Miss Burney's new Novel - 'Tis far superior to Fielding's, says Mr Johnson; her Characters are nicer discriminated, and less prominent, Fielding could describe a Horse or an Ass, but he never reached to a Mule.'"""
"""BOSWELL. """"""""Pray, Sir, is the 'Turkish Spy' a genuine book?"""""""" JOHNSON. """"""""No, Sir. Mrs. Manley, in her 'Life', says that her father wrote the first two volumes: and in another book, 'Dunton's Life and Errours', we find that the rest was written by one Sault, at two guineas a sheet, under the direction of Dr. Midgeley"""""""".'"""
"""BOSWELL. """"""""Pray, Sir, is the 'Turkish Spy' a genuine book?"""""""" JOHNSON. """"""""No, Sir. Mrs. Manley, in her 'Life', says that her father wrote the first two volumes: and in another book, 'Dunton's Life and Errours', we find that the rest was written by one Sault, at two guineas a sheet, under the direction of Dr. Midgeley"""""""".'"""
"""BOSWELL. """"""""Pray, Sir, is the 'Turkish Spy' a genuine book?"""""""" JOHNSON. """"""""No, Sir. Mrs. Manley, in her 'Life', says that her father wrote the first two volumes: and in another book, 'Dunton's Life and Errours', we find that the rest was written by one Sault, at two guineas a sheet, under the direction of Dr. Midgeley"""""""".'"""
"""Sir William Chambers, that great Architect, whose works shew a sublimity of genius, and who is esteemed by all who know him for his social, hospitable, and generous qualities, submitted the manuscript of his """"""""Chinese Architecture"""""""" to Dr. Johnson's perusal. Johnson was much pleased with it, and said, """"""""It wants no addition nor correction, but a few lines of introduction""""""""; which he furnished, and Sir William adopted'."""
"""I was reading to the Girls to day More's Acct of The King of Prussia's Severity to his favourite Valet who unable to endure it, shot himself' [there follows a long account of her daughters' responses and evaluation of their characters]"""
"""I was reading Derham's Astro, not his Astro, his Physico Theology; and can hardly help laughing when I see these simple Philosophers praising God Almighty for making the World so wisely - saying in what a [italics] Workman-like [end italics] Manner he has managed Things: how should he [italics] not [end italics] make the World wisely? and how should their Praises add any Thing to him?'"""
"""Doctor Harrington told Seward, who told me; that Swift had taken his Tale of a Tub from Pallavicini upon Divorces, I always thought it was borrowed from """"""""les trois Anneaux de Fontenelle"""""""".'"""
"""I must write out Johnson's Latin Version of the Messiah from Pope, I obtained the Copy of a Clergyman here, one Mr Graves, who wrote the Spiritual Quixote'. [the Latin verses follow]"""
"""I asked him what works of Richard Baxter's I should read. He said, """"""""Read any of them; they are all good"""""""".' """
"""Johnson thought the poems published as translations from Ossian had so little merit, that he said, 'Sir, a man might write such stuff for ever, if he would [italics]abandon [end italics] his mind to it'"""
"""'He spoke often in praise of French literature. """"""""The French are excellent in this, (he would say,) they have a book on every subject"""""""".'"""
"""Baxter's """"""""Reasons of the Christian Religion"""""""", he thought contained the best collection of the evidences of the divinity of the Christian system.' """
"""I wrote to him, begging to know the state of his health, and mentioned that Baxter's """"""""Anacreon"""""""", """"""""which is in the library at Auchinleck, was, I find, collated by my father in 1727, with the MS. belonging to the University of Leyden, and he has made a number of Notes upon it. Would you advise me to publish a new edition of it?"""""""".'"""
"""Besides studying Greek and Latin, Gifford learnt French and Spanish while at Oxford. He went through Moliere's plays twice and Voltaire's works once.'"""
"""Besides studying Greek and Latin, Gifford learnt French and Spanish while at Oxford. He went through Moliere's plays twice and Voltaire's works once.'"""
"""School hours were from 9 to 12 and from 2 to 5. The mode of teaching was this. Each of the boys had a column or half a column of spelling to learn by heart every morning He also wrote a copy every morning. In the afternoon he read in the Bible and did a sum, on Thursdays and Saturdays he was catechised, that is he was examined in the Church of England catechism."""
"""?On our coming home & Candles being brought in he took up a volume of """"""""Clarissa Harlowe"""""""" (w?ch we happen?d then all to be reading) but having sat about 10 minutes without turning over a leaf, suddenly clos?d the book & went off to bed.?"""
"""Writing to his sister, Aikin comments on Knox: 'His great fault, I think, is setting out with too confined a view of the ends of education, which must be as various as situations and characters in life are. Does he not breed them all for clergymen and schoolmasters?'"""
"""""""""""amused myself with looking over Cowley's Geometrical Plates - the different Problems of Euclid are drawn upon Pasteboard Paper & cut so that you may lift them up & see the solid forms &c &c I suppose a profound scholar might despise all this - but I think it a pretty work for Ladys or young beginners."""""""""""
"""On Tuesday the 10th. I began reading Burret's """"""""Theory of the Earth"""""""", w'ch I found in my library, in w'ch I soon became so interested that I devoted the whole of every evening to it, 'till I had finish'd it.'"""
"""I brought a volume of Dr. Hurd the Bishop of Worcester's """"""""Sermons"""""""", and read to the company some passages from one of them, upon this text, """"""""Resist the Devil, and he will fly from you"""""""". James, iv. 7. I was happy to produce so judicious and elegant a supporter of a doctrine, which, I know not why, should, in this world of imperfect knowledge, and, therefore, of wonder and mystery in a thousand instances, be contested by some with an unthinking assurance and flippancy.'"""
"""On Friday, June 11, we talked at breakfast, of forms of prayer. JOHNSON. """"""""I know of no good prayers but those in the 'Book of Common Prayer'"""""""". DR. ADAMS, (in a very earnest manner): """"""""I wish, Sir, you would compose some family prayers"""""""". JOHNSON. """"""""I will not compose prayers for you, Sir, because you can do it for yourself. But I have thought of getting together all the books of prayers which I could, selecting those which should appear to me the best, putting out some, inserting others, adding some prayers of my own, and prefixing a discourse on prayer"""""""".'"""
"""On Friday, June 11, we talked at breakfast, of forms of prayer. JOHNSON. """"""""I know of no good prayers but those in the 'Book of Common Prayer'"""""""". DR. ADAMS, (in a very earnest manner): """"""""I wish, Sir, you would compose some family prayers"""""""". JOHNSON. """"""""I will not compose prayers for you, Sir, because you can do it for yourself. But I have thought of getting together all the books of prayers which I could, selecting those which should appear to me the best, putting out some, inserting others, adding some prayers of my own, and prefixing a discourse on prayer"""""""".'"""
"""JOHNSON. """"""""I do not approve of figurative expressions in addressing the Supreme Being; and I never use them. Taylor gives a very good advice: 'Never lie in your prayers; never confess more than you really believe; never promise more than you mean to perform'. I recollected this precept in his """"""""Golden Grove""""""""; but his [italics]example [end italics] for prayer contradicts his [italics] precept [end italics].'"""
"""I mentioned Jeremy Taylor's using, in his forms of prayer, """"""""I am the chief of sinners"""""""", and other such self-condemning expressions. """"""""Now, (said I) this cannot be said with truth by every man, and therefore is improper for a general printed form. I myself cannot say that I am the worst of men; I will not say so"""""""".'"""
"""[present at tea on June 12th was] the Reverend Herbert Croft, who, I am afraid, was somewhat mortified by Dr. Johnson's not being highly pleased with some """"""""Family Discourses"""""""", which he had printed; they were in too familiar a style to be approved of by so manly a mind'."""
"""Whilst confined by his last illness, it was his regular practice to have the church-service read to him, by some attentive and friendly Divine. The Rev. Mr. Hoole performed this kind office in my presence for the last time, when, by his own desire, no more than the Litany was read; in which his responses were in the deep and sonorous voice which Mr. Boswell has occasionally noticed, and with the most profound devotion that can be imagined. His hearing not being quite perfect, he more than once interrupted Mr. Hoole, with """"""""Louder, my dear Sir, louder, I entreat you, or you pray in vain!""""""""'"""
"""Tom Birch is as brisk as a bee in conversation; but no sooner does he take a pen in his hand, than it becomes a torpedo to him, and benumbs all his faculties'."""
"""During his sleepless nights he amused himself by translating into Latin verse, from the Greek, many of the epigrams in the """"""""Anthologia""""""""'."""
"""He seriously entertained the thought of translating """"""""Thuanus"""""""". He often talked to me on the subject; and once, in particular, when I was rather wishing that he would favour the world, and gratify his sovereign, by a Life of Spenser (which he said that he would readily have done, had he been able to obtain any new materials for the purpose,) he added, """"""""I have been thinking again, Sir, of """"""""Thuanus"""""""": it would not be the laborious task which you have supposed it. I should have no trouble but that of dictation, which would be performed as speedily as an amanuensis could write'."""
"""He pressed me to study Dr. Clarke and to read his Sermons. I asked him why he pressed Dr. Clarke, an Arian. """"""""Because, (said he) he is fullest on the propitiatory sacrifice.""""""""' """
"""He kept the greater part of mine [letters] very carefully; and a short time before his death was attentive enough to seal them up in bundles, and ordered them to be delivered to me, which was accordingly done. Amongst them I found one, of which I had not made a copy, and which I own I read with pleasure at the distance of twenty years. It is dated November, 1765, at the palace of Pascal Paoli, in Corte, the capital of Corsica, and is full of generous enthusiasm. After giving a sketch of what I had seen and heard in that island, it proceeded thus: """"""""I dare to call this a spirited tour. I dare to challenge your approbation.""""""""'"""
"""[Mr Lysons] brought me these Old Verses one Day, I think they are to be found in a book called Paradise of dainty Devices - compiled in the Reign of Elizabethe' [the (unidentified) verses are given]"""
"""[Marginalia]: ms note in Latin on inside front cover may or may not be connected with the text as the book has evidence of its young owner using the blank spaces to play around with versions of his name and dates. Chpt 7 has every fifth line numbered in pencil for ease of reference and is initialed and dated at the end."""
"""Dr. Newton, the Bishop of Bristol, having been mentioned, Johnson, recollecting the manner in which he had been censured by that Prelate, thus retaliated:-""""""""Tom knew he should be dead before what he has said of me would appear. He durst not have printed it while he was alive"""""""". DR. ADAMS. """"""""I believe his 'Dissertations on the Prophecies' is his great work"""""""". JOHNSON. """"""""Why, Sir, it is Tom's great work; but how far it is great, or how much of it is Tom's, are other questions. I fancy a considerable part of it was borrowed"""""""".' """
"""Dr. Newton, the Bishop of Bristol, having been mentioned, Johnson, recollecting the manner in which he had been censured by that Prelate, thus retaliated:-""""""""Tom knew he should be dead before what he has said of me would appear. He durst not have printed it while he was alive"""""""". DR. ADAMS. """"""""I believe his 'Dissertations on the Prophecies' is his great work"""""""". JOHNSON. """"""""Why, Sir, it is Tom's great work; but how far it is great, or how much of it is Tom's, are other questions. I fancy a considerable part of it was borrowed"""""""".' """
"""He had dined that day [30th May 1784] at Mr. Hoole's, and Miss Helen Maria Williams being expected in the evening, Mr. Hoole put into his hands her beautiful """"""""Ode on the Peace"""""""": Johnson read it over, and when this elegant and accomplished young lady was presented to him, he took her by the hand in the most courteous manner, and repeated the finest stanza of her poem; this was the most delicate and pleasing compliment he could pay.' """
"""I could not but smile, at the same time that I was offended, to observe Sheridan, in """"""""The Life of Swift"""""""", which he afterwards published, attempting, in the writhings of his resentment, to depreciate Johnson, by characterising him as """"""""A writer of gigantick fame in these days of little men""""""""; that very Johnson whom he once so highly admired and venerated'."""
"""It was the custom of my master to invite some of the oldest of the boys to visit him for an hour or two on half holidays, these were Thursdays and Saturdays. On these occasions he always took the boys into his study a small room on the second floor, he used to show the boys his books and encourage them to read and ask questions, his collection of books was small and they were mostly old books in bad condition. I remember his shewing me a book on Anatomy, which stron[g]ly excited me, and made me desirous of information on the subject, which he, as far as he understood it was willing to impart, I conclude however that he knew very little about it."""
"""The Story of Bond expiring in the character of Lusignan is prettily told in some of the French Memoires, but one had not a Notion it was worth while'."""
"""Mr James brought me some pretty Verses about Melancholy written by a Boy; Mr James tasting Verses in praise of Melancholy seems odd enough, as he is a merry Mortal, and full of native Drollery. [the verses are given and Mrs Thrale says] the 6th Stanza is worth all the rest - [italics] I think it very fine [end italics].'"""
"""Letter to Mrs Smith August 19 1785  'So much for this subject. Rochefoucault says, very ill-naturedly, that people always find consolation very easily for the misfortunes of their friends. Painful experience assures me of the contrary.'"""
"""All this while [between the ages of 7 and 15] I neither read nor wrote; nor had I access to any book save the Bible. I was greatly taken with our version of the Psalms of David, learned the most of them by heart, and have a great partiality for them unto this day'."""
"""On Tuesday the 30th. I began reading for the 1st time Anson's """"""""Voyage round the World"""""""", w'th which I was much amused and interested.'"""
"""Lady Theresa Lewis reproduces passages from posthumously-published writings of the 23-year-old Madame Roland, transcribed by Mary Berry when aged 22, 'as parallel to her own reflections [which also written in French]'."""
"""I had read a book, at that time openly sold, on every stall, called Aristotle's Master Piece, it was a thick 18 mo, with a number of badly drawn cuts in it explanatory of the mystery of generation. This I contrived to borrow and compared parts of it with the accounts of the Miraculous Conception in Matthew and Luke, and the result was that spite of every effort I could make I could not believe the story..."""
"""I had read a book, at that time openly sold, on every stall, called Aristotle's Master Piece, it was a thick 18 mo, with a number of badly drawn cuts in it explanatory of the mystery of generation. This I contrived to borrow and compared parts of it with the accounts of the Miraculous Conception in Matthew and Luke, and the result was that spite of every effort I could make I could not believe the story..."""
"""I neither concealed my doubts nor my fears but communicated them freely to several persons, no one however said anything which appeared to me calculated to remove my doubts I read Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and parts of other equally absurd books, but all would not do, reason was too strong for superstition and at length the fiend was completely vanquished."""
"""I neither concealed my doubts nor my fears but communicated them freely to several persons, no one however said anything which appeared to me calculated to remove my doubts I read Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and parts of other equally absurd books, but all would not do, reason was too strong for superstition and at length the fiend was completely vanquished."""
"""Have lately been reading some very practical and spiritual treatises such as Shepherd on the Ten Virgins and my shortcomings make me almost weary of myself'"""
"""[EH having been expecting her brother back from India] Think, then, what I felt on reading in the newspaper of that ship being seen off the Cape in great distress; at length its arrival was announced, and, on Saturday last, among the list of passengers, I saw your name; but still I was not, could not be, convinced that it was really you'."""
"""W[ordsworth] read (in [John] Langhorne's translation) Bion's death of Adonis by 1786 ... '"""
"""Clarissa Harlowe was not more interesting [than Thomas Clarkson, The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the African Slave-Trade] when I first read it at 14 years of age.' """
"""This Tale [""""""""Rasselas""""""""], with all the charms of oriental imagery, and all the force and beauty of which the English language is capable, leads us through the most important scenes of human life, and shews us that this stage of our being is full of """"""""vanity and vexation of spirit"""""""". [Boswell comments on its value] Voltaire's """"""""Candide"""""""", written to refute the system of Optimism, which it has accomplished with brilliant success, is wonderfully similar in its plan and conduct to Johnson's """"""""Rasselas""""""""; insomuch, that I have heard Johnson say, that if they had not been published so closely one after the other that there was not time for imitation, it would have been vain to deny that the scheme of that which came latest was taken from the other. Though the proposition illustrated by both these works was the same, namely, that in our present state there is more evil than good, the intention of the writers was very different. Voltaire, I am afraid, meant only by wanton profanness to obtain a sportive victory over religion, and to discredit the belief of a superintending Providence: Johnson meant, by shewing the unsatisfactory nature of things temporal, to direct the hopes of man to things eternal'. """
"""[referring to a dispute over whether Johnson wrote certain papers in """"""""The Adventurer""""""""] Mrs Williams told me that, """"""""as he had [italics] given [end italics] those Essays to Dr Bathurst, who sold them at two guineas each, he never would own them; nay, he used to say that he did not [italics] write [end italics] them: but the fact was, that he [italics] dictated [end italics] them,while Bathurst wrote"""""""". I read to him Mrs Williams's account; he smiled, and said nothing'."""
"""I had rather you would not read Dr Price's sermons, as they would lead you into controversial disputes, and your limited range of books would not afford you a clue - the Dissertations are less entangled with controversial points, and contain useful truths - coming warm from the heart they find the direct road to it; but the sermons require more profound thinking, are not calculated to improve the generality.'"""
"""My natural disposition was very volatile, and my apprehension very quick; and as my faculties opened, I delighted much in books of a very contrary nature and tendency to those which had engaged my attention in my childhood. I had a near relation, who, notwithstanding his having been favoured in his youth, had slighted his soul's mercies, and pursued lying vanities. He kept house in the town; and through him, myself, and my sisters, had opportunities of obtaining plays and romances, which I read with avidity. I also spent much time at his house as to be introduced into amusements very inconsistent with the implicity of truth, and my former religious impressions; so that my state was indeed dangerous, and but for the interposition of Divine Providence, I had been left to pursue courses which must have terminated deplorably. I also read history, was fond of poetry, and had a taste for philosophy; so that I was in the way to embellish my understanding (as is the common phrase), and to become accomplished to shine in conversation; which might have tended to feed the vain proud nature, render me pleasing to those who were in it, and make me conspicuous in the world.'"""
"""W[ordsworth] was introduced to The Minstrel by his teacher, Thomas Bowman ... during his schooldays at Hawkshead.  De Selincourt emphasizes its influence on the juvenilia [quotes Minstrel I st.32 lines 3-8 featuring """"""""clanking chain,"""""""" and """"""""owl's terrific song,"""""""" and Wordsworth's uses of these features in The Vale of Esthwaite (1787)]'."""
"""""""""""In the Fenwick Note to the Intimations Ode, W[ordsworth] recalled that at school 'I used to brood over the stories of Enoch and Elijah' ... the Hawkshead schoolboys regularly attended Church, and were catechized at least once a week."""""""""""
"""I am desired by the Duchess of Rutland to Print a Discourse which I read at Belvoir-Chapel at the Funeral of the late Duke'."""
"""The """"""""Lounger"""""""" a new publication being a book now pretty much read, we at this time got it from Humphrey's library & Miss White and I began reading the diff't numbers of it of an evening.'"""
"""I am sorry for poor Hewlett - Betty Delane read his sermons with great pleasure...'"""
"""While at Mitchelstown she brushed up on her French by reading Madame de Genlis's """"""""Letters on Education"""""""", Louis Sebastien Mercier's comedy """"""""Mon Bonnet de Nuit"""""""", and the Baroness de Montoliere's novel """"""""Caroline de Litchfield"""""""". The first she pronounced """"""""wonderfully clever"""""""", and it may well have proved helpful to her as a teacher; the last she described as """"""""One of the prettiest things I have ever read"""""""", and it perhaps suggested that her own life could serve as the basis of a sentimental novel'."""
"""While at Mitchelstown she brushed up on her French by reading Madame de Genlis's """"""""Letters on Education"""""""", Louis Sebastien Mercier's comedy """"""""Mon Bonnet de Nuit"""""""", and the Baroness de Montoliere's novel """"""""Caroline de Litchfield"""""""". The first she pronounced """"""""wonderfully clever"""""""", and it may well have proved helpful to her as a teacher; the last she described as """"""""One of the prettiest things I have ever read"""""""", and it perhaps suggested that her own life could serve as the basis of a sentimental novel'."""
"""While at Mitchelstown she brushed up on her French by reading Madame de Genlis's """"""""Letters on Education"""""""", Louis Sebastien Mercier's comedy """"""""Mon Bonnet de Nuit"""""""", and the Baroness de Montoliere's novel """"""""Caroline de Litchfield"""""""". The first she pronounced """"""""wonderfully clever"""""""", and it may well have proved helpful to her as a teacher; the last she described as """"""""One of the prettiest things I have ever read"""""""", and it perhaps suggested that her own life could serve as the basis of a sentimental novel'."""
"""In Dublin, she complained that she was not reading a great deal, but in the same breath remarked that books provided her only relaxation. She must have at least browsed in the volume of Cowper's poems and another of sermons by her friend John Hewlett which Johnson sent her. She told Everina at one point that she was reading """"""""some philosophical lectures, and metaphysical sermons - for my own private improvement"""""""". These works could well have included the writings of Dr Price. The only writer in this field whom she singled out for comment, however, was the orthodox William Paley, whose """"""""Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy"""""""" she commended to Eliza for its definition of virtue: """"""""the doing good to mankind in obedience to the will of God, and for the sake of everlasting happiness"""""""".'"""
"""In Dublin, she complained that she was not reading a great deal, but in the same breath remarked that books provided her only relaxation. She must have at least browsed in the volume of Cowper's poems and another of sermons by her friend John Hewlett which Johnson sent her. She told Everina at one point that she was reading """"""""some philosophical lectures, and metaphysical sermons - for my own private improvement"""""""". These works could well have included the writings of Dr Price. The only writer in this field whom she singled out for comment, however, was the orthodox William Paley, whose """"""""Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy"""""""" she commended to Eliza for its definition of virtue: """"""""the doing good to mankind in obedience to the will of God, and for the sake of everlasting happiness"""""""".'"""
"""In Dublin, she complained that she was not reading a great deal, but in the same breath remarked that books provided her only relaxation. She must have at least browsed in the volume of Cowper's poems and another of sermons by her friend John Hewlett which Johnson sent her. She told Everina at one point that she was reading """"""""some philosophical lectures, and metaphysical sermons - for my own private improvement"""""""". These works could well have included the writings of Dr Price. The only writer in this field whom she singled out for comment, however, was the orthodox William Paley, whose """"""""Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy"""""""" she commended to Eliza for its definition of virtue: """"""""the doing good to mankind in obedience to the will of God, and for the sake of everlasting happiness"""""""".'"""
"""[Mary Wollstonecraft] 'told Everina that she had been reading Hugh Blair's """"""""Letters on Rhetoric"""""""" and found them """"""""an intellectual feast"""""""".'"""
"""the book that prompted [Mary Wollstonecraft's] fullest comment was Rousseau's """"""""Emile"""""""". It was bound to appeal to her; it was a treatise on education, a metaphysical essay - at times almost a sermon - and a sentimental novel, all in one'."""
"""How pleasing Atterbury's softer hour! How shin'd the Soul unconquer'd in the Tower!' Pope. """
"""On the inside cover of D[ove] C[ottage] MS 2, in use during 1786-7, a faint pencil inscription survives from c.1786: """"""""Non hoc ista sibi tempus spectacula,"""""""" from Virgil, Aeneid vi 37.  In The Death of the Starling several pages later, we find the epigraph, """"""""Sunt lacrimae rerum"""""""" ... from Aeneid i.462.'"""
"""We hear of nothing but the Prince of Wales, but as we get no other account in our letters but what is to be seen in the newspapers I will not repeat anything here.'"""
"""I am now reading Rousseau's """"""""Emile"""""""", and love his paradoxes. He chuses a common capacity to educate - and gives as a reason, that a genius will educate itself - however he rambles into a chimerical world into which I have too often [wand]ered - and draws the usual conclusion that all is vanity and vexation of spirit.'"""
"""[EDITOR's WORDS] His [her brother, Charles's ] conversation inspired her with a taste for oriental literature; and without affecting to become a Persian scholar, she spontaneously caught the idioms, as she insensibly became familiar with the customs and manners of the East'."""
"""""""""""[in 29.10.1828 letter to Alexander Dyce] ... W[ordsworth] recalls that 'in 1788 the Ode was first printed from Dr Carlyle's copy, with Mr Mackenzie's supplemental lines - and was extensively circulated through the English newspapers, in which I remember to have read it with great pleasure upon its first appearance.'"""""""""""
"""Three of W[ordsworth]'s translations of Catullus survive from between 1786 and c.1788 [""""""""Death of a Starling"""""""" (1786); """"""""Lesbia"""""""" (1786); """"""""Septimius and Acme"""""""" (1788)] ... he had studied Catullus closely as a schoolboy ... '"""
"""M. Necker, the late Minister...has written a book entitled """"""""De l'Importance des opinions Religeuses"""""""", it pleases me and I want to know the character of the man in domestic life and public estimation &c.'"""
"""The next morning I took a ride to Stoke where Lady Louisa show'd me a paragraph she had cut out of the """"""""Star"""""""", reflecting on the Dean for refusing the cathedral for the music meeting intended lately, a copy of w'ch I took to shew Mrs M little thinking at the time that this paragraph, of w'ch the Dean seems determin'd to suppose me the author, wo'd occasion a break between us.'"""
"""In spring 1789 W[ordsworth]translated Horace's Ode to Apollo (Ode I xxxi) with the help of [Christopher] Smart's translation.'"""
"""During the spring or summer of 1789, W[ordsworth] translated Moschus' Lament for Bion [Idyllium III] ... '"""
""" ... as a student at Cambridge, W[ordsworth] made a number of translations from Virgil's Georgics .. surviving manuscripts indicate that the translations were made in summer 1788 and spring 1789.' """
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 10 July 1789: 'I enclose a most beautiful copy of verses which Miss H[annah]. More wrote very lately when she was with [the Bishop of London] ...] at Fulham, on his opening a walk to a bench called Bonner's.  Mrs. Boscawen showed them to me, and I insisted on printing them.  Only 200 copies are taken off, half for her and half for the printer, and you have one of the first.'"""
"""It was while serving here [Willenslee at the farm of Mr Laidlaw] , in the eighteenth year of my age, that I first got a perusal of """"""""The Life and Adventures of Sir William Wallace"""""""", and """"""""The Gentle Shepherd""""""""; and though immoderately fond of them, yet (which you will think remarkable in one who hath since dabbled so much in verse) I could not help regretting deeply that they were not in prose, that every body might have understood them; or, I thought if they had been in the same kind of metre with the Psalms, I could have borne with them. The truth is, I made exceedingly slow progress in reading them. The little reading that I had learned I had nearly lost, and the Scottish dialect quite confounded me; so that, before I got to the end of a line, I had commonly lost the rhyme of the preceding one; and if I came to a triplet, a thing of which I had no conception, I commonly read to the foot of the page without perceiving that I had lost the rhyme altogether. I thought the author had been straitened for rhymes, and had just made a part of it do as well as he could without them. Thus, after I got through both works, I found myself much in the same predicament with the man of Eskdalemuir, who had borrowed Bailey's Dictionary from his neighbour. On returning it, the lender asked him what he thought of it. """"""""I dinna ken man"""""""", replied he: """"""""I have read it all through, but canna say that I understand it; it is the most confused book that ever I saw in my life!"""""""".'"""
"""It was while serving here [Willenslee at the farm of Mr Laidlaw] , in the eighteenth year of my age, that I first got a perusal of """"""""The Life and Adventures of Sir William Wallace"""""""", and """"""""The Gentle Shepherd""""""""; and though immoderately fond of them, yet (which you will think remarkable in one who hath since dabbled so much in verse) I could not help regretting deeply that they were not in prose, that every body might have understood them; or, I thought if they had been in the same kind of metre with the Psalms, I could have borne with them. The truth is, I made exceedingly slow progress in reading them. The little reading that I had learned I had nearly lost, and the Scottish dialect quite confounded me; so that, before I got to the end of a line, I had commonly lost the rhyme of the preceding one; and if I came to a triplet, a thing of which I had no conception, I commonly read to the foot of the page without perceiving that I had lost the rhyme altogether. I thought the author had been straitened for rhymes, and had just made a part of it do as well as he could without them. Thus, after I got through both works, I found myself much in the same predicament with the man of Eskdalemuir, who had borrowed Bailey's Dictionary from his neighbour. On returning it, the lender asked him what he thought of it. """"""""I dinna ken man"""""""", replied he: """"""""I have read it all through, but canna say that I understand it; it is the most confused book that ever I saw in my life!"""""""".'"""
"""Letter to Mrs Smith May 26 1789 'Pray read Dr Gregory?s Comparative View, &c. and observe particularly the last section on the influence of religion; that on taste; and the strictures of taste on refinement. I long to have you share the entertainment they afforded to my happier hours.'"""
"""Horace Walpole (as 'Thelyphthorus') to Mary Berry, 28 April 1789: 'I send you the most delicious poem upon earth [Erasmus Darwin, """"""""The Botanic Garden""""""""] [...] This is only the Second Part; for like my king's eldest daughter in the Hieroglyphic Tales, the First part is not yet born yet.  No matter, I can read this over and over again for ever'."""
"""I am so fatigued with poring over a German book, I scarcely can collect my thoughts or even spell English words.'"""
"""[compiling the anthology """"""""The Female Reader"""""""", Mary Wollstonecraft spent] 'long hours reading, for the extracts included came from widely scattered sources and might consist of only a few lines from a long work.'"""
"""At some point after 1828, W[ordsworth] told Alexander Dyce that he read Bowles's Fourteen Sonnets on publication: """"""""When Bowles's Sonnets first appeared, - a thin 4to pamphlet, entitled Fourteen Sonnets, - I bought them in a walk through London with my dear brother, who was afterwards drowned at sea.""""""""'"""
"""Mary Berry to Horace Walpole [1789]: 'A thousand thanks for the """"""""Botanic Garden.""""""""  the first thirty lines, which I have just read, are delicious, and make me quite anxious to go on'."""
"""My desire for information was however too strong to be turned aside and often have I been sent away from a book stall when the owner became offended at my standing reading which I used to do until I was turned away, as often as I found a surgical book, I used to borrow books from a man who kept a small shop in Maiden Lane Covent Garden leaving a small sum as a deposit and paying a trifle for reading them, having only one at a time."""
"""My desire for information was however too strong to be turned aside and often have I been sent away from a book stall when the owner became offended at my standing reading which I used to do until I was turned away, as often as I found a surgical book, I used to borrow books from a man who kept a small shop in Maiden Lane Covent Garden leaving a small sum as a deposit and paying a trifle for reading them, having only one at a time."""
"""?My Godmother sone [sic] provided me a testament but my mother not being able to Read the first Chapter of St Matthews Gospel I began the second and read it through as well as she could teach me and then I began it again and Read through the 4 gospels and by this time I begun to enquire into the meaning of that which I Read and my mother taught me something of the meaning thereof as far as she knew and I was somehow affected with the sufferings of Christ because I thought it was great Cruelty but I knew nothing of Christ thereof after this book I took a fancy to Read the Bible and began the first Chapter of Genesis but I did not those Chapters with hard names but when I Came to the history of Joseph and his Breathern [sic] I was very much affected with their Cruelty towards him.? """
"""Letter to Mrs Brown March 9 1789 'As low as you rate your critical abilities, they have altogether captivated and dazzled my good man. He desires me to keep the letter for my girls, to moderate the poignant affliction they will feel, some time hence, in weeping over Werter. He considers this pathetic hero as a weak though amiable enthusiast, and looks upon Charlotte as first cousin to a coquette. Albert is his hero. ?.' [continues to refer to Werter for several pages]"""
"""In letter to Mary Berry and family of July 10 1790, Horace Walpole transcribes two passages from the Times of 8 July, concerning political developments in Italy."""
"""an Observation 'By those who profess a knowledge of human Nature, the real causes of deep and continued dissension will rarely be sought...'"""
"""content of this letter described 'as objected' in a pamphlet recommended by his Lordship 1789 (presumably the reader had read the letter)"""
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 16 October 1790, on concerns for her and her family's safety on return from travels in Europe: 'I saw in yesterday's newspaper that two hoys had been lost off Plymouth on Tuesday night.  You, I believe, know how affection's imagination travels on such an occasion!' """
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 17 October (in letter begun 16 October) 1790, on visit from his friend, and Berry's cousin, Miss Seton that day: 'As she was going she desired me to read to her Prior's """"""""Turtle and Sparrow,"""""""" and his """"""""Apollo and Daphne,"""""""" with which you were so delighted, and which, tho' scarce known, are two of his wittiest and genteelest poems.'"""
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 17 October (in letter begun 16 October) 1790, on visit from his friend, and Berry's cousin, Miss Seton that day: 'As she was going she desired me to read to her Prior's """"""""Turtle and Sparrow,"""""""" and his """"""""Apollo and Daphne,"""""""" with which you were so delighted, and which, tho' scarce known, are two of his wittiest and genteelest poems.'"""
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 29 July 1790, 'at night': 'While I write, Mr. Lysons has been turning over Le Neve's """"""""Monumenta Anglicana,"""""""" and has found that [italics]nine[end italics] aldermen of London died in one year.  I concluded that it must have been in one of the years of the Plague.  No, it was in 1711.'"""
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 29 July 1790: 'I have most seriously been house-hunting for you.  I saw two bills on doors in Montpellier-row, but neither are furnished.'"""
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 29 July 1790: 'I do hope you will be staggered about a longer journey [in Italy] for some time.  But two days ago I saw a new paragraph of Tuscan disturbances.'"""
"""Whenever I read Milton's description of paradise - the happiness, which he so poetically describes fills me with benevolent satisfaction - yet, I cannot help viewing them, I mean the first pair - as if they were my inferiors - inferiors because they could find happiness in a world like this.'"""
"""W[ordsworth] composed a loose translation of Petrarch, Se la mia vita da l'aspro tormento in 1789-90 while learning Italian with Agostino Isola.'"""
"""Remark that this publication was 'Abt the Test Act', so presumably read it."""
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 31 October 1790: 'Burke's pamphlet is to appear tomorrow, and Calonne has published a thumping one of 440 pages [Lettre sur l'Etat de la France, present et a venir].  I have but begun it, for there is such a quantity of calculations, and one is forced to bate so often to boil milliards of livres down to a rob of pds [sic] sterling, that my head is only filled with figures instead of arguments, and I understand arithmetic less than logic.'"""
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 8 November 1790: 'In this country the stock of the National Assembly is fallen down to bankruptcy [...] the fatal blow has been at last given by Mr. Burke.  His pamphlet [""""""""Reflections on the Revolution in France""""""""] came out this day se'ennight, and is far superior to what was expected even by his warmest admirers. I have redde it twice, and tho' of 350 pages, I wish I could repeat every page by heart. It is sublime, profound, and gay.  The wit and satire are equally brilliant, and the whole is wise, tho' in some points he goes too far, yet in general there is far less want of judgement than could be expected from [italics]him[end italics].'"""
"""Robert Southey to Charles Collins, 10-11 December 1791: 'As I have nothing else to say take a story I read yesterday as a true one which strikes me as an instance of more refined barbarity than any in the annals of cruelty – a prisoner in the dreary cells of the Bastile had familiarized a spider the only tenant except himself of the miserable spot. to a man secluded thus from the light of day & every living creature this reptile was a kind of mournful companion. the Keeper at length took notice of it & told the Governor – the Governor commanded him to tread upon it.' """
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 12 July 1791: ' Mr. Batt [...] dined with me yesterday, and stayed till after breakfast today [...] Last night I redde to him certain reminiscences'."""
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 11 March 1791: 'I saw in today's newspaper, that the wife of the Margrave of Anspach is dead.'"""
"""Having been lately interested in astronomical studies & been reading Ferguson and Bonnycastle  on that science; I on Monday the 15th began making a planetorium upon a stand which I completed in the following week.'"""
"""Having been lately interested in astronomical studies & been reading Ferguson and Bonnycastle  on that science; I on Monday the 15th began making a planetorium upon a stand which I completed in the following week.'"""
"""In letter to Mary Berry of 17 August 1791, Horace Walpole transcribes anonymously-authored, sixteen-line verse, sent to him by General Conway, on Sir W. Hamilton's mistress Emma Harte ('Attitudes -- A Sketch'). """
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 20 July 1791: 'I inclose the best printed account, I have seen, of the riots at Birmingham from yesterday's paper.'"""
"""Anne Damer, travelling in France, to Mary Berry, 24 April 1791, on encounter with de Broc, the mayor of Bayonne, 'the most ridiculous [italics]personage[end italics] that can be imagined [...] round, fat, with the tightest silk dress, not a tooth [...] and the voice of a frog [...] Before the visit was over we were such friends that he gave me some of his [italics]verses[end italics] on [italics]C. Fox[end italics], and if there is a corner in this letter, I must send them to you, for I was [italics]delighted[end italics] and desired to have them [four-line French verse, """"""""A L'Orateur Fox,"""""""" follows as postscript].'"""
"""Paine's """"""""Rights of Man, or Answer to Burke"""""""" being now lately come out & much talked of, we got it in our society and on Monday the 25th. I began reading it, but was much disgusted with the author's treason, impudence and scurrility.'"""
"""Mary Berry, Journal, 27 April 1791: 'Florence. -- Went to see the Laurentian Medicean Library [...] The librarian, a very civil Canonico Bandini, showed us the Virgil of the fourth century, which they call the oldest existing; it is very fairly written, but less easy to read than the one in the Vatican.  We saw, too, the Horace that belonged to Petrarch, with some notes in it by his own hand.  It is in large quarto, and not a beautiful manuscript from the number of notes and scoliastes interrupting and confusing the text.'"""
"""Mary Berry, Journal, 27 April 1791: 'Florence. -- Went to see the Laurentian Medicean Library [...] The librarian, a very civil Canonico Bandini, showed us the Virgil of the fourth century, which they call the oldest existing; it is very fairly written, but less easy to read than the one in the Vatican.  We saw, too, the Horace that belonged to Petrarch, with some notes in it by his own hand.  It is in large quarto, and not a beautiful manuscript from the number of notes and scoliastes interrupting and confusing the text.'"""
"""Mary Berry, Journal, 27 April 1791: 'Florence. -- Went to see the Laurentian Medicean Library [...] The librarian, a very civil Canonico Bandini, showed us the Virgil of the fourth century, which they call the oldest existing; it is very fairly written, but less easy to read than the one in the Vatican.  We saw, too, the Horace that belonged to Petrarch, with some notes in it by his own hand.  It is in large quarto, and not a beautiful manuscript from the number of notes and scoliastes interrupting and confusing the text.'"""
"""Colonel Digby had read Falconer's """"""""The Shipwreck"""""""" aloud to Burney during her court service ...'"""
"""The hand-writing [in the original sketch for """"""""Irene""""""""] is very difficult to read, even by those who were best acquainted with Johnson's mode of penmanship which at all times was very particular. The King having accepted of this manuscript as a literary curiosity, Mr Langton made a fair and distinct copy of it, which he ordered to be bound up with the original and the printed tragedy; and the volume is deposited in the King's library.'"""
"""I remember when the [italics] Literary Property [end italics] of those letters [Lord Chesterfield's to his son] was contested in the Court of Session in Scotland, and Mr Henry Dundas, one of the counsel read this character [of the 'respectable Hottentot'],  as an exhibition of Johnson, Sir David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes, one of the Judges, maintained with some warmth, that it was not intended as a portrait of Johnson, but of a late noble Lord, distinguished for abstruse science'."""
"""""""""""Christopher Wordsworth Jr. wrote of W[ordsworth]: 'The week before he took his degree he passed his time in reading Clarissa Harlowe.'"""""""""""
"""His """"""""Vanity of Human Wishes"""""""" has less of common life, but more of a philosophick dignity than his """"""""London"""""""". More readers, therefore, will be delighted with the pointed spirit of """"""""London"""""""", than with the profound reflection of """"""""The Vanity Of Human Wishes"""""""". Garrick, for instance, observed in his sprightly manner, with more vivacity than regard to just discrimination, as is usual with wits, """"""""When Johnson lived much with the Herveys, and saw a good deal of what was passing in life, he wrote his 'London', which is lively and easy. When he became more retired, he gave us his 'Vanity of Human Wishes', which is as hard as Greek. Had he gone on to imitate another satire, it would have been as hard as Hebrew"""""""".'"""
"""His """"""""Vanity of Human Wishes"""""""" has less of common life, but more of a philosophick dignity than his """"""""London"""""""". More readers, therefore, will be delighted with the pointed spirit of """"""""London"""""""", than with the profound reflection of """"""""The Vanity Of Human Wishes"""""""". Garrick, for instance, observed in his sprightly manner, with more vivacity than regard to just discrimination, as is usual with wits, """"""""When Johnson lived much with the Herveys, and saw a good deal of what was passing in life, he wrote his 'London', which is lively and easy. When he became more retired, he gave us his 'Vanity of Human Wishes', which is as hard as Greek. Had he gone on to imitate another satire, it would have been as hard as Hebrew"""""""".'"""
"""In this [producing a biography of Johnson] he has not been very successful, as I have found upon a perusal of those papers, which have been since transferred to me. Sir John Hawkins's ponderous labours, I must acknowledge, exhibit a [italics] farrago [end italics], of which a considerable portion is not devoid of entertainment to the lovers of literary gossiping; but besides its being swelled out with long unnecessary extracts from various works [...], a very small part of it relates to the person who is the subject of the book; and, in that, there is such an inaccuracy in the statement of facts, as in so solemn an author is hardly excusable, and certainly makes his narrative very unsatisfactory'."""
"""In this [producing a biography of Johnson] he has not been very successful, as I have found upon a perusal of those papers, which have been since transferred to me. Sir John Hawkins's ponderous labours, I must acknowledge, exhibit a [italics] farrago [end italics], of which a considerable portion is not devoid of entertainment to the lovers of literary gossiping; but besides its being swelled out with long unnecessary extracts from various works [...], a very small part of it relates to the person who is the subject of the book; and, in that, there is such an inaccuracy in the statement of facts, as in so solemn an author is hardly excusable, and certainly makes his narrative very unsatisfactory'."""
"""There is, in the B. Museum, a letter from Bishop Warburton to Dr Birch, on the subject of biography; which, though I am aware it may expose me to a charge of artfully raising the value of my own work, by contrasting it with that of which I have spoken, is so well conceived and expressed, that I cannot refrain from here inserting it: [the letter follows, including this passage] """"""""Almost all the life-writers we have had before Toland and Desmaiseaux, are indeed strange inspid creatures; and yet I had rather read the worst of them, than be obliged to go through with this of Milton's, or the other's life of Boileau, where there is such a dull, heavy succession of long quotations of disinteresting passages, that it makes their method quite nauseous"""""""".'"""
"""Instead of melting down my materials into one mass, and constantly speaking in my own person, by which I might have appeared to have more merit in the execution of the work, I have resolved to adopt and enlarge upon the excellent plan of Mr Mason, in his Memoirs of Gray [ie connecting quotations, conversation and letters with narrative]'."""
"""That the conversation of a celebrated man, if his talents have been exerted in conversation, will best display his character, is, I trust, too well established in the judgment of mankind, to be at all shaken by a sneering observation of Mr Mason, in his """"""""Memoirs of Mr William Whitehead"""""""", in which there is literally no """"""""Life"""""""", but a mere dry narrative of facts'."""
"""The hand-writing [in the original sketch for """"""""Irene""""""""] is very difficult to read, even by those who were best acquainted with Johnson's mode of penmanship which at all times was very particular. The King having accepted of this manuscript as a literary curiosity, Mr Langton made a fair and distinct copy of it, which he ordered to be bound up with the original and the printed tragedy; and the volume is deposited in the King's library.'"""
"""I myself recollect such impressions [of reverence, like Johnson displayed for the """"""""Gentleman's Magazine""""""""] from """"""""The Scots Magazine"""""""", which was begun at Edinburgh in the year 1739, and has been ever conducted with judgement, accuracy, and propriety'."""
"""Mr Dodsley this year brought out his """"""""Preceptor"""""""", oned of the most valuable books for the improvement of young minds that has appeared in any language'"""
"""His """"""""Vanity of Human Wishes"""""""" has less of common life, but more of a philosophick dignity than his """"""""London"""""""". More readers, therefore, will be delighted with the pointed spirit of """"""""London"""""""", than with the profound reflection of """"""""The Vanity Of Human Wishes"""""""". Garrick, for instance, observed in his sprightly manner, with more vivacity than regard to just discrimination, as is usual with wits, """"""""When Johnson lived much with the Herveys, and saw a good deal of what was passing in life, he wrote his 'London', which is lively and easy. When he became more retired, he gave us his 'Vanity of Human Wishes', which is as hard as Greek. Had he gone on to imitate another satire, it would have been as hard as Hebrew"""""""".'"""
"""he was not altogether unprepared as a periodical writer; for I have in my possession a small duodecimo volume, in which he has written, in the form of Mr Locke's """"""""Common-Place Book"""""""", a variety of hints for essays on different subjects. He has marked upon the first blank leaf of it, """"""""to the 128th page, collections for 'The Rambler'""""""""; and in another place, """"""""In fifty -two there were seventeen provided; in 97-21; in 190-25"""""""".'"""
"""I profess myself to have ever had a profound veneration for the astonishing force and vivacity of mind which """"""""The Rambler"""""""" exhibits [Boswell then talks at length of the philosophical merits of the essays] I may shortly observe that the """"""""Rambler"""""""" furnishes such an assemblage of discourses on practical religion and moral duty, of critical investigations, and allegorical and oriental tales, that no mind may be thought very deficient that has, by constant study and meditation, assimilated to itself all that may be found there'. [Boswell singles out numbers 7, 110, 54 and 32]"""
"""[""""""""Rambler""""""""] No 32 on patience, even under extreme misery, is wonderfully lofty, and as much above the rant of stoicism, as the Sun of Revelation is brighter than the twilight of Pagan philosophy. I never read the following sentence without feeling my frame thrill: """"""""I think there is some reason for questioning whether the body and mind are not so proportioned, that the one can bear all which can be inflicted on the other; whether virtue cannot stand its ground as long as life, and whether a soul well principled, will not be sooner separated than subdued"""""""".'"""
"""I have seen some volumes of Dr Young's copy of """"""""The Rambler"""""""", in which he has marked the pasages which he thought particularly excellent, by folding down a corner of the page; and such as he rated in a super-eminent degree, are marked by double folds'."""
"""Let the Preface [to Johnson's Dictionary] be attentively perused, in which is given, in a clear, strong, and glowing style, a comprehensive, yet particular view of what he had done; and it will be evident, that the timed he employed upon it [the Dictionary] was relatively short. [Boswell then comments on the great praise the Dictionary received] One of its excellencies has always struck me with peculiar admiration: I mean the perspicuity with which he has expresed abstract scientifick notions.'"""
"""all the esays [in the """"""""Universal Visitor""""""""] marked with two [italics] asterisks [end italics] have been ascribed to him; but I am confident, from internal evidence, that of these, neither """"""""The Life of Chaucer"""""""", """"""""Reflections on the State of Portugal"""""""", nor an """"""""Essay on Architecture"""""""", were written by him. I am equally confident, upon the same evidence, that he wrote """"""""Further Thoughts on Agriculture""""""""; being the sequel of a very inferiour essay on the same subject, and which, though carried on as if by the same hand, is both in thinking and expression so far above it, as to leave no doubt of its true parent; and that he also wrote """"""""A Dissertation on the State of Literature and Authors"""""""", and """"""""A Dissertation on the Epitaphs Written by Pope"""""""".'"""
"""all the esays [in the """"""""Universal Visitor""""""""] marked with two [italics] asterisks [end italics] have been ascribed to him; but I am confident, from internal evidence, that of these, neither """"""""The Life of Chaucer"""""""", """"""""Reflections on the State of Portugal"""""""", nor an """"""""Essay on Architecture"""""""", were written by him. I am equally confident, upon the same evidence, that he wrote """"""""Further Thoughts on Agriculture""""""""; being the sequel of a very inferiour essay on the same subject, and which, though carried on as if by the same hand, is both in thinking and expression so far above it, as to leave no doubt of its true parent; and that he also wrote """"""""A Dissertation on the State of Literature and Authors"""""""", and """"""""A Dissertation on the Epitaphs Written by Pope"""""""".'"""
"""Yet there are in the """"""""Idler"""""""" several papers which shew as much profundity of thought, and labour of language, as any of this great man's writings'. [Boswell mentions numbers 14, 24, 41, 43, 51, 52, 58 and 89]"""
"""This Tale [""""""""Rasselas""""""""], with all the charms of oriental imagery, and all the force and beauty of which the English language is capable, leads us through the most important scenes of human life, and shews us that this stage of our being is full of """"""""vanity and vexation of spirit"""""""". [Boswell comments on its value] Voltaire's """"""""Candide"""""""", written to refute the system of Optimism, which it has accomplished with brilliant success, is wonderfully similar in its plan and conduct to Johnson's """"""""Rasselas""""""""; insomuch, that I have heard Johnson say, that if they had not been published so closely one after the other that there was not time for imitation, it would have been vain to deny that the scheme of that which came latest was taken from the other. Though the proposition illustrated by both these works was the same, namely, that in our present state there is more evil than good, the intention of the writers was very different. Voltaire, I am afraid, meant only by wanton profanness to obtain a sportive victory over religion, and to discredit the belief of a superintending Providence: Johnson meant, by shewing the unsatisfactory nature of things temporal, to direct the hopes of man to things eternal'. """
"""This Tale [""""""""Rasselas""""""""], with all the charms of oriental imagery, and all the force and beauty of which the English language is capable, leads us through the most important scenes of human life, and shews us that this stage of our being is full of """"""""vanity and vexation of spirit"""""""". [Boswell comments on its value] Voltaire's """"""""Candide"""""""", written to refute the system of Optimism, which it has accomplished with brilliant success, is wonderfully similar in its plan and conduct to Johnson's """"""""Rasselas""""""""; insomuch, that I have heard Johnson say, that if they had not been published so closely one after the other that there was not time for imitation, it would have been vain to deny that the scheme of that which came latest was taken from the other. Though the proposition illustrated by both these works was the same, namely, that in our present state there is more evil than good, the intention of the writers was very different. Voltaire, I am afraid, meant only by wanton profanness to obtain a sportive victory over religion, and to discredit the belief of a superintending Providence: Johnson meant, by shewing the unsatisfactory nature of things temporal, to direct the hopes of man to things eternal'. """
"""Her [Mrs Sheridan's]  novel, entitled """"""""Memoirs of Miss Sydney Biddulph"""""""", contains an excellent moral, while it inculcates a future state of retribution; and what it teaches is impressed upon the mind by a series of as deep distress as can affect humanity, in the amiable and pious heroine who goes to her grave unrelieved, but resigned, and full of hope of """"""""heaven's mercy"""""""". Johnson paid her this high compliment upon it: """"""""I know not, Madam, that you have a right, upon moral principles, to make your readers suffer so much"""""""".'"""
"""That learned and ingenious Prelate [Dr Hurd] it is well known published at one period of his life """"""""Moral and Political Dialogues"""""""", with a woefully whiggish cast. Afterwards, his Lordship having thought better, came to see his errour, and republished the work with a more constitutional spirit.'"""
"""...a desire for information which was by no means whollly neglected even whilst I was an apprentice, I always found some time for reading, and I almost always found the means to procure books, useful books, not Novels. My reading was of course devoid of method, and very desultory. I had read in English the only language in which I could read, the histories of Greece and Rome, and some translated works of Greek and Roman writers. Hume, Smollett, Fieldings novels and Robertsons works, some of Humes Essays, some Translations from french writers, and much on geography -some books on Anatomy and Surgery, some relating to Science and the Arts, and many Magazines. I had worked all the Problems in the Introduction to Guthries Geography, and had made some small progress in Geometry."""
"""...a desire for information which was by no means whollly neglected even whilst I was an apprentice, I always found some time for reading, and I almost always found the means to procure books, useful books, not Novels. My reading was of course devoid of method, and very desultory. I had read in English the only language in which I could read, the histories of Greece and Rome, and some translated works of Greek and Roman writers. Hume, Smollett, Fieldings novels and Robertsons works, some of Humes Essays, some Translations from french writers, and much on geography -some books on Anatomy and Surgery, some relating to Science and the Arts, and many Magazines. I had worked all the Problems in the Introduction to Guthries Geography, and had made some small progress in Geometry."""
"""...a desire for information which was by no means whollly neglected even whilst I was an apprentice, I always found some time for reading, and I almost always found the means to procure books, useful books, not Novels. My reading was of course devoid of method, and very desultory. I had read in English the only language in which I could read, the histories of Greece and Rome, and some translated works of Greek and Roman writers. Hume, Smollett, Fieldings novels and Robertsons works, some of Humes Essays, some Translations from french writers, and much on geography -some books on Anatomy and Surgery, some relating to Science and the Arts, and many Magazines. I had worked all the Problems in the Introduction to Guthries Geography, and had made some small progress in Geometry."""
"""...a desire for information which was by no means whollly neglected even whilst I was an apprentice, I always found some time for reading, and I almost always found the means to procure books, useful books, not Novels. My reading was of course devoid of method, and very desultory. I had read in English the only language in which I could read, the histories of Greece and Rome, and some translated works of Greek and Roman writers. Hume, Smollett, Fieldings novels and Robertsons works, some of Humes Essays, some Translations from french writers, and much on geography -some books on Anatomy and Surgery, some relating to Science and the Arts, and many Magazines. I had worked all the Problems in the Introduction to Guthries Geography, and had made some small progress in Geometry."""
"""...a desire for information which was by no means whollly neglected even whilst I was an apprentice, I always found some time for reading, and I almost always found the means to procure books, useful books, not Novels. My reading was of course devoid of method, and very desultory. I had read in English the only language in which I could read, the histories of Greece and Rome, and some translated works of Greek and Roman writers. Hume, Smollett, Fieldings novels and Robertsons works, some of Humes Essays, some Translations from french writers, and much on geography -some books on Anatomy and Surgery, some relating to Science and the Arts, and many Magazines. I had worked all the Problems in the Introduction to Guthries Geography, and had made some small progress in Geometry."""
"""...a desire for information which was by no means whollly neglected even whilst I was an apprentice, I always found some time for reading, and I almost always found the means to procure books, useful books, not Novels. My reading was of course devoid of method, and very desultory. I had read in English the only language in which I could read, the histories of Greece and Rome, and some translated works of Greek and Roman writers. Hume, Smollett, Fieldings novels and Robertsons works, some of Humes Essays, some Translations from french writers, and much on geography -some books on Anatomy and Surgery, some relating to Science and the Arts, and many Magazines. I had worked all the Problems in the Introduction to Guthries Geography, and had made some small progress in Geometry."""
"""...a desire for information which was by no means whollly neglected even whilst I was an apprentice, I always found some time for reading, and I almost always found the means to procure books, useful books, not Novels. My reading was of course devoid of method, and very desultory. I had read in English the only language in which I could read, the histories of Greece and Rome, and some translated works of Greek and Roman writers. Hume, Smollett, Fieldings novels and Robertsons works, some of Humes Essays, some Translations from french writers, and much on geography -some books on Anatomy and Surgery, some relating to Science and the Arts, and many Magazines. I had worked all the Problems in the Introduction to Guthries Geography, and had made some small progress in Geometry."""
"""...a desire for information which was by no means whollly neglected even whilst I was an apprentice, I always found some time for reading, and I almost always found the means to procure books, useful books, not Novels. My reading was of course devoid of method, and very desultory. I had read in English the only language in which I could read, the histories of Greece and Rome, and some translated works of Greek and Roman writers. Hume, Smollett, Fieldings novels and Robertson's works, some of Humes Essays, some Translations from french writers, and much on geography -some books on Anatomy and Surgery, some relating to Science and the Arts, and many Magazines. I had worked all the Problems in the Introduction to Guthries Geography, and had made some small progress in Geometry."""
"""...a desire for information which was by no means whollly neglected even whilst I was an apprentice, I always found some time for reading, and I almost always found the means to procure books, useful books, not Novels. My reading was of course devoid of method, and very desultory. I had read in English the only language in which I could read, the histories of Greece and Rome, and some translated works of Greek and Roman writers. Hume, Smollett, Fieldings novels and Robertsons works, some of Humes Essays, some Translations from french writers, and much on geography -some books on Anatomy and Surgery, some relating to Science and the Arts, and many Magazines. I had worked all the Problems in the Introduction to Guthries Geography, and had made some small progress in Geometry."""
"""...a desire for information which was by no means whollly neglected even whilst I was an apprentice, I always found some time for reading, and I almost always found the means to procure books, useful books, not Novels. My reading was of course devoid of method, and very desultory. I had read in English the only language in which I could read, the histories of Greece and Rome, and some translated works of Greek and Roman writers. Hume, Smollett, Fieldings novels and Robertsons works, some of Humes Essays, some Translations from french writers, and much on geography -some books on Anatomy and Surgery, some relating to Science and the Arts, and many Magazines. I had worked all the Problems in the Introduction to Guthries Geography, and had made some small progress in Geometry."""
"""...a desire for information which was by no means whollly neglected even whilst I was an apprentice, I always found some time for reading, and I almost always found the means to procure books, useful books, not Novels. My reading was of course devoid of method, and very desultory. I had read in English the only language in which I could read, the histories of Greece and Rome, and some translated works of Greek and Roman writers. Hume, Smollett, Fieldings novels and Robertson's works, some of Humes Essays, some Translations from french writers, and much on geography -some books on Anatomy and Surgery, some relating to Science and the Arts, and many Magazines. I had worked all the Problems in the Introduction to Guthries Geography, and had made some small progress in Geometry."""
"""...a desire for information which was by no means whollly neglected even whilst I was an apprentice, I always found some time for reading, and I almost always found the means to procure books, useful books, not Novels. My reading was of course devoid of method, and very desultory. I had read in English the only language in which I could read, the histories of Greece and Rome, and some translated works of Greek and Roman writers. Hume, Smollett, Fieldings novels and Robertsons works, some of Humes Essays, some Translations from french writers, and much on geography -some books on Anatomy and Surgery, some relating to Science and the Arts, and many Magazines. I had worked all the Problems in the Introduction to Guthries Geography, and had made some small progress in Geometry."""
"""...a desire for information which was by no means whollly neglected even whilst I was an apprentice, I always found some time for reading, and I almost always found the means to procure books, useful books, not Novels. My reading was of course devoid of method, and very desultory. I had read in English the only language in which I could read, the histories of Greece and Rome, and some translated works of Greek and Roman writers. Hume, Smollett, Fieldings novels and Robertsons works, some of Humes Essays, some Translations from french writers, and much on geography -some books on Anatomy and Surgery, some relating to Science and the Arts, and many Magazines. I had worked all the Problems in the Introduction to Guthries Geography, and had made some small progress in Geometry."""
"""H. J. Jackson discusses copious annotations made in 2-volume first-edition (1791) copy of James Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson, which signed """"""""Scriblerus"""""""" (who Jackson identifies as Fulke Greville), commenting: """"""""[Scriblerus] evidently read the Life, or at least dipped into it, more than once: a summary note from the end of his first reading is dated November 1791, but other notes include dates in 1792 and 1797.""""""""  """
"""Letter xiv- """"""""On Buffon's natural history"""""""" is a critique of the work"""
"""On the Sunday follow'g (9th) ... we first heard a rumour of the massacre of the prisoners on the 2d & 3d at Paris, the melancholic details of which we read in the next morning's newspapers.'"""
"""With a fine imagination and command of Language Charlotte Smith cannot write without Interest [.] this is an odd work. She introduces in a prettily wrought novel the more early French troubles in consequence of the Revolution, she is a wild leveller. She defends the revolution, she writes with the enthusiasm of a woman and a poetess. Her story is hurried [,] has faults in the conduct and narrative, yet it interests. Her descriptions are very pleasing and her characteristic conversations are somewhat forced. She writes herself out. yet her genius predominates.' [opinion of """"""""Desmond"""""""", entered in diary]. """
"""H. J. Jackson discusses copious annotations made in 2-volume first-edition (1791) copy of James Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson, which signed """"""""Scriblerus"""""""" (who Jackson identifies as Fulke Greville), commenting: """"""""[Scriblerus] evidently read the Life, or at least dipped into it, more than once: a summary note from the end of his first reading is dated November 1791, but other notes include dates in 1792 and 1797.""""""""  """
"""""""""""W[ordsworth] owned and read the French translation of Coxe during his residence in France, 1791-2."""""""""""
"""Robert Southey to Thomas Davis Lamb, c. 18 June 1792: 'The bloody proceeding [a reference to a disturbance at Westminster School] I have seen no account of in the papers — the Morning Post had a very scurrilous paragraph respecting the general behaviour of the fellows which was answered the following day. One strange circumstance you have neglected to explain...' """
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 21 October 1792: 'Some poems have been lately printed here by the Revd. E Holder  written between the age of 17 & 20. I only mention them as he happens to have translated two pieces one which you sent me & the other I think you have seen translated by your humble servant & an original by Bunbury & another of your own. Integer vitæ etc  is the one. Gray on the grande Chartreuse the other. & seriously the printed ones are the worst of all.'"""
"""Robert Southey to Thomas Phillips Lamb, 28 October 1792: 'If the Baron of Thundertentroncks castle had not been destroyd (said Dr Pangloss to Candidus) if Miss Cunegonda had not been ript up alive by the Bulgarian soldiers — if I had not been hung, if you had not killd an inquisitor & been burnt by the inquisition, we should not have been now eating pistachio nuts. alls for the best.'  """
"""Delighted with some of her husband's letters, [Mrs Barlow] has exultingly shewn them to me; and, though I took care not to let her see it, I was almost disgusted with the tender passages which afforded her so much satisfaction, because they were turned so prettily that they looked more like the cold ingenuity of the head than the warm overflowings of the heart.'"""
"""I have just cast my eye over your sensible little pamphlet, and found fewer of the superlatives, exquisite, fascinating &c, all of the feminine gender, than I expected. Some of the sentiments, it is true, are rather obscurely expressed; but if you continue to write you will imperceptibly correct this fault...'"""
"""Reader makes 4 references to the work V.1 pp 61,64; V.2 pp 4, 251. Eg. p. 61 'The sun shone on our social repast, but when we set out, Eolus did not perform the task Thomson assigns him in the opening of spring'; p.64 'I am reformed, and amended, but cannot fatigue myself or you with the description of this day; you will find it in Thomson ?Deceitful, vain, and void, passes the day.?'"""
"""?I Remembered when I was about 8 or 9 years of age my mother had been Correcting me for something I had done wrong and I thought I would be revenged on her I had been reading in St mathews gospel where the jews said he Casteth out devils and Belzebub the prince of devils I thought this was the sin against the holy ghost and thinking to be a made for my mother I said to myself God is the devil for I Remember I thought I would not go to heaven to spite her'."""
"""It now only remains for me to walk worthy of that vocation to which I am called. Let me do so in the very manner in which the Apostle, whose words I have now been reading, mentions, """"""""With all lowliness and meekness, and with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace"""""""".'"""
"""I have seen nothing new, & have been reading the Memoirs of Mde de Maintenon in French, which are exceedingly entertaining'."""
"""On 9 April 1792 Anna Margaretta Larpent rose at 7.30, a little earlier than her usual, """"""""spent some time"""""""", as she described it, '""""""""n self examination"""""""", and then read two chapters of that blistering critique of the British constitution, Thomas Paine's """"""""Rights of Man"""""""", before sitting down to breakfast.'"""
"""about this time I began to practis accounts, I bought a Book, & Slate, and got somebody to set me a gate at the beginning of a Rule, & then wrought by my book &c, and in a while got forward in arethmatic &c'"""
"""At this time to amuse myself in my confinement I read the """"""""Life of Pope Sixtus 5th."""""""" w'ch Miss Poole ... lent me. My son John Marsh showing and inclination to read this (who had before seldom evinced much taste for reading) I told him that as the book was borrow'd by Miss Poole he must get thro' it much faster than he did books in general, of w'ch a very few pages at a time... used to satisfy him. This book however, seem'd to catch his attention & he soon got through it, since w'ch time tho' he has never become a thorough reader, he has continued much more of one than he ever was before.'"""
"""At this time to amuse myself in my confinement I read the """"""""Life of Pope Sixtus 5th."""""""" w'ch Miss Poole ... lent me. My son John Marsh showing and inclination to read this (who had before seldom evinced much taste for reading) I told him that as the book was borrow'd by Miss Poole he must get thro' it much faster than he did books in general, of w'ch a very few pages at a time... used to satisfy him. This book however, seem'd to catch his attention & he soon got through it, since w'ch time tho' he has never become a thorough reader, he has continued much more of one than he ever was before.'"""
"""Robert Southey to Charles Collins, 12-13 January 1793: 'Whether or not man has the stain of original sin I leave to theologians & metaphysicians. That education tends to give it him I do not even doubt. Rousseau's plan is too visionary — it supposes such unremitted attention in the tutor & such natural virtue in the pupil that I doubt its practability of this however when we read Emilius (an occupation I look forward to with pleasure) we will freely determine. Madame Brulerck (late Genlis) appears to me to have struck out a path equally new & excellent — the Emilius of L Homme de la Nature existed only in his imagination. but the two sons of Phillipe Egalitè are living proofs of her capacity.'"""
"""Robert Southey to Charles Collins, 12-13 January 1793: 'Whether or not man has the stain of original sin I leave to theologians & metaphysicians. That education tends to give it him I do not even doubt. Rousseau's plan is too visionary — it supposes such unremitted attention in the tutor & such natural virtue in the pupil that I doubt its practability of this however when we read Emilius (an occupation I look forward to with pleasure) we will freely determine. Madame Brulerck (late Genlis) appears to me to have struck out a path equally new & excellent — the Emilius of L Homme de la Nature existed only in his imagination. but the two sons of Phillipe Egalitè are living proofs of her capacity.'"""
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 14 November 1793: 'I was grieved this morning to read in the papers that poor Jardin and his family have been taken by a French privateer, as they were going to Corunna.'"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 14-18 October 1793: 'I proceeded on sad & solitary to Hounslow & there gave one shilling for Sir Launcelot Greaves to amuse me on the road.' """
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 15 October 1793: 'I called on the Princesse d'Hennin, who has been in town a week [...] She showed me several pieces of letters, I think from the Duchess de Bouillon; one says, the poor Duchesse de Biron is again arrested and at the Jacobins, and with her [...] our pretty little wicked Duchess de Fleury!'"""
"""William Wordsworth to Lord Lonsdale, 14 March 1818: 'If you continue to read the Kendal Chronicle you must be greatly concerned to see that the Liberty of the Press should be so grossly abused.  This Paper as now conducted reminds me almost at every  sentence of those which I used to read in France during the heat of the Revolution.'"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 4-20 April 1793: 'I have lately read the Man of Feeling — if you have never yet read it — do now from my recommendation — few books have ever pleasd me so painfully or so much — it is very strange that man should be delighted with the highest pain that can be produced — I even begin to think that both pain & pleasure exist only in idea but this must not be affirmed, the first twitch of the toothache or retrospective glance will undeceive me with a vengeance. It is Mackenzies writing if I am not mistaken the author of Julia de Roubigne & La Roche & Louisa Venoni in the Mirror.'"""
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 23 November 1793, on meeting Edward Jerningham ('the Charming Man') at a gathering at the home of their friend Anne Damer the previous evening: 'I congratulated the Charming highly on the success of his tragedy [""""""""The Siege of Berwick"""""""", which opened 13 November at Covent Garden], and on his prologue, which I had seen in the papers and like'."""
"""Robert Southey to Charles Collins, 30 October -7 November 1793: 'In this interval however my baggage has arrived & no poor devil at the foot of the gallows was more overjoyd at a reprieve than I was at the recovery. I have begun to transcribe Joan of Arc — read Enfield History of Philosophy,  Gillies History of Greece V.2nd & begun Adam Smith since my return so you see Bristol does not make me idle. I may not form a taste here but I can increase a stock of useful knowledge and you know the prettiest nosegays are formed of various flowers. """
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 26-27 October 1793: 'You must not be surprized at nonsense for I have been reading the history of Philosophy — the ideas of Plato — the logic of Aristotle & the heterogeneous dogmas of Pythogoras  Antisthenes Zeno  Epicurus  & Pyrrho  till I have metaphysicized away all my senses & so you are the better for it. '"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 26-27 October 1793: 'You must not be surprized at nonsense for I have been reading the history of Philosophy — the ideas of Plato — the logic of Aristotle & the heterogeneous dogmas of Pythogoras  Antisthenes Zeno  Epicurus  & Pyrrho  till I have metaphysicized away all my senses & so you are the better for it. '"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 26-27 October 1793: 'You must not be surprized at nonsense for I have been reading the history of Philosophy — the ideas of Plato — the logic of Aristotle & the heterogeneous dogmas of Pythogoras  Antisthenes Zeno  Epicurus  & Pyrrho  till I have metaphysicized away all my senses & so you are the better for it. '"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 26-27 October 1793: 'You must not be surprized at nonsense for I have been reading the history of Philosophy — the ideas of Plato — the logic of Aristotle & the heterogeneous dogmas of Pythogoras  Antisthenes Zeno  Epicurus  & Pyrrho  till I have metaphysicized away all my senses & so you are the better for it. '"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 26-27 October 1793: 'You must not be surprized at nonsense for I have been reading the history of Philosophy — the ideas of Plato — the logic of Aristotle & the heterogeneous dogmas of Pythogoras  Antisthenes Zeno  Epicurus  & Pyrrho  till I have metaphysicized away all my senses & so you are the better for it. '"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 26-27 October 1793: 'You must not be surprized at nonsense for I have been reading the history of Philosophy — the ideas of Plato — the logic of Aristotle & the heterogeneous dogmas of Pythogoras  Antisthenes Zeno  Epicurus  & Pyrrho  till I have metaphysicized away all my senses & so you are the better for it. '"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 26-27 October 1793: 'You must not be surprized at nonsense for I have been reading the history of Philosophy — the ideas of Plato — the logic of Aristotle & the heterogeneous dogmas of Pythogoras  Antisthenes Zeno  Epicurus  & Pyrrho  till I have metaphysicized away all my senses & so you are the better for it. '"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 29-30 October 1793: 'I have laid down Gillies to write to you the third letter in one fortnight. thank yourself for the intrusion — had my casette arrived I should have been otherwise employed, so to your negligence my industry must be attributed...' """
"""Robert Southey to Horace Walpole Bedford, 30-31 December 1793:  'Akenside  & Lucan are my pocket companions. you would be astonishd at the number of volumes I have read in this manner. it is very seldom that I am without a book in my pocket. & the half & quarters of hours wasted so often in waiting amount to a great deal in the year. ten to one but I read all the way to Bath & should the sun shine it makes glad the heart of man spout vociferously to the edification of all the stage coachmen. this however only happens in abstraction.' """
"""Robert Southey to Horace Walpole Bedford, 30-31 December 1793:  'Akenside  & Lucan are my pocket companions. you would be astonishd at the number of volumes I have read in this manner. it is very seldom that I am without a book in my pocket. & the half & quarters of hours wasted so often in waiting amount to a great deal in the year. ten to one but I read all the way to Bath & should the sun shine it makes glad the heart of man spout vociferously to the edification of all the stage coachmen. this however only happens in abstraction.' """
"""I was finally induced to come to this determination sooner than I should otherwise have done by reading Mr Godwins 'Enquiry concerning Political Justice'."""
"""Robert Southey to Charles Collins, 30 October -7 November 1793: 'In this interval however my baggage has arrived & no poor devil at the foot of the gallows was more overjoyd at a reprieve than I was at the recovery. I have begun to transcribe Joan of Arc — read Enfield History of Philosophy,  Gillies History of Greece V.2nd & begun Adam Smith since my return so you see Bristol does not make me idle. I may not form a taste here but I can increase a stock of useful knowledge and you know the prettiest nosegays are formed of various flowers. """
"""I now read Blackstone, Hale's Common Law, several other Law Books, and much biography. This course of reading was continued for several years until the death of my landlady."""
"""I now read Blackstone, Hale's Common Law, several other Law Books, and much biography. This course of reading was continued for several years until the death of my landlady."""
"""I now read Blackstone, Hale's Common Law, several other Law Books, and much biography. This course of reading was continued for several years until the death of my landlady."""
"""I now read Blackstone, Hale's Common Law, several other Law Books, and much biography. This course of reading was continued for several years until the death of my landlady."""
"""Robert Southey to Charles Collins, 31 March 1793: 'On Wednesday morning about eight o clock we sallied forth. my travelling equipage consisting of my diary — writing book, pen & ink silk handkerchief & Miltons defence. We reached Woodstock to breakfast where I was delighted with reading the Nottingham address for peace...' """
"""Robert Southey to Charles Collins, 31 March 1793: 'On Wednesday morning about eight o clock we sallied forth. my travelling equipage consisting of my diary — writing book, pen & ink silk handkerchief & Miltons defence. We reached Woodstock to breakfast where I was delighted with reading the Nottingham address for peace...' """
"""Robert Southey to Horace Walpole Bedford, 3-4 November 1793: 'I am reading Adam Smith on the Wealth of Nations.'"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 31 July - 6 August 1793: 'I have just met with a passage in Rousseau which expresses some of my religious opinions better than I could do it myself. """"""""Je ne trouve point de plus doux hommage a la divinite, que l’admiration enuette qu’excite la contemplation de ses œuvres. Je ne puis comprendre comment des campagnards, et sur-tout des solitaires, peuvent ne pas avoir de foi; comment leur ame ne s’eleve pas cent fois le jour avec extase a l’auteur des merveilles qui les frappent. Dans ma chambre je prie plus rarement & séchement, mais a l’aspect d’un beau paysage, je me sens emu. Une vielle femme, pour toute priere, ne savoit dire que ô! L’eveque lui dit: Bonne femme continuez de prier ainsi, votre priere vaut mieux que les notres. — cette meilleure priere est aussi la mienne."""""""" — ' """
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 25 January - 8 February 1793: Charles Collins has been so busy with his Lent verses that I see little of him — he is my monitor be you his — I catch him frequently reading the Basia of Johannes Secundus  — he pleads the elegance of the composition but that will not atone for the whole tenor of the work. He laughs at my admonitions...'"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 25 January - 8 February 1793: 'Over the pages of the philosophic Tacitus the hours of study pass rapidly as even those which are devoted to my friends & I have not found as yet one hour which I could wish to have employed otherwise this is saying very much in praise of a collegiate life — but remember that a mind disposed to be happy will find happiness everywhere & why we should not be happy is beyond my philosophy to account for — Heraclitus certainly was a fool & what is much more rare an unhappy one.' """
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 25 January - 8 February 1793: 'The man who gaind the last English verse prize in Oxford has since published two odes which he calls Songs of the Aboriginal Britains — of these the Review speaks very well & yet to me who as you know have written upon the same plan these odes appear ill planned & ill executed — some metaphors are good but young Wynns observation is just that he should have mistaken the odes for burlesque.'"""
"""The whole or nearly the whole of the eight months when I was not employed was not lost. I read many volumes in history, voyages, and travels, politics, law and Philosophy. Adam Smith and Locke and especially Humes Essays and Treatises, these latter I read two or three times over, this reading was of great service to me, it caused me to turn in upon myself and examine myself in a way which I should not otherwise have done. It was this which laid the solid foundation of my future prosperity, and completed the desire I had always had to acquire knowledge. """
"""The whole or nearly the whole of the eight months when I was not employed was not lost. I read many volumes in history, voyages, and travels, politics, law and Philosophy. Adam Smith and Locke and especially Humes Essays and Treatises, these latter I read two or three times over, this reading was of great service to me, it caused me to turn in upon myself and examine myself in a way which I should not otherwise have done. It was this which laid the solid foundation of my future prosperity, and completed the desire I had always had to acquire knowledge. """
"""The whole or nearly the whole of the eight months when I was not employed was not lost. I read many volumes in history, voyages, and travels, politics, law and Philosophy. Adam Smith and Locke and especially Humes Essays and Treatises, these latter I read two or three times over, this reading was of great service to me, it caused me to turn in upon myself and examine myself in a way which I should not otherwise have done. It was this which laid the solid foundation of my future prosperity, and completed the desire I had always had to acquire knowledge. """
"""The whole or nearly the whole of the eight months when I was not employed was not lost. I read many volumes in history, voyages, and travels, politics, law and Philosophy. Adam Smith and Locke and especially Humes Essays and Treatises, these latter I read two or three times over, this reading was of great service to me, it caused me to turn in upon myself and examine myself in a way which I should not otherwise have done. It was this which laid the solid foundation of my future prosperity, and completed the desire I had always had to acquire knowledge. """
"""The whole or nearly the whole of the eight months when I was not employed was not lost. I read many volumes in history, voyages, and travels, politics, law and Philosophy. Adam Smith and Locke and especially Humes Essays and Treatises, these latter I read two or three times over, this reading was of great service to me, it caused me to turn in upon myself and examine myself in a way which I should not otherwise have done. It was this which laid the solid foundation of my future prosperity, and completed the desire I had always had to acquire knowledge. """
"""The whole or nearly the whole of the eight months when I was not employed was not lost. I read many volumes in history, voyages, and travels, politics, law and Philosophy. Adam Smith and Locke and especially Humes Essays and Treatises, these latter I read two or three times over, this reading was of great service to me, it caused me to turn in upon myself and examine myself in a way which I should not otherwise have done. It was this which laid the solid foundation of my future prosperity, and completed the desire I had always had to acquire knowledge. """
"""I readily got through a small school book of Geometry and having an odd volume of the 1st of Williamsons Euclid I attacked it vigorously and perseveringly..."""
"""I readily got through a small school book of Geometry and having an odd volume of the 1st of Williamsons Euclid I attacked it vigorously and perseveringly..."""
"""Robert Southey to Charles Collins, 30 October -7 November 1793: 'In this interval however my baggage has arrived & no poor devil at the foot of the gallows was more overjoyd at a reprieve than I was at the recovery. I have begun to transcribe Joan of Arc — read Enfield History of Philosophy,  Gillies History of Greece V.2nd & begun Adam Smith since my return so you see Bristol does not make me idle. I may not form a taste here but I can increase a stock of useful knowledge and you know the prettiest nosegays are formed of various flowers. """
"""In the afternoon, Mrs M & I walked to the quay hotel etc. where we met Mrs Hening of Chichester who was staying in lodgings at Littlehampton. We however found it so cold & blustery, that we were soon glad to return to our inn, where Mrs M amused herself with the novel of """"""""Rosina"""""""".'"""
"""[Frances] Burney had read both """"""""The Mysteries of Udolpho"""""""" and """"""""The Italian"""""""" when they first came out, preferring the latter ...'"""
"""And here I may add, that from the time I came from school, I read little, save religious books; and after I appeared in ministry, until late in life, reading even then was much taken from me, except the scriptures: all of which I believe was in divine wisdom, that I might not minister from what I had gathered from religious writings; but might receive the arguments I was enabled to advance on behalf of the truth, by the immediate revelation of the Holy Spirit.'"""
"""?I will tell you what is going on, that you may see whether you like your daily bill of fare. ? There is a balloon hanging up, and another going to be put on the stocks; there is soap made, and making from a recipe in Nicholson?s Chemistry; there is excellent ink made, and to be made by the same book.?"""
"""Robert Southey to Horace Walpole Bedford, 24 January - 18 February 1794:  '& now to literary subjects. Glover has written the two Tragedies of Boadicea & Medea.  in the first I see but one fault it is that the Romans are treated too respectfully — the remark has been made by abler critics & will be confirmd by every one who reads the drama. in Medea he has introduced blank lyric but confined them to Iambics & Trochaics. I speak from memory but think it is right. this is all that I have seen of Glovers.'"""
"""Letter to Miss Ourry January 2 1794 'Then I have not put B. to school , or done half of what I meant.- I have seen Mary Wollstonecroft?s book, which is so run after here, that there is no keeping it long enough to read it leisurely, though one had leisure. It has produced no other convictions in my mind, but that of the authors possessing considerable abilities, and greatly misapplying them. To refute her arguments would be to write another and a larger book; for there is more pains and skill required to refute ill-founded assertions, than to make them. [and again on p. 272] 'Where a woman had those superior powers of mind to which we give the name genius, she will exert them under all disadvantages: Jean Jacques says truly, genius will educate itself, and, like flame, burst through all obstructions ?. [p. 268-277 is a criticism of Mary Wollstonecroft's work ]'"""
"""Robert Southey to John Horseman, 16-20 April 1794:  'Hawkesworth argues very strongly against indulging in these fantastical pleasures — they enervate the mind & by accustoming it to the dreams of fancy render it totally unfit for serious contemplation & abstract reasoning — they have likewise a worse effect even than this — they tend to render society odious & the world contemptible, till the dreamer possesses all the austerity of a Cynic without the sublimity of his virtues.'"""
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 21 April 1794: 'I have found on my table a rhapsody in verse on my recovery, so extravagant that, coupled with the post-mark [italics]Isleworth[end italics], it can come from no mortal but our neighbour whose Cupid from the top of his gazebo was drowned [goes on to provide synopsis and to transcribe various lines].' """
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 27 September 1794: 'I was diverted a few days ago by a paragraph in the """"""""True Briton"""""""", which, supposing that the Prince [of Wales] is to reside at Hampton Court, said that, as there is a theatre and tennis court in the Palace, Twickenham will not want a succession of company, even when the [italics]venerable[end italics] Earl of Orford [i.e. Walpole] shall be no more.  I little thought I was as attractive as a theatre or a tennis court, or served in lieu of them.'"""
"""Mary Berry to Horace Walpole, 28 September 1794, regarding remark in the newspapers that the move of the Prince of Wales to Hampton Court would ensure continued social diversion in the area even after death of the elderly Walpole: 'I did not suppose that the Prince of Wales was likely to become your [italics]successor[end italics] in anything, till the newpapers told us so.  The enclosed paragraph, which we cut out of the """"""""Times"""""""" the other day, amused us all not a little.'"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 26- c.29 April 1794:  'Saturday last the day I began this letter I was at Downing at old Robert Lovells. the most primitive of Quakers but withall an affable intelligent pleasant man. he was pleasd with me & in a manner which interested me very much, offerd to lend me a good book written by William Dell.  the offer was so made that if I could I would not have refused him. & in fact I am reading a large octavo full of mysticism. tis but a few hours stole from rhyming — it gives him pleasure & I shall get a little knowledge of John Huss Jerome of Prague & Martin Luther. Nullus est alius antichristus in mundo, neque venturus quam sacerdotes.   Jo. Huss. you may see the tenor of the book from these quotations in it) however the followers of Aristotle (who certainly is dead & as Luther says damned if the imprecations of those he has puzzled take effect) may ridicule the idea of tragicomedy I am myself partial to that stile of writing. look at Hamlet. who would feel half the pleasure at seeing it represented if it were all upon the stills of tragedy.'"""
"""[Francis] Wrangham was ... in the habit of reading MS verses to his friends: C[oleridge] heard his """"""""Brutoniad"""""""" in Sept. 1794.' """
"""In this room was a number of books, and among them every thing which had been published by Thomas Paine, all these I had read and cheap editions were in my possession; but here was one which I had not seen, namely, """"""""the Age of Reason Part 1"""""""". I read it with delight."""
"""When he was writing ... """"""""Things as They Are"""""""" (1794) ... [William] Godwin studied """"""""Cecilia"""""""".'"""
"""W[ordsworth]'s translation of Horace's Ode to the Bandusian Fountain (Ode III xiii) appears in a manuscript dating from his time at Windy Brow in 1794.'"""
"""[Marginalia]"
"""?I made very little progress in learning until the year 1794 only my mother borrowed the pilgrim?s progress and Doctor Watts hymns for me and told me the meaning of them as well as she Could which kept me from going back but I Could not advance because I had no one to teach me.?"""
"""?I made very little progress in learning until the year 1794 only my mother borrowed the pilgrim?s progress and Doctor Watts hymns for me and told me the meaning of them as well as she Could which kept me from going back but I Could not advance because I had no one to teach me.?"""
"""Robert Southey to Robert Lovell, 5-6 April 1794:  'I have not yet seen Priestleys reasons for quitting this country. from the review I collect that he compares the present state of Europe with ancient prophecies & foretells the most dismal scenes of devastation.  “Oh I could prophesy”  says Hotspur & so say I but to prophecy no good evil is melancholy — & good impossible, when indeed after evil. Belsham   is elected Pastor in his place & by the little I know of this man he is more qualified to succeed, Joseph Priestley than the generality of dissenting preachers. he is the author of one or two very good works —thoughts on parliamentary reform & Memoirs of the house of Brunswick—Lunenburg.  my knowledge of this is from the reviews.'"""
"""Robert Southey to Horace Walpole Bedford, 7 June 1794:  'In return for your ode to Indolence I know nothing better than these strains to her eldest born. they immortalize a man who is the ne plus ultra of folly.'"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, c. 1-10 October 1795, 'I am obliged to Nares for a very handsome review. it is my intention next year to write a tragedy. the subject from the Observer. the Portuguese accused before the Inquisition of incest & muder. read the story.'"""
"""A book I have a high opinion of'"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 12 July 1795, 'Drydens denunciation of Time & Space is by no means so ridiculous as Critics have pretended — I cry out against them most heartily.'"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 12 July 1795, 'How wonderfully must the brain be organized to form all these sensations in a twentieth part of the time I wrote them in. how can motion be thought? & yet how can thought be any thing else? is it not as difficult to conceive colour as nothing but motion — & this is demonstrated by Darwin.  — & what consequence is it what it is! all useful knowledge is easily acquired.'"""
"""To amuse ourselves at the inns on this road we brought with us Jackson's """"""""30 Letters"""""""" & Moritz's """"""""Travels in England"""""""" (both in our Society) but having finish'd the latter (w'ch John was now reading) & Mrs M being reading the other, I got Mrs Radcliffe's novel of the """"""""Sicilian Romance"""""""" from the Library there, which I this day began reading & was much pleased with.'"""
"""To amuse ourselves at the inns on this road we brought with us Jackson's """"""""30 Letters"""""""" & Moritz's """"""""Travels in England"""""""" (both in our Society) but having finish'd the latter (w'ch John was now reading) & Mrs M being reading the other, I got Mrs Radcliffe's novel of the """"""""Sicilian Romance"""""""" from the Library there, which I this day began reading & was much pleased with.'"""
"""To amuse ourselves at the inns on this road we brought with us Jackson's """"""""30 Letters"""""""" & Moritz's """"""""Travels in England"""""""" (both in our Society) but having finish'd the latter (w'ch John was now reading) & Mrs M being reading the other, I got Mrs Radcliffe's novel of the """"""""Sicilian Romance"""""""" from the Library there, which I this day began reading & was much pleased with.'"""
"""To amuse ourselves at the inns on this road we brought with us Jackson's """"""""30 Letters"""""""" & Moritz's """"""""Travels in England"""""""" (both in our Society) but having finish'd the latter (w'ch John was now reading) & Mrs M being reading the other, I got Mrs Radcliffe's novel of the """"""""Sicilian Romance"""""""" from the Library there, which I this day began reading & was much pleased with.'"""
"""On this day I began reading Darwin's """"""""Zoonomia"""""""", w'ch I had lately proposed in the Book Society.'"""
"""On this day I finis'd Sullivan's """"""""View of Nature"""""""" w'ch I had from the Library Society from w'ch & from the Book Society we were now finish'd with as many books as we co'd get thro'.'"""
"""Horace Walpole to Mary Berry, 27 November 1795, 'half after noon': 'Mr. Coxe, whom I could not dismiss, has sat reading to me till this instant, till I can scarce save the post [in letter of 24 November mentions expecting Coxe, for reading of chapters of life of 'my father', i.e. Robert Walpole].'  """
"""we know nothing of mankind, but from letters and Neswpapers, to the latter of which, in spite of my Verses & Witticisms, I have recourse for Information: sad Information now!' [Crabbe alludes to his satirical poem 'The Newspaper']"""
"""""""""""In late Nov. 1795, W[ordsworth] wrote to [Francis] Wrangham: """""""" ... we see only here a provincial weekly paper ..."""""""""""
"""[Marginalia]"
"""C[oleridge] was reading Burnet in 1795 ... '"""
"""On the next day (Tuesday 31st) I went to Canterbury in the coach & on the same evening in the diligence to Dover where I amused myself with reading """"""""Herman of Unna"""""""" (a then popular novel) which I got at Canterbury...'"""
"""[John Locke] """"""""says it [is the] same faculty that invents judges""""""""."""
"""?My father will allow me to manufacture an essay on the logograph, he furnishing the soiled materials and I spinning them. I am now looking over, for this purpose, Wilkins?s Real Character or an Essay towards universal philosophical language. It is a scarce and very ingenious book; some of the phraseology is so much out of the present fashion, that it would make you smile; such as the synonym for a little man, a Dandiprat. Likewise, two prints, one of them a long sheet of men with their throats cut, so as to show the wind pipe whilst working out the different letters of the alphabet. The other print of all the birds and beasts packed ready to go to the ark?"""
"""Mr Laidlaw having a number of valuable books, which were all open to my perusal, I about this time began to read with considerable attention; - and no sooner did I begin to read so as to understand, than, rather prematurely, I began to write.'"""
"""Finished Robertson's """"""""History of Scotland""""""""...'"""
"""Read Hawkesworth's """"""""Life of Swift""""""""....'"""
"""Robert Southey to Horace Walpole Bedford,  12 June 1796: 'Warburton has said that the Epic is arrived at perfection & consequently incapable of improvement — for Homer is possessed of the province of Morality Virgil of politics & Milton of Religion. all this I deny. the morality of Homers heroes is as savage as the age they lived in — as for politics they are yet in their infancy — & the tale of Paradise Lost is the fatal source of all the corruptions of Xtianity.'"""
"""Robert Southey to Horace Walpole Bedford,  12 June 1796: 'Lewis’s Monk I have not seen — [material scored out] Such publications may be made the vehicles of much truth & utility — yet have I hitherto seen very few that really are so. in his Anna St Ives Holcroft has succeeded — but his Hugh Trevor is outrageously caricatured.   Things as they are  — is likewise a very faulty novel, & one which shews William Godwin to be little acquainted with human characters. I have planned a work to delineate existing systems & their consequent vices & misery, & hope to do some good by it if I have ever leisure to fill up the outlines.' """
"""Robert Southey to Horace Walpole Bedford,  12 June 1796: 'Lewis’s Monk I have not seen — [material scored out] Such publications may be made the vehicles of much truth & utility — yet have I hitherto seen very few that really are so. in his Anna St Ives Holcroft has succeeded — but his Hugh Trevor is outrageously caricatured.   Things as they are  — is likewise a very faulty novel, & one which shews William Godwin to be little acquainted with human characters. I have planned a work to delineate existing systems & their consequent vices & misery, & hope to do some good by it if I have ever leisure to fill up the outlines.' """
"""Robert Southey to Horace Walpole Bedford,  12 June 1796: 'Lewis’s Monk I have not seen — [material scored out] Such publications may be made the vehicles of much truth & utility — yet have I hitherto seen very few that really are so. in his Anna St Ives Holcroft has succeeded — but his Hugh Trevor is outrageously caricatured.   Things as they are  — is likewise a very faulty novel, & one which shews William Godwin to be little acquainted with human characters. I have planned a work to delineate existing systems & their consequent vices & misery, & hope to do some good by it if I have ever leisure to fill up the outlines.' """
"""Read Burke's """"""""Letters on a Regicide Peace""""""""...'"""
"""Read, in the evening, """"""""Temple on the Origin of Government:"""""""" in which the source of political power is successfully traced....'  [Green usually gives extensive summary comments about books, interspersed with his reactions.]"""
"""Finished, afterwards, """"""""Gulliver's Travels"""""""".   Could this severe satire....'"""
"""Finished Sheridan's """"""""Life of Swift""""""""....'"""
"""To amuse myself during this solitary journey I got Cumberland's """"""""Henry"""""""" (then a new publication)... Wishing to reach Maidstone in good time on the follow'g day I ordered the chaise to be ready at 4 in the morning, at w'ch time I sat off & breakfasted at Uckfield the end of my 2d stage, by w'ch time I [had] become much interested in my travelling companion """"""""Henry"""""""".'"""
"""...immediately afterwards went in the diligence to Margate during which I finished the eccentric performance of """"""""Caleb Williams"""""""".'"""
"""Read the 1st Book of Macchievel's """"""""Discorsi sopra Livio""""""""...'"""
"""Finished Robertson's """"""""History of Scotland""""""""...'"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 24 February - 2 March 1796 'Timothy Dwight an American publishd an heroic poem on the Conquest of Canaan in 1785.  I had heard of it & long wishd to read it in vain — but now the American minister  — (a good humourd man whose poetry is worse than any thing except his criticisms) has lent me the book. there certainly is some merit in the poem — but when Colonel Humphreys speaks of it he will not allow me to put in a word in defence of John Milton. if I had written upon this subject I should have been terribly tempted to take part with the Canaanites, for whom I cannot help feeling a kind of brotherly compassion.' """
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 24 February - 2 March 1796 'Timothy Dwight an American publishd an heroic poem on the Conquest of Canaan in 1785.  I had heard of it & long wishd to read it in vain — but now the American minister  — (a good humourd man whose poetry is worse than any thing except his criticisms) has lent me the book. there certainly is some merit in the poem — but when Colonel Humphreys speaks of it he will not allow me to put in a word in defence of John Milton. if I had written upon this subject I should have been terribly tempted to take part with the Canaanites, for whom I cannot help feeling a kind of brotherly compassion.' """
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 24 February - 2 March 1796 'When we meet I will shew you a most elegant piece of latin on the eternity of future punishment extracted from Thomas Burnett — Author of The Theory of Earth  a book which equals Milton in sublimity, & which for ingenuity never perhaps was equalled.' """
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 24 February - 2 March 1796 'When we meet I will shew you a most elegant piece of latin on the eternity of future punishment extracted from Thomas Burnett — Author of The Theory of Earth  a book which equals Milton in sublimity, & which for ingenuity never perhaps was equalled.' """
"""Read with interest and curiosity, Hurd's """"""""Life of Warburton""""""""...'"""
"""Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 23-27 April, 1796 'The Poetry of Spain & Portugal wants taste, & generally, feeling. I should have thought Camoens  deficient in feelings if I had only read his Lusiad — but the Sonnets of Camoens are very beautiful. those given by Hayley in his notes to the Essay on Epic P. tho among the best are but a wretched specimen to the English reader. the translations are detestable — & the originals so printed as to be unintelligible. I bought some ballads in Spain in remembrance of Rio Verde  — but they prove bad enough. but six months after my return I will tell you more.' """
"""Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 23-27 April, 1796 'The Poetry of Spain & Portugal wants taste, & generally, feeling. I should have thought Camoens  deficient in feelings if I had only read his Lusiad — but the Sonnets of Camoens are very beautiful. those given by Hayley in his notes to the Essay on Epic P. tho among the best are but a wretched specimen to the English reader. the translations are detestable — & the originals so printed as to be unintelligible. I bought some ballads in Spain in remembrance of Rio Verde  — but they prove bad enough. but six months after my return I will tell you more.' """
"""Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 23-27 April, 1796 'The Poetry of Spain & Portugal wants taste, & generally, feeling. I should have thought Camoens  deficient in feelings if I had only read his Lusiad — but the Sonnets of Camoens are very beautiful. those given by Hayley in his notes to the Essay on Epic P. tho among the best are but a wretched specimen to the English reader. the translations are detestable — & the originals so printed as to be unintelligible. I bought some ballads in Spain in remembrance of Rio Verde  — but they prove bad enough. but six months after my return I will tell you more.' """
"""Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 23-27 April, 1796 'The Poetry of Spain & Portugal wants taste, & generally, feeling. I should have thought Camoens  deficient in feelings if I had only read his Lusiad — but the Sonnets of Camoens are very beautiful. those given by Hayley in his notes to the Essay on Epic P. tho among the best are but a wretched specimen to the English reader. the translations are detestable — & the originals so printed as to be unintelligible. I bought some ballads in Spain in remembrance of Rio Verde  — but they prove bad enough. but six months after my return I will tell you more.' """
"""Finished Jortin's """"""""Life of Erasmus""""""""....'"""
"""Robert Southey to Horace Walpole Bedford,  26 June 1796: 'The Cambridge Intelligencer  has this day informed me that George Strachey has won the Greek Ode.' """
"""Finished the first three Books of Robertson's """"""""America""""""""...'"""
"""Robert Southey to Joseph Cottle, February 1796, 'Count Leopold Berchtold. - this man (foster-brother of the Emperor Joseph) is one of those rare travellers characters who spend their lives in doing good. it is his custom in every country he visits to publish books in its language on some use subject of practical utility — these he gave away. I have now lying before me the two which he printed in Lisbon. the one is an Essay on the means of preserving life in the various dangers to which men are daily exposed.  the other — an Essay on extending the limits of benevolence not only towards men but animals.   his age was about 25 — his person fine, & his manners the most polished....'"""
"""Robert Southey to Joseph Cottle, February 1796, 'Count Leopold Berchtold. - this man (foster-brother of the Emperor Joseph) is one of those rare travellers characters who spend their lives in doing good. it is his custom in every country he visits to publish books in its language on some use subject of practical utility — these he gave away. I have now lying before me the two which he printed in Lisbon. the one is an Essay on the means of preserving life in the various dangers to which men are daily exposed.  the other — an Essay on extending the limits of benevolence not only towards men but animals.   his age was about 25 — his person fine, & his manners the most polished....'"""
"""Robert Southey to Joseph Cottle, February 1796, 'I have so much to read & lose so much time in this detestable visiting. I have seen the Monthly Rev. they speak well of Fawcetts poem   — but abuse Joel Barlow'. """
"""Robert Southey to Joseph Cottle, February 1796, 'I have seen the B. Critic. stupid hounds not to prefer the Monody! however our friends there behave very well.' """
"""Robert Southey to the Editor of the Monthly Magazine, 28 June 1796: 'THE story of the Mysterious Mother is of an earlier date than the noble author  imagined: it may be found in a work of bishop Hall  entitled Resolutions and Decisions of divers Practical Cases of Conscience, in continual Use amongst Men; of which the second edition, dated 1650, is now lying before me. '"""
"""Robert Southey to the Editor of the Monthly Magazine, 28 June 1796: 'THE story of the Mysterious Mother is of an earlier date than the noble author  imagined: it may be found in a work of bishop Hall entitled Resolutions and Decisions of divers Practical Cases of Conscience, in continual Use amongst Men; of which the second edition, dated 1650, is now lying before me. '"""
"""Looked into Gibbon's """"""""Miscellaneous Works""""""""...'"""
"""Read the first two books of """"""""Livy's History""""""""...'"""
"""Read, after a long interval, with much delight, the first two Books of Caesar's """"""""Commentaries""""""""....'"""
"""Read Bp. Watson's """"""""Apology for the Bible"""""""", in reply to Paine....'"""
"""Began, with a view of comparing notes, Macchiavel's """"""""Historie Fiorentino""""""""...'"""
"""Letter to Mrs Macintosh October 3 1796 'Have you read Lord Gardenstone?s Sketches, or detailed observations, I believe they are? It is very much the kind of reading that you like. I never met with one who thought exactly as I do of Shakspear, of David Hume, and of Queen Mary, but he. In politics we should never agree, I am &c., &c.? '"""
"""To amuse myself during this journey I brought the life of the eccentric Benvenuto Cellini to read in the chaise etc. as we travelled.'"""
"""Began with eagerness, and read, with increasing avidity, the first four Chapters of Roscoe's """"""""Life of Lorenzo de Medici""""""""...'"""
"""[Marginalia]"
"""Byron to John Murray, 9 October 1821, having requested that he send a Bible: 'I am a great reader and admirer of those books -- and had read them through and through before I was eight years old -- that is to say the Old Testament -- for the New struck me as a task -- but the other as a pleasure -- I speak as a boy -- from the recollected impression of that period at Aberdeen in 1796.'"""
"""[Marginalia]"
"""""""""""'I have received from [Basil] Montagu, Godwyn's second edition,' reports W[ordsworth] on 21 March 1796: 'I expect to find the work much improved. I cannot say that I have been encouraged in this hope by the perusal of the second preface, which is all I have yet looked into.'"""""""""""
"""W[ordsworth] read Holcroft's play shortly after publication ... on 21 March 1796 [he] told [William] Mathews that """"""""I have attempted to read Holcroft's Man of Ten Thousand, but such stuff!  Demme hey, humph.""""""""'"""
"""""""""""On 7 March 1796 D[orothy] W[ordsworth] remarked that 'I am now reading the Fool of Quality which amuses me exceedingly.'"""""""""""
"""""""""""Within the last month I have read Tristram Shandy, Brydone's Sicily and Malta, and Moore's Travels in France,"""""""" D[orothy] W[ordsworth] wrote in March 1796."""""""""""
"""""""""""Within the last month I have read Tristram Shandy, Brydone's Sicily and Malta, and Moore's Travels in France,"""""""" D[orothy] W[ordsworth] wrote in March 1796."""""""""""
"""""""""""'Within the last month I have read Tristram Shandy, Brydone's Sicily and Malta, and Moore's Travels in France,' D[orothy] W[ordsworth] wrote in March 1796."""""""""""
""""""""""" ... in March 1796 D[orothy] W[ordsworth] reported that 'I have also read lately Madame Roland's Memoirs, Louvet and some other french things - very entertaining.'"""""""""""
""""""""""" ... in March 1796 D[orothy] W[ordsworth] reported that 'I have also read lately Madame Roland's Memoirs, Louvet and some other french things - very entertaining.'"""""""""""
"""W[ordsworth] read """"""""Christian's own Account of the Mutiny on Board his Majesty's Ship Bounty, commanded by Captain Bligh, of which he was the Ringleader"""""""" in The Weekly Entertainer 28 (26 Sept. 1796), some time in Sept. or Oct. 1796.'"""
"""Pursued Boswell's """"""""life of Johnson""""""""....'"""
"""John Playfair to Mary Berry, 8 May 1796: 'I waited with much impatience for the """"""""Life and Miscellaneous Works of Gibbon,"""""""" and if I have not been quite so much delighted as I supposed, I have yet been highly gratified by becoming more intimately acquainted with the person and character of a great man whom I had before only admired at an immense distance [goes on to criticise Lord Sheffield's editorship of the work].'"""
"""John Playfair to Mary Berry, 8 May 1796: 'I have lately seen a posthumous work of Condorcet's; it is a very curious book, full of false views and unsound principles, mingled with truth and philosophy in a manner extremely ingenious and artful.'"""
"""On the next day (Saturday 9th) I went to Canterbury in the diligence, during w'ch I amused myself with reading part of Voltaire's """"""""Candide"""""""", w'ch having read a great many years ago at Salisbury & almost forgot, I bought the day before in duodecimo. Having dined at the King's Head I went out & got """"""""Caleb Williams"""""""" of w'ch I had heard much & of w'ch I read great part of the 1st vol. in the evening at the King's Head (where I also supp'd & slept) leaving the 2d. vol of """"""""Candide"""""""" to read on my return to London.'"""
"""On the next day (Saturday 9th) I went to Canterbury in the diligence, during w'ch I amused myself with reading part of Voltaire's """"""""Candide"""""""", w'ch having read a great many years ago at Salisbury & almost forgot, I bought the day before in duodecimo. Having dined at the King's Head I went out & got """"""""Caleb Williams"""""""" of w'ch I had heard much & of w'ch I read great part of the 1st vol. in the evening at the King's Head (where I also supp'd & slept) leaving the 2d. vol of """"""""Candide"""""""" to read on my return to London.'"""
"""Read the """"""""Castle of Otranto"""""""", which grievously disappointed my expectations...'"""
"""I drew out of Pennant a View of the Ruins of Clerkenwell Church'"""
"""I took """"""""Varieties & c"""""""" to the Library. I brought the 2nd Volume of the """"""""Minstrel or Anecdotes of Distinguished Persons in ye 15 Century"""""""". ...  I think it one of the Prettyest [sic] novels I have ever read. The first volume being lost at our Library. I got it at Lindley's Library in Church Lane. There is a vey long list of books lost. I bought 26 songs for 0 1/2.'"""
"""Robert Southey to Thomas Southey, 11 November 1797:  'Amos Cottles translation of the Edda is published, & I have brought over a copy for you. you know it was my intention to write him some lines that might be prefixed, & perhaps sell some half dozen copies among my friends. you will find them there.  the book itself will not interest you. it is only calculated for those who study mythology in general, the antiquities of the north, or who read to collect images for poetry. it happens to suit me in all these points.'"""
"""The next day being wet, we staid [sic] within, when to amuse me I got the 2 last vols of the """"""""Mysteries of Udolpho"""""""" (the 2 first of w'ch I had read before we left Chichester) & afterw'ds Keate's """"""""Sketches of Nature"""""""", from the library.'"""
"""The next day being wet, we staid [sic] within, when to amuse me I got the 2 last vols of the """"""""Mysteries of Udolpho"""""""" (the 2 first of w'ch I had read before we left Chichester) & afterw'ds Keate's """"""""Sketches of Nature"""""""", from the library.'"""
"""As W[ordsworth] recalled in the Fenwick Note to We are Seven ... his reading of Shelvocke's Voyages inspired the killing of the albatross in C[oleridge]'s Ancient Mariner.  W[ordsworth] dates this reading """"""""a day or two before"""""""" the walking tour to Lynton - which would make it c.11-12 November 1797.'"""
"""Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 12 November 1797:  'You will be surprized perhaps at hearing that Cowpers poem does not at all please me. you must have heard it in some moment when your mind was predisposed to be pleased, & the first impression has remained. indeed I think it — not above mediocrity — I cannot trace the Author of the Task in one line.' """
"""Robert Southey to Joseph Cottle, 13 March 1797: 'When I was with George Dyer one morning last week Mary Hayes & Miss Christall entered, & the ceremony of introduction followed. Mary Hayes writes in the M. Magazine under the signature M.H. & sometimes writes nonsense about Helvetius there.  she has lately published a novel — Emma Courtney  — a book much praised & much abused; I have not seen it myself. but the severe censures passed upon it by persons of narrow mind, have made be curious, & convinced me that it is at least an uncommon work. Mary Hays is an agreable woman — & a Godwinite.'"""
"""Robert Southey to Joseph Cottle, 13 March 1797: 'But Miss Christall. have you seen her Poems? — a fine, artless sensible girl, now Cottle that word sensible must not be construed here in its dictionary acceptation. ask a Frenchman what it means & he will understand it, tho perhaps <he can by> no circumlocution define its explain its French meaning. her heart is alive. she loves Poetry — she loves retirement — she loves the country. her verses are very incorrect, & the Literary Circle say she has no genius. but she has Genius, Joseph Cottle! or there is no truth in physiognomy.'"""
"""Finished Longinus on the Sublime; to which I had been led, by Gibbon's critique in his """"""""Extraits Raisonnes""""""""...'"""
"""I will here give an account of the Hymns which I could say ... This I have copied from Mr E[vans] writing in an old hymn book of mine."""
"""Finished a cursory perusal of Burke on the """"""""Sublime and Beautiful""""""""...'"""
"""Looked over, by a cursory perusal, Beattie's """"""""Essay on Truth""""""""...'"""
"""Robert Southey to Thomas Southey, 16 March, 1797: 'We have been here now nearly a month. I read much Law — & find time to write. for company I have neither leisu[re or MS torn] inclination, & therefore confine myself to a very fe[MS torn] friends.'"""
"""Reading """"""""Anedotes of Some Remarkable Persons Chiefly of The Present and Two Preceding Centuries'"""
"""Looked over Brown's """"""""Essays on Satire"""""""", prefixed to Pope's """"""""Moral Poems""""""""; in which the nature and end of Satire is happily portrayed...'"""
"""I have been for some time amusing myself with the """"""""Arabian Nights"""""""" Entertainments, to whose fascinating influence I am quite ductile...'"""
"""I drew out of a book entitled 'a genealogical History of the Present Royal Families of Europe' the pedigree of several of them."""
"""[Frances] Burney had read both """"""""The Mysteries of Udolpho"""""""" and """"""""The Italian"""""""" when they first came out, preferring the latter ...'"""
"""H. J. Jackson discusses copious annotations made in 2-volume first-edition (1791) copy of James Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson, which signed """"""""Scriblerus"""""""" (who Jackson identifies as Fulke Greville), commenting: """"""""[Scriblerus] evidently read the Life, or at least dipped into it, more than once: a summary note from the end of his first reading is dated November 1791, but other notes include dates in 1792 and 1797.""""""""  """
"""Robert Southey to Joseph Cottle, 2 May, 1797: 'I have a treasure in store for you. a little treatise in old English, very short, upon miracles — written by John Henderson for Coleridges brother — & given me by a pupil of his — John May — a Lisbon acquaintance — & a very valuable one. '"""
"""Robert Southey to John May, 2 November 1797:  'I saw Bullers death in the news-paper. — it surprized me. we are accustomed to think it dreadful for a young man to die during when his conduct is wrong. — perhaps tho a natural feeling this is a mistaken one. two young men live in wickedness. the one dies unreclaimed in his youth. the other grows old & repents. so might the first, but for the accident of death. may we not then expect the process of amendment to be carried on in the next state of existence? else — can we expect the same work to be performed in a week or in a month? ...'"""
"""Robert Southey to John May, 2 November 1797:  'We have had a dreadful suicide here. the whole is in the Monthly Magazine.'"""
"""""""""""I am translating the Oberon of Wieland,"""""""" C[oleridge] told [Thomas] Poole, 20 Nov 1797.'"""
"""We got the Iris this morning I copied out of it the petition of the G [?] dispersed thro Germany and Hartman's Soliloquy in imitation of Hamlet.'"""
"""Mr Fisher who came up to alter Mr E a gown &c against our journay bought in a """"""""Cambridge Inteligencer"""""""" to look at; it is a very free paper & conducted by Mr Flower.'"""
"""Looked over Malone's """"""""Enquiry into the Authenticity of Ireland's Shakesperian Papers""""""""; a learned and decisive piece of criticism...'"""
"""Read Adam Smith's """"""""History of Astronomy"""""""", in his posthumous tracts, published by Dugald Stewart...'"""
"""Looked over the """"""""Beggar's Opera"""""""".  The slang of low iniquity, is happily given in this strange drama...'"""
"""Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 22 September 1797:  'I see Roughs Lorenzino reviewed. I had not expected much.' """
"""Read Hurd's """"""""Discourse on Poetical Imitation"""""""":  a critical disquisition of considerable depth and skill...'"""
"""Robert Southey to John May, 24 August 1797: 'Have you seen a poem addressed to me by Miss Anna Seward? if not I can much amuse you by it. she applies to my poetry what Milton says of the Pandæmonium chorists.calls me an unnatural boy, a beardless parricide, & dark of heart; says I cry like a crocodile & bids me laugh like a hyena. — & laugh I did most heartily — & so I think will you at perusing this very delectable poem.'"""
"""Read the """"""""1st Epistle of Horace"""""""", Lib. 2 (the celebrated Epistle to Augustus) with the aid of Dacier's notes, and Hurd's Commentary...'"""
"""S----was reading in """"""""Evenings at Home"""""""" the story of """"""""A Friend in need is a Friend Indeed"""""""" ...[when he commented on the word choice in a certain sentence].'"""
"""bought Dodsley's """"""""Trifles"""""""", a very entertaining book [in margin] Price 1s which Mr E. gave me to buy it with & has likewise given me the book.'"""
"""Finished the """"""""Italian""""""""...'"""
"""Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 25 May, 1797: 'This New Forest is very lovely. I should like to have a house in it — & dispeople the rest like William the Conqueror. of all land objects a forest is the finest. Gisborne has written a feeble poem upon the subject.'"""
"""Robert Southey to Joseph Cottle, 26 April, 1797: 'Some Mr T Park  sent me a volume of his poems last week, with a note; its praises too gross for one who is no fowl-feeder. I read his book it was not above mediocrity; he seems very fond of poetry, & even to a superstitious reverence for Thomsons old table & Miss Sewards  manuscripts which he “rescued” from the printers.  I called on him to thank him & was not sorry to find that he was not at home. But the next day a note arrives with more praise — he wishes my personal acquaintance & “trusts I shall excuse the frankness that avows that it would gratify his feelings to receive a copy of Joan of Arc from the Author.” now I thought this, to speak tenderly, not very modest.' """
"""Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 16 January 1797: 'I begin to think that our opinions upon poetry are not consonant. I am no friend to the harmony with which we have been cloyed since the days of Pope. Churchill is too rough: but there is a medium, & I am on the side of Bowles versus Reviewers: who by the by are in general a set of stupid fellows.' """
"""Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 16 January 1797: 'I begin to think that our opinions upon poetry are not consonant. I am no friend to the harmony with which we have been cloyed since the days of Pope. Churchill is too rough: but there is a medium, & I am on the side of Bowles versus Reviewers: who by the by are in general a set of stupid fellows.' """
"""Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 16 January 1797: 'I begin to think that our opinions upon poetry are not consonant. I am no friend to the harmony with which we have been cloyed since the days of Pope. Churchill is too rough: but there is a medium, & I am on the side of Bowles versus Reviewers: who by the by are in general a set of stupid fellows.' """
"""Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 16 January 1797: 'I wish Bob would insert a review of my writing in the British Critic. it is upon a strange poem with still stranger notes, written by a man of brilliant genius & polishd manners who is deranged. it is easy to imply this without doing it in such terms as would wound his feelings. the book is “the Hurricane a Theosophical & Western Eclogue by William Gilbert.”'"""
"""Robert Southey to John May, 26 June, 1797: 'Have you seen Madame Rolands Appel a l’impartiale Posteritè? it is one of those books that makes me love individuals & yet dread detest & despise mankind in a mass.' """
"""I went to Mr Gales to order two book which I saw at Birmingham [...] I brought the """"""""Life of Lackington"""""""" from the Library who begun trade with #5 & now sells 100,000 volumes annually.'"""
"""Finished Gibbon's """"""""Memoirs of himself""""""""--an exquisite morceau of literature...'"""
"""[Brought from the library] """"""""Varieties of English Literature"""""""" vol 1st which being unintelligible stuff for the most part I don't intend to have the second vol.'"""
"""Read the 2d volume of Mrs Inchbald's 'Nature & Art'. It is a pretty little thing, not in the same way as the 'Italian'."""
"""Robert Southey to Thomas Southey, 28 April, 1797: 'Have you ever met with Mary Wollstonecrafts letters from Sweden & Norway?  she has made me in love with a cold climate & frost & snow, with a Northern moonlight.' """
"""Read Hurd's """"""""Commentary on Horace's Art of Poetry""""""""...'"""
"""Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 29 January 1797: 'I have received Bedfords book this morning — he has much amended it since I saw the manuscript.' """
"""I finished Mrs Inchbald's 'Nature and Art', the second volume is not so pleasing as the first, but yet it has a very pleasing conclusion, showing the destruction of vice & the hapiness of virtue."""
"""I wrote out of the Monthly Review, an anecdote of Dr Franklin's [surgeon?] who said that the [king?] was the only gentleman in the kingdom. I began to make an index to this journal."""
"""The Iris came this morning, in it there was the following article: at Paris there is proposals for publishing by subscription Parisgraphy, or a language that may be read by any nation... I have not copied this exactlyas it is in the newspaper, but that is the substance."""
"""Read Sir Horace Walpole's """"""""Mysterious Mother"""""""".  There is a gusto of antiquity...'"""
"""Read over Beattie's """"""""Elements of Moral Science""""""""--a miserable work...'"""
"""Looked over the first Vol. of the """"""""Tatlers""""""""...'"""
"""I brought from the Library """"""""Pennant's [Views?] of London"""""""", out of which I drew a view of the Savoy Hospital'"""
"""We got the last volume of the Italian, I think it does not equal the former production"""
"""On Monday the 30th we went in the coach with... Mr Norman, with whom we dined at the Bolt & Tun, where John & I spent the evening & slept, in the course of which evening I began reading the popular novel of the """"""""Monk"""""""".'"""
""" I send you Addington's Letters. I find the melancholy ones the most interesting - There is a grossness in the raptures from which I turn...'"""
"""The only gratification I ever sought was to be permitted to sit quietly in my brother's room, with a book. That room was more pleasant and retired than the one I slept in with my mother..."""
"""Reader makes 4 references to Gray's works V.1 p.73 (Ode to adversity), p. 91 (The progress of poesy); v.2 p.55 (The fatal sisters),; v.3 p. 59 (On a distant prospect of Eton college). Eg. p.73 'I always delight in Gray?s Ode to Adversity; read it once again and compare its ennobling tenors with my ideas.'; p. 91 'I feel the spark of fancy kindling at the torch of memory; but as Gray says of Jove?s eagle, """"""""the thunder of whose beak, and lightening of whose eye were to be quenched? &c &c I too will quench my mental light in ?dark clouds of slumber""""""""'."""
"""... C[oleridge]was reading Plato during the mid-1790s ... '"""
"""[Half a page in praise of Evenings, beginning:] 'No one can be so injudicious, or so unjust, as to class the excellent """"""""Evenings at Home"""""""" amongst books of mere entertainment. Upon a close examination, it appears to be the best book for young people from seven to ten years old, that has yet appeared. We shall not pretend to enter into a minute examination of it; because, from what we have already said, parents can infer sentiments, and we wish to avoid tedious, unnecessary detail.'"""
"""The first books which are now usually put into the hands of a child are Mrs. Barbauld's """"""""Lessons""""""""; they are by far the best books of the kind that have ever appeared.' (p406), [ the following pages discuss specific problematic passages]"""
"""Mrs Robinson... has read your novel, and was very much pleased with the main story; but did not like the conclusion. She thinks the death of Augustus the end of the story and that the husband should have been suffered to die a natural death.'"""
"""I have sent you the """"""""Gossip Story"""""""" to review, as you wish to read it, but I would thank you if you would do it immediately, because Johnson is in want of materials for the present month. The great merit of this work is, in my opinion, the display of the small causes which destroy matrimonial felicity and peace.'"""
"""Read Swift's """"""""Four last Years of Queen Anne""""""""; a clear, connected detail of facts, exhibited with exquisite art...'"""
""" I would advise you to read Mrs R's """"""""Italian"""""""" in your own chamber, not to lose the picturesque images with which it abounds.'"""
"""Coleridge's interest in [Amos] Cottle dated back at least to May 1797, when he read his Latin poem, Italia, vastata ... '"""
"""[3 July 1797] 'brought the 2nd vol of the """"""""Antiquarian Repertory""""""""; I had read it before but there was a picture in it I wished to draw.  [4 July 1797] I drew out of the """"""""Antiquarian Repertory"""""""" a view of Little Saxham Church."""
"""Looked at Ainsworth's dictionary for the derivation of all the Christian names; Joseph is derived from the Hebrew of I will multiply ..."""
"""I went to see my Grandmother, she lent me 2 romances """"""""Richard Couer de Lion"""""""" by Mr White author of """"""""Earl Strongbow"""""""" & """"""""John Of Gaunt"""""""". It begins with his escape out of prison & is very romantic. The other is called """"""""Leon a Spartan Story"""""""" but I have not began to read it yet. They belong to Miss Sarah Shore who collects almost all the books of the king.'"""
"""I took [books] to the library and brought Aikin's """"""""Description of the Country between 30 and 40 miles around Manchester"""""""", nevertheless he has Sheffield which is 42 miles of. There are some excellent maps & beautiful prints. It says that the pastoral in the spectator of Colin and Phoebe was written by a Mr Byrom ... Mr E says it is a very valuable book.'"""
"""I finished Aikin's """"""""Description &c""""""""... I began to read my """"""""Evenings at Home"""""""" again. It is a book written by Mr Aikin and Mrs Brabauld."""
"""I finished Aikin's """"""""Description &c""""""""... I began to read my """"""""Evenings at Home"""""""" again. It is a book written by Mr Aikin and Mrs Brabauld."""
"""Robert Southey to John James Morgan, 6 March, 1797: 'Blackstone & I agree better than perhaps you imagine. true it is that I should like to write Commentaries upon his Commentaries — but mine would be an illegal book. the study fixes my attention sufficiently, when my attention begins to flag, I relieve myself by employing half an hour differently, & then set to again with fresh spirits. '"""
"""Robert Southey to John James Morgan, 6 March, 1797: 'My mornings are devoted to Law;  I allow the evening for pleasanter employments & divide it between the German Grammar & [writing] Madoc. with both of which I am getting forwards. I am fond of learning languages. nothing exercises a mans ingenuity more, he sees the progress he makes, & this at once gratifies & encourages. it is my intention to learn Welsh.'"""
"""Robert Southey to John May, 6 October 1797:  'Coleridge has so far compleated his tragedy that he has only the task of correcting it to perform. he passed thro Bath & read it to me. it is wonderfully fine — it must secure its own success, & my own opinion of it is so high that I should not be surprized were it again to make tragedy fashionable. you know Sheridan requested him to write it. his profits will be 5 or 600£.'"""
"""We got the """"""""Monthly Magazine"""""""" from Miss Haynes who takes it in. Mr E. says it is the best published.  I drew a copy of Stanley Hall near Bolton le Moor out of Aikin.'"""
"""Finished, with much interest, the """"""""Pursuits of Literature""""""""...'"""
"""Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 9 August 1797: 'I have got learnt much military knowledge from a history of Edward 3rd. by old Joshua Barnes, who, Bentley said, knew as much Greek as an Athenian cobbler. did you ever see the book? it is a large folio, so minute as almost to make me amends for the want of Froissard:  & I expect to be very accurate in my costume, but if this merit be not pointed out by explanatory notes it will be lost, for the Reviews did not discover my blunders...' """
"""I took the 2nd Vol. & brought the 3d of Lyons &c. They are very entertaining books.'"""
"""I wrote out of the Gentleman's Magazine the various [games?] assigned for the 9 of diamonds... to which I added my opinion on the subject."""
"""Took """"""""Letters from Norway & c"""""""" back to the Vestry Library. I did not read them, but Mr E. said they were very entertaining & instructive; brought Mrs Wollstonecraft """"""""View of the French Revolution"""""""".'"""
"""I have been great part of this morning with poor Bob who seems now dying. I read a long chapter in the Testament to him the one upon death and I sat with him for some time afterwards'"""
"""I used to plod at the French Grammar as I sat at my work, the book being fixed before me I was diligent also in learning all I could after I left off working at night."""
"""[regarding a poetry contest with his brother William, himself and another, Hogg says of William's poem] it was far superior to either of the other two in the sublimity of the ideas; but, besides being in bad measure, it was often bombastical. The title of it was """"""""Urania's Tour""""""""'."""
"""After reading to poor Bob which was a cross to me because some one was present I wrote this.'"""
"""I will give an account of how I spend the day hour by hour.  From 7 to 8 drew part of a landscape, wrote my diary. 8 to 9. Read a little in my Encyclopedia ... 2 to 5 at Warehouse. From 6 to 7 read a little in the Encyclopedia ...8 to 9 got my supper, read a little in the ency. 9 to 10 read in the ency.'"""
"""I will give an account of how I spend the day hour by hour.  [...9-12 at the warehouse] 12 to 1 came to my dinner, read part of the """"""""Iris"""""""". Mr H. Hall dined with us.'"""
"""Looked into Young's """"""""Night Thoughts"""""""": debased throughout with many poor and puerile conceits...'"""
"""Read Burke's Disquisition prefixed to his """"""""Sublime and Beautiful""""""""...'"""
"""Looked over King's """"""""Origin of Evil""""""""...'"""
"""Mary Berry to Mrs Cholmeley, 11 December 1798: '[William] Roscoe has just sent us a poem of his translation from an Italian poet whose very name was unknown to my shadowy Italian erudition.  It is called """"""""The Nurse,"""""""" from """"""""La Babia"""""""" of Luigi Tansillo.  I have read it over, tho' not yet with sufficient attention; but I am disappointed in it, because I expect nothing but what is excellent from his pen. The subject, which is reprobating hired nurses and exhorting all women to suckle their own children, does not do in English verse, tho' the [italics]Ariosto-like[end italics] familiarity and simplicity of the original, makes it pretty in the inimitable beauty of the Italian language [...] The poem is published, beautifully printed, with the Italian on the opposite page; it is not long, and you can no doubt get it at York.'"""
"""Read several of Dryden's original Poems.  The sudden transition from his """"""""Funeral Lines on Oliver Cromwell"""""""", to his """"""""Astraea Redux on the Restoration"""""""", the two first poems in the collection, has a curious effect...'"""
"""Read the """"""""Dunciad"""""""", with Warton's and Wakefield's Annotations...'"""
"""Returned from S. Read as I came along a considerable part of """"""""Cotoni Posthuma"""""""" which Mr M[anley] lent me.'"""
"""I was too much engaged with Gibbon to bestow time on reading """"""""Causes and Consequences""""""""; Mr E. However, read it & was pleased with it.'"""
"""I was too much engaged with Gibbon to bestow time on reading """"""""Causes and Consequences""""""""; Mr E. However, read it & was pleased with it.'"""
"""Began to read as my Sunday Reading Benson's """"""""Life of Christ"""""""".'"""
"""""""""""The Iris"""""""" in mentioning the Sessions at Sheffield says ...'"""
"""Dipped into Bacon's """"""""Essays""""""""; so pregnant with just, original, and striking observations on every topic which is touched, that I cannot select what pleases me most...'"""
"""Took Pennant's """"""""View of Hindoostan"""""""" to Library; I have not read it but, Mr E. says it is very entertaining. There are some beautiful plates in it.'"""
"""Brought Mrs Radcliffe's """"""""Mysteries of Udolpho""""""""; I wish I had not read it before, for upon a second reading it loses half its intrest'"""
"""Began to copy out of Lodge's """"""""Illustrations"""""""", the lives of the 4th, 5th, 6th, & 7th Earls of Shrewsbury; the book contains chiefly letters to and from the 4 great characters.'"""
"""Mr E. brought """"""""Fragments in the Manner of Sterne"""""""" 1797 from the library. The """"""""Monthly Review"""""""" says it is the best imitation of Sterne that has ever appeared. I finished it that night & was very pleased with it; I think I will read """"""""Tristram Shandy"""""""".'"""
"""Began Campbell's """"""""Rhetoric""""""""...'"""
"""I slept late. Too unwell to go to meeting but have been writing and working which I disapprove of doing in general on a Sunday for I think it a bad example to servants, but I intend now to read in the Testament. I finished this day satisfactorily. I went to meeting; heard a good deal of reading and read to Nurse Norman's family.'"""
"""I devoted most of my morning writing to P. Hoare, writing French and reading'"""
"""Read Brown's """"""""Estimate of the Manners and Principles of the Times"""""""".  The 2d Vol. is merely a supplementary comment on the 1st; and in that, after allowing us a spirit of liberty, of humanity, and of equity, he maintains, that a vain luxurious and selfish effeminacy, introduced by exorbitant trade and wealth, has sapped our principles of religion, honour, and pubilc spirit...'"""
"""Mary Berry to a friend, 14 December, 1798: 'During my illness I have finished the 2nd vol. of Wraxhall which I had just begun at Brandsby, and which I like better and better the farther I go.  I have consulted, too, one of his authorities for many things in the age of Henry the Third, Montaigne's Essays, a very curious and an [italics]astonishing[end italics] book, considering the times in which it was written, and which one never consults without entertainment.  I have re-read, too, Condorcet's book, and compared his ideas and arguments on the subject of population with those of the Essay [by Malthus] we have been reading, and certainly the Essay has not only the best of the argument [...] but is absolute [italics]conviction[end italics]on the subject of the different ratios in which population, and the means of subsisting that population, increase'."""
"""Mary Berry to a friend, 14 December, 1798: 'During my illness I have finished the 2nd vol. of Wraxhall which I had just begun at Brandsby, and which I like better and better the farther I go.  I have consulted, too, one of his authorities for many things in the age of Henry the Third, Montaigne's Essays, a very curious and an [italics]astonishing[end italics] book, considering the times in which it was written, and which one never consults without entertainment.  I have re-read, too, Condorcet's book, and compared his ideas and arguments on the subject of population with those of the Essay [by Malthus] we have been reading, and certainly the Essay has not only the best of the argument [...] but is absolute [italics]conviction[end italics]on the subject of the different ratios in which population, and the means of subsisting that population, increase'."""
"""Mary Berry to a friend, 14 December, 1798: 'During my illness I have finished the 2nd vol. of Wraxhall which I had just begun at Brandsby, and which I like better and better the farther I go.  I have consulted, too, one of his authorities for many things in the age of Henry the Third, Montaigne's Essays, a very curious and an [italics]astonishing[end italics] book, considering the times in which it was written, and which one never consults without entertainment.  I have re-read, too, Condorcet's book, and compared his ideas and arguments on the subject of population with those of the Essay [by Malthus] we have been reading, and certainly the Essay has not only the best of the argument [...] but is absolute [italics]conviction[end italics]on the subject of the different ratios in which population, and the means of subsisting that population, increase'."""
"""Mary Berry to a friend, 14 December, 1798: 'During my illness I have finished the 2nd vol. of Wraxhall which I had just begun at Brandsby, and which I like better and better the farther I go.  I have consulted, too, one of his authorities for many things in the age of Henry the Third, Montaigne's Essays, a very curious and an [italics]astonishing[end italics] book, considering the times in which it was written, and which one never consults without entertainment.  I have re-read, too, Condorcet's book, and compared his ideas and arguments on the subject of population with those of the Essay [by Malthus] we have been reading, and certainly the Essay has not only the best of the argument [...] but is absolute [italics]conviction[end italics]on the subject of the different ratios in which population, and the means of subsisting that population, increase'."""
"""Read Garth's """"""""Dispensary""""""""; a lively and pleasing poem, sparkling with considerable wit, but defrauded of its just fame by the """"""""Dunciad""""""""...'"""
"""Finished the """"""""Memoirs of Scriblerus""""""""; an exquisite piece of satire, of which the separate parts of Swift, Pope, and Arbuthnot, are sometimes very distinguishable...'"""
"""Finished the account of the Earls of Shrewsbury.'"""
"""Read the Introduction to Berkeley's """"""""Principles of Human Knowledge"""""""", in which he really seems to be serious and in earnest...'"""
"""Finished the 1st Book of Quinctilian """"""""De Institutione Oratoria""""""""...'"""
"""Began to draw out of Lodge, the monument of George 4th Earl of Shrewsbury.'"""
"""Wrote out of """"""""Fragments"""""""" the piece upon war.'"""
"""Read a beautiful story in Pratt [borrowed on 11 Oct] concerning a decayed merchant & his daughter who had retired into Wales & were unexpectedly relieved by the Great John Howard.'"""
"""I have read part of Townson but I think I shall read no more as it consists of nothing [else?] but mineralogical & botanical remarks.'"""
"""Took the 1st vol of Staunton to the library [borrowed on 7 Sept], & brought Townson's """"""""Travels"""""""" ... The 1st part of Staunton brings the embassador into the Yellow Sea, so it is the second, which we must expect the most entertainment as it gives a very particular account of the Chinese custom &c.'"""
"""Read the first Book of Locke's """"""""Essay on the Human Understanding"""""""",--in refutation of the doctrine of innate principles...'"""
"""Finished the 'Novel of """"""""Nourjahad"""""""" in the evening.  Nothing, I think, can be more happily conceived for its purpose, than the plan of this little romance...'"""
"""I on Friday the 16th went up in the coach to consult Mess'rs Bridges, Blake & other friends upon the matter, taking with me to amuse myself in the coach etc. the new popular novel of the """"""""Beggar Girl"""""""".'"""
"""Finished the """"""""Baviad and Maeviad""""""""; an exquisite satire on the loathsome affectations of the Della Crusca school of poetry...'"""
"""Mr Scholfield gave me a medal struck to commemorate the presentation of the colours to the Birmingham association of cavalry & infantry. On one side is """"""""Public virtue seated on ..."""""""" [in margin] """"""""From the printed description which accompanies it"""""""".'"""
"""Began Dalrymple's """"""""Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland""""""""; and read the two introductory sections, containing a masterly review of our political affairs...'"""
"""There was a very long list of Arrivals here, in the Newspaper yesterday, so that we need not immediately dread absolute solitude.'"""
"""Looked over """"""""Serious Reflections by a rational Christian"""""""", from 1788 to 1798 written by the Duke of G-...'"""
"""Yesterday evening I had a little choice time by myself. I read and was still in my heart.'"""
"""Read Shaftesbury's """"""""Enquiry concerning Virtue"""""""".  His ideas are not very distinctly state; but he seems, to place Virtue in a proper management of the affections...'"""
"""Began, and read the first section of, Wollaston's """"""""Religion of Nature""""""""...'"""
"""read a little in Barclay'"""
"""Finished the """"""""Memoirs of Grammont""""""""; which exhibit, with less wit and spirit than I expected, a shameful picture of the voluptuousness, intrigues, and abandoned profligacy, of the Court of Charles II...'"""
"""Began Colley Cibber's """"""""Life""""""""; and was much delighted with his minute yet masterly account of the principal actors who figured previously to the Revolution...'"""
"""We got """"""""The Iris"""""""" this morning; it contained an Advertisement from Mr [Sorby?], saying that he intended to resign the school at Midsummer & begged leave to reccomend [sic] Messrs Bolton & Hayward as his successors.'"""
"""went to Meeting - had a more comfortable reading with my boys than this day [last] week'"""
"""My father reads Cowper to us in the evening, to which I listen when I can.'"""
"""Took Percy's """"""""Reliques"""""""" to the Library [no evidence of reading this text], & brought Ireland's """"""""Picturesque Views on the River Thames"""""""". Began to draw out of Ireland the view of Strawberry Hill.'"""
"""Altogether I think I have had a satisfactory day. I had a good lesson of French this morning and read much in Epectitus'"""
"""Mary Berry to a friend, 19 November 1798: 'Don't let me forget to advise you to to read the """"""""Natural Son,"""""""" or """"""""Lovers' Vows;"""""""" it is the entire and literal translation of the play which is now acting with such success at Covent Garden, but [italics]not[end italics] as it is acted; you can get it at Todd's [bookseller's], where I did, to read in the chaise.  I think it quite charming, and it affected me much [...] You must allow for German manners and for the (at all times) sad disguise of a translation.'"""
"""Mary Berry to a friend, 19 November 1798: 'Don't let me forget to advise you to to read the """"""""Natural Son,"""""""" or """"""""Lovers' Vows;"""""""" it is the entire and literal translation of the play which is now acting with such success at Covent Garden, but [italics]not[end italics] as it is acted; you can get it at Todd's [bookseller's], where I did, to read in the chaise [...] Another  book which I purchased at Todd's and read in my chaise was the """"""""Essay on Population"""""""" which Mr. Wrangham left with you. It is uncommonly clearly thought and written, and contains much curious and uncontrovertible reasoning on the subject in question.'"""
"""I have this day read Rasselas which is a book I like as it leads to deep affection'"""
"""Procured a paper in form of an advertisement called """"""""Long Faces"""""""" published Feb. 28th 1794 on the fast which was held that day. It is a very keen satire on fast days in general. I think it has been declared a libel.'"""
"""Fetched the """"""""Castle of Mowbray"""""""" from Lindley's Library; a very silly Love tale. Took the """"""""Castle of Otranto"""""""" to the Library. It is one of the most entertaining novels I ever read.'"""
"""Took Zimmermann to the library [In margin: 'vestry']. It consists for the most part of declamation, tho' it is very instructive; I have not finishe'd it but it was time to return it.'"""
"""read to Mrs Norman'"""
"""in the afternoon I laid down had a very sweet nap which I did enjoy - read in the Testament ... I then went and read the Testament to Nurse Norman's family which answered remarkably well ... I have been reading to little Castleton. I sometimes feel I am not good enough to teach others until I know more myself, and am a more strictly virtuous character'"""
"""in the afternoon I laid down had a very sweet nap which I did enjoy - read in the Testament ... I then went and read the Testament to Nurse Norman's family which answered remarkably well ... I have been reading to little Castleton. I sometimes feel I am not good enough to teach others until I know more myself, and am a more strictly virtuous character'"""
"""in the afternoon I laid down had a very sweet nap which I did enjoy - read in the Testament ... I then went and read the Testament to Nurse Norman's family which answered remarkably well ... I have been reading to little Castleton. I sometimes feel I am not good enough to teach others until I know more myself, and am a more strictly virtuous character'"""
"""brought also the """"""""Gent Mag"""""""" for Sepr 1798. [It] speaks very severly of Mr Smith's Sermon to the Odd-fellows; they say that if he had intended to promote the intrests of Republicanism he could not have done it in a more effective manner ...'"""
"""Began to read Thomson's """"""""Seasons"""""""".'"""
"""I rode to Brighton on my way back, where I spent the evening and slept at the Old Ship, amusing myself besides my novel, with going on with some of the draught or rough sketch of this history...'"""
"""Wrote out of the """"""""Monthly Mag."""""""" an example of English hexameter.  [Borrowed 'the first 12 no.s' from Miss Haynes on 17 August 1798] Sir Philip Sidney had an idea of the same kind for he composed a poem in such verse.'"""
"""Finished Barrington's """"""""Observations on the Ancient Statutes""""""""; a well conceived and elaborate work...'"""
"""I am glad you were pleased with Clery. As I have succeeded in one recommendation, I will take the liberty of making another, and advise you to buy Count Rumford's Essays, and to read that in particular which treats of the food of the poor. The amazingly small expence at which they can be fed is really surprising'."""
"""Brought Wolstonecraft's """"""""View of the French Revolution"""""""", from the Chapel Library, for Miss Haynes to read. Read in Miss Hannah More's """"""""Sacred Drama"""""""", David & Goliath, I was much pleased with it.'"""
"""""""""""On 21 Sept 1798, Klopstock read to W[ordsworth] and C[oleridge] 'some passages from his odes in which he has adopted the latin measures' (Wordsworth, Prose Works  vol. 1, p.91)."""
"""Looked over Lord Chesterfield's """"""""Characters"""""""":  all of which are neatly, and some very finely, drawn...'"""
"""Finished the 2d. Vol. of Russell's """"""""History of Modern Europe""""""""...'"""
"""Brought from the Library Gifford's """"""""Address to the loyal Association"""""""".  [In margin:""""""""A Pamphlet""""""""] he says that he has received from Paris an account of the design of the French to divide this country into 3 distinct Republics ...  The English directors are said to be Paine, Hooke, Thelwall, Sharpe & Lansdown ...'"""
"""We got the new catalogue from Library, The number of subscribers 118, there are near 2400 Books. [In Margin] Printed by Pierson'"""
"""Saw ... in the possession of one of our men the """"""""Spy"""""""", a periodical printed by Crome in the year 1795, in which were some veery keen things against the Ministry.'"""
"""I have been reading a letter from my father in which he offers me to come to London, [underline] what [end underline] a temptation, but I believe it to be much better for me to be where I am ... then I walked in and went into the study to look for a book to read, and what should I think of reading but Barclay's """"""""Apology"""""""".'"""
"""I have been reading a letter from my father in which he offers me to come to London, [underline] what [end underline] a temptation, but I believe it to be much better for me to be where I am ... then I walked in and went into the study to look for a book to read, and what should I think of reading but Barclay's """"""""Apology"""""""".'"""
"""Thought the following remarks in Miss Williams was exceeding applicable to the manufacturers of Sheffield: """"""""There is a spirit in that class, in all countries more favourable to inquiry & consequently more hostile to unconditional submission"""""""" Vol 2 p.227."""
"""Brought from the Library as a pamphlet Bunbury's """"""""Academy for Grown Horsemen""""""""; in some parts he is exceedingly humurous.'"""
"""You should read Cle<ry's> account of the treatment of Louis 16th; it is <extremely> well written'. [words in <> obliterated by water]"""
"""Took [the] """"""""Answer to Wilberforce"""""""" to the Chapel Library & brought """"""""The Spirit of the Public Journals for 1797, Being an Impartial Selection ... Essays & Jeaux d'Espirits ... [from] the Newspapers & Other Publications ..."""""""".They are for the most part political. Some of the articles are copied from larger works than magazines & newspapers [eg.3 selections from] Lewis's """"""""Monk"""""""".  ...The Ode by Sr Will Jones ... has appeared many years ago & in many publications.  ... There appears to be nevertheless a deal of choice matter in this publication.'"""
"""Finished Sir Joshua Reynolds' """"""""Discourses"""""""", with an eye to a peculiar and distinguishing doctrine which runs through the whole, and is manifestly a particular favourite with the author...'"""
"""Finished Voltaire's """"""""Siecle de Louis 14me."""""""":  a most entertaining and instructive work...'"""
"""Read Macfarlane's """"""""History of George III."""""""":  a strange amalgama of vulgarity, impudence, and scurrility, compounded into a specious and shewy mass, by a morbid vigour of intellect...'"""
"""Perused Johnson's """"""""London"""""""", and """"""""Vanity of Human Wishes"""""""".  His Numbers are strong in sense, and smooth in flow; but want that varied grace, and inextinguishable spirit, which constitute the essential charm of Pope's...'"""
"""Perused Johnson's """"""""London"""""""", and """"""""Vanity of Human Wishes"""""""". His Numbers are strong in sense, and smooth in flow; but want that varied grace, and inextinguishable spirit, which constitute the essential charm of Pope's...'"""
"""Finished Warton's """"""""Life of Pope"""""""" prefixed to his edition of Pope's """"""""Works""""""""; and compared Wakefield's """"""""Preface"""""""" to his """"""""Observations on Pope"""""""".  These two critics differ essentially in their judgment of Pope...'"""
"""Brought Mrs Wolstonecraft's """"""""Letters from Norway"""""""" [etc.] Mr Godwin in his """"""""Life of Mrs W."""""""" speaks very highly of it.'"""
"""My father is now reading the Midnight Bell, which he has got from the library, and mother sitting by the fire.'"""
"""Read the first four Books of Montesquieu's """"""""Esprit des Loix""""""""...'"""
"""Brought the """"""""Gents Mag"""""""" for May. It contains an advertisement for a new edition of the """"""""Encyclopedia Britannica"""""""" with supplemental plates at 15/15'"""
"""This evening I have been reading a good deal in the """"""""Monk"""""""". I don't know whether it hurts the mind or not, it certainly shows the passions in a very fascinating light. I think we are more apt to be impressed with that part than the morality of it. I think it loss of time and ... I should not go on reading it, but yet as I have begun it I think it better to go on.'"""
"""We learn from the """"""""Iris"""""""" of this morning that the """"""""Wisperer"""""""" is just published by J.M.Gomery [James Montgomery].'"""
"""We have got Boswell's Tour to the Hebrides, and are to have his Life of Johnson.'"""
"""It has been stated in some of the London papers that when the news [of Nelson's victory] arrived there was no appearance of rejoicing at Sheffield. [He cites lack of coverage in the """"""""Iris""""""""]. He remarks however in the """"""""Iris"""""""" of the 25th of this month that [Sheffield did celebrate].'"""
"""Wrote out of the """"""""Spirit of the Public Journals"""""""" """"""""Washing Day"""""""", a poem in blank verse; originally printed in the """"""""Monthly Magazine"""""""".'"""
"""Learnt to play those Games which are wrote down in the abbreviations in the """"""""History of Chess"""""""".'"""
"""Read the first five chapters of Reid's """"""""Enquiry into the Human Mind"""""""":  in which he examines the senses of Smell, Taste, Hearing, and Touch...'"""
"""Looked over some of Gray's Poems.  I am almost tempted to agree in Johnson's character of these compositions...'"""
"""Brought Donald Campbell's """"""""Journey Over Land to India"""""""" [from the Library]. We had a very high character given of it & the little I have read has not disapointed us.'"""
"""Read Hurd's """"""""Dialogue"""""""" between Cowley and Sprat, on Retirement...'"""
"""In the afternoon ... I went to the Cathedral then I came home read to the Normans and little Castleton'"""
"""I finished Prideaux's """"""""Connection of the Old and New Testament"""""""" history.'"""
"""When I brought the """"""""Spirit of the Journals"""""""", I did not think that it would have contributed anything towards the account of Sheffield but I have extracted from it an account of a letter supposed to have been sent from """"""""Yorke, General of the armed citizens of Sheffield"""""""", to the British National Convention, & the debate upon it from """"""""The Times"""""""".'"""
"""Wrote also out of the """"""""Spirit of the Journals"""""""" """"""""a hymn for the fast day"""""""" by Captain Norrice on Foxe's Birthday.'"""
"""I often go to see poor Bob who seems to me dying and it is a good thing to attend a person in that situation. I think the more one sees of the different states of human nature the better. I read to him in the Testament, he flys to religion as his last resource, it is the only firm solid source of happiness in this world.'"""
"""Mary Berry to Bertie Greathead, 2 August 1798, on having got to know Mrs Siddons the previous winter: 'She read """"""""Hamlet"""""""" to us one evening, in N. Audley-street, which was to me a great treat.'"""
"""I have been reading a good deal in the Testament today'"""
"""Took the """"""""Curiosities of Literature"""""""" to the Library. It contains many curious things; a great part of it consists of extracts from the different [Mags?]. Brought back Vol 3 of Beckmann's """"""""Hist. of Inventions & discoveries"""""""".'"""
"""I first wrote to my father then wrote a little journal, read two chapters in the Testament, had a good lesson of French, went to see Bob, read in Barclay's Apology for some hours upon Revealed Religion. The part I most disapprove of is the harsh manner in which he speaks of other sects, it seems to me want [underline] Charity [end underline] and [underline] Without Charity is nothing [end underline] - some parts that he says are beautiful, clear and capable of being understood, other parts are not so much so, and I think all might have been expressed in a more [underline] concise [end underline] manner.' """
"""I first wrote to my father then wrote a little journal, read two chapters in the Testament, had a good lesson of French, went to see Bob, read in Barclay's Apology for some hours upon Revealed Religion.'"""
"""Finished the 1st Volume and Part of """"""""Du Bos sur la Poesie et Peinture""""""""...'"""
"""Within these few days I could not have a book from the library because Mr E. had lent the """"""""Castle of Otranto"""""""" to Miss Lowe [Love?], who happened to be there the afternoon when I was reading it; it was against the rules.'"""
"""Took Staunton's """"""""Embassy to China"""""""" to the Library & brought """"""""Anecdotes of the Founders of the French Revolution..."""""""". """"""""about one-third of the anecdotes"""""""" says the editor ... """"""""have appeared in the 'Monthly Magazine' but the rest are original"""""""".'"""
"""This morning Kitty came in for us to read the Testament together, which I enjoyed, I read my favourite chapter the 15th of Corinthians to them. Oh [underline] how [end underline] earnestly I hope that we may all know what truth is and follow its dictates.'"""
"""We got the """"""""Iris""""""""; it contains an exceedingly humourous account of the first campaign of our Loyal Independant Sheffield Volunteers to Workshop, which I wrote out amongst the anecdotes.'  [NB Entry for July 10: Mr Evans joins with Miss Haynes and Mr Manly to subscribe to 'The Iris'. Previously they had each bought it.]"""
"""Concluded a second reading of Roscoe's """"""""Lorenzo de Medici"""""""", which fades considerably on a reperusal...'"""
"""Borrowed the """"""""Spy"""""""" of one of our men; it is peculiarly calculated for the lower class of people. Mr Harrison a schoolmaster in Pond Lane, was one of the Principle writers in it.'"""
"""Finished a cursory perusal of Johnson's """"""""Lives of the Poets"""""""", with a view to the principles on which his critical decisions are founded...'"""
"""After they all went I came and wrote my journal and sat with cousin Priscilla and we read till dinner'"""
"""Read Mandeville's """"""""Fable of the Bees"""""""", and his """"""""Enquiry into the Origin of Virtue""""""""...'"""
"""Read Mandeville's """"""""Fable of the Bees"""""""", and his """"""""Enquiry into the Origin of Virtue""""""""...'"""
"""""""""""The Iris"""""""" this week contains an advertisement from the Cutler's Company [annual ball] White Bear Inn. Price 10s 6d.'"""
"""Finished the """"""""Athenian Letters""""""""...'"""
"""Dr Rennel has published two or three Sermons lately which I would advise you to buy: they are written in a style of fine animated declamation. The Bishop of London's have a very high character'."""
"""Wrote out of the Register's """"""""Mary Queen of Scotts a Monody; Written near the Ruins of Sheffield Manor"""""""". It is one of the pretttiest pieces of poetry in the Registers. It was published by Peacock in his poems, but it was not of his composition.'"""
"""Finished the 3rd Vol of Dodderidge's """"""""Family Expositor"""""""".'"""
"""Looked into Mitford's """"""""History of Greece"""""""".  The Athenian Democracy imparts no sort of relish for that sort of government...'"""
"""Mary Berry to Anne Damer, October 1798: 'Do you know that I have been working as hard at Greek for this week past as you could possibly desire?  The parson who I mentioned in my last, stayed till yesterday.  He is a very good scholar, and much in the habit of teaching. He corrected a piece of Isocrates which I had done by myself, and then read on with me in the same oration, and whilst he was here I translated above two pages more, writing them down, I mean, and all the verbs and their parts in the opposite page'. """
"""Read Burke's """"""""Vindication of Natural Society"""""""".  Except in parts (as in the opening and ending) I cannot think that this piece has much of Bolingbroke's style and manner...'"""
"""Took the """"""""Spirit of the Journals"""""""" to the Chapel Library [...] there are no less than 101 Epigrams on Messrs Pitt & Dundas going drunk to the House of Commons on the night of his majesty's message [of] war with France ...Many of which are very poor. These epigrams, Marat, an Epilogue ... & the Orgies of Bachus may be reckoned amongst the least happy articles in this volume.'"""
"""I usually when I had done with my french, read some book every night and having left the Corresponding Society I never went from home in the evening I always learned and read for three hours and sometimes longer, the books I now read were french; Helvetius, Rousseau and Voltaire. I never wanted books and could generally borrow those I most desired to peruse."""
"""I usually when I had done with my french, read some book every night and having left the Corresponding Society I never went from home in the evening I always learned and read for three hours and sometimes longer, the books I now read were french; Helvetius, Rousseau and Voltaire. I never wanted books and could generally borrow those I most desired to peruse."""
"""I usually when I had done with my french, read some book every night and having left the Corresponding Society I never went from home in the evening I always learned and read for three hours and sometimes longer, the books I now read were french; Helvetius, Rousseau and Voltaire. I never wanted books and could generally borrow those I most desired to peruse."""
"""I had rather a comfortable drive here from Shrewsbury, read in the Testament and got by heart one or two verses'"""
"""Wrote out of Zimmerman on """"""""Solitude"""""""" the introduction to it.  [Notes that it is a 1797 edn when borrowed on 26 Aug. 1798].'"""
""" ... James Losh reported in his diary for 4 Sept 1800 that Madoc """"""""is ready for publication ... Southey showed me about two years ago two books of this poem which I admired but thought deficient in dignity of sentiment and style.""""""""'  """
"""""""""""As [S. T. Coleridge] recalled in the Friend, 'I had [when composing The Three Graves in 1798] been reading Bryan Edwards's account of the effects of the Oby Witchcraft on the Negroes in the West Indies, and Hearne's deeply interesting Anecdotes of similar workings on the imagination of the Copper Indians ...'"""""""""""
"""""""""""As [S. T. Coleridge] recalled in the Friend [ii 89], 'I had [when composing The Three Graves in 1798] been reading Bryan Edwards's account of the effects of the Oby Witchcraft on the Negroes in the West Indies, and Hearne's deeply interesting Anecdotes of similar workings on the imagination of the Copper Indians ...'"""""""""""
"""At the front of D[ove] C[ottage] MS 16, in use during 1798, D[orothy] W[ordsworth] copied Marlowe's Edward II V.v.55-108, with some omissions ... The extract was copied from Dodsley's Select Collection of Old Plays.'"""
"""At the front of D[ove] C[ottage] MS 16, in use during 1798, D[orothy] W[ordsworth] copied Marlowe's Edward II V.v.55-108, with some omissions ... The extract was copied from Dodsley's Select Collection of Old Plays.'"""
"""C[oleridge] had read the Essay [on the Principle of Population] shortly after its first appearance in 1798.'"""
"""Ask Miss Trimmer when it is have you done Clarissa you will be surprised to see so many little dabs of Letters, but it's silly wit'."""
"""Mary Berry, in reflections on reading (1798): 'When I read """"""""Paradise Lost,"""""""" I am no more able to conceive the powers of imagination and genius exerted by Milton in the composition of that poem, than I am able to conceive the intellect of Sir Isaac Newton in the demonstration of the phenomena of the universe.  Both seem to me beings more exalted above myself in the scale of intellectual perfection, than I am above the brute creation.'"""
"""She [his aunt] did not allow me to be idle, but alternately employed me in helping to knit stockings and in reading. While I was unemployed I found a never-failing source of amusement in scanning the gortesque figures and scenes delineated upon the Dutch tiles with which the chimney corners were decorated. I believe that these pictures, rude as they were, helped me a little better to understand what I read to her out of the Bible and other religious books. I believe that these readings were rather useful to me otherwise; but this perhaps arose partly from the pains she took to indulge my fancy in other matters, and partly also from the motherly way in which she endeavoured to make me understand what I read.'  """
"""Among these books was a brief abstract of that amusing story """"""""Robinson Crusoe"""""""", which I read with much eagerness and satisfaction. I only regretted its brevity, for I became so deeply interested in the fortunes of its hero and of his Man Friday, that I would fain have read a full account of their adventures.'"""
"""Another book which thus came in my way was Mrs Barbauld's """"""""Hymns for Children"""""""" which I soon perceived to be exactly suited both to my taste and my capacity. Here I met with descriptions of rural scenery, life and manners which delighted and instructed me...' """
"""Mr Brand' to Mary Berry, January 1798: 'Lady Ossory, to alleviate my confinement with a very bad cold, has treated me to Lord Orford's letters to her, tho' in a very mutilated transcript, and desired my opinion about their publication.'"""
""" ... a short extract from [Philip] Massinger's The Picture (III.v.211-19) [was] copied by D[orothy] W[ordsworth] into D[ove] C[ottage] MS 16 ... '"""
"""Brought the 2d number of the """"""""Anti-Jacobin Review & Magazine"""""""", which is got into the Surry Street library instead of the """"""""Analytical"""""""" which they have turned out. It is a most virulent attack upon all the friends of liberty or - Jacobins-, as they are pleased to stile them; it is -ornamented- with caricature prints.'"""
"""Bought Mr Smith's """"""""Sermon to the Odd Fellows"""""""", Professor Robinson's """"""""Proof of a Conspiracy"""""""" seems to have made a deep impression on his mind.  Price 6d.  Bought also the """"""""Oeconomist"""""""" for July; they have raised the price to 2d.'"""
"""Got the """"""""Monthly Mag"""""""" & """"""""Rev."""""""" from Miss Haynes. They appear to be two very entertaining no's. I am much pleased with the account of Mr Lambton in the """"""""Monthly Mag"""""""". the """"""""Walpoliana"""""""" is also very entertaining.'"""
"""Got the """"""""Monthly Mag"""""""" & """"""""Rev."""""""" from Miss Haynes. They appear to be two very entertaining no's. I am much pleased with the account of Mr Lambton in the """"""""Monthly Mag"""""""". the """"""""Walpoliana"""""""" is also very entertaining.'"""
"""I went to see Mrs Norman and read in Barclay's Apology'"""
"""Examined, with a view to those principles, Addison's Eleven Papers in the """"""""Spectator""""""""; beginning at No. 409, and with the omission of the 410th, ending with the 421st.  In the first and preparatory paper, he defines Taste...'"""
"""Finished Wollstoncraft's """"""""View of the French Revolution"""""""" Vol I. It appears to rather a panegyric upon the actions of the national assembly than a just history. She thinks the Duke of Orleans was the cause of that Riot, when the women went to Versailles.'"""
"""I begun to write in my Common-place book, the account of the King of Patterdale [from the 'Gentleman's Magazine', borrowed on July 2 from 'the Library']'"""
"""Read Haslam on Insanity....'"""
"""Looked over Godwin's """"""""Memoirs of Mrs. Woolstonecraft""""""""; which strikingly evince that love, even in a modern philosopher, """"""""emollit mores, nec sinet esse feros""""""""...'"""
"""Miss Williams """"""""Tour"""""""" is very entertaining; besides describing the scenery (which she does in a masterly manner) she gives short sketches of the government of the different cantons & compares the state of Switzerland to Paris.'"""
"""Looked over Johnson's vigorous defence of Shakespear against the charge of violating, whether from neglect or disdain, the Unities of Time and Place in his Dramas...'"""
"""I spent the evening and slept at the Old Tree, a very poor inn in which I was forced to sleep in a double bedded room with a stranger. For my amusement during this journey I took the novel of """"""""Vanillo Gonzales"""""""".'"""
"""I finished D. Campbell's """"""""Journey over land to India"""""""". It is divided into three parts ... the story of Mr [Alli?] who was shipwrecked and imprisoned with him is very affecting.'"""
"""This day I begin to read through the Bible. I have finished the Testament. I wish to read the Bible of a morning and the Testament of an evening I feel it a [underline] good plan [end underline]'"""
"""Brought from the library for Miss Haynes the 4 [th] vol. of Mrs Godwin's Posthumous Works. It contains Letters, one on the Management of Infants, Several to Mr Johnson the Book-seller, one on the character of the French Nation, [?]of Fancy, & on Poetry & Hints. Finished it that night!'"""
"""A most comfortable reading with my little boys and one with my family'"""
"""A most comfortable reading with my little boys and one with my family'"""
"""The """"""""Monthly Magazine"""""""" contains an account of the publication of that long expected work by Mr Conder of Ipswich, """"""""an arrangement of provincial coins ... Price 7/6 boards"""""""". I intend to get this proposed at the Surry Street Library.'"""
"""Finished Sterne's """"""""Tristram Shandy""""""""; [borrowed from Mr Manley on visit to Stammington, July 7 1798] It has of late become the fashion to cry down Sterne as the greatest plagarist... [discusses the 'principal characters']. The parts which please me best are the story of le Fever, Uncle Toby's campaigns, Toby's apology, The Sermon and the conversation upon it, & the Death of Yorick.'"""
"""Took Beckman's """"""""History of Inventions"""""""" to the Library; I have been very much entertained with it. Brought the """"""""Gent. Mag"""""""" for 1793.'"""
"""Brought [...] the European Magazine for April 1798; it contains an essay on provincial Half-pennies by Joseph M[orer], author of Turkish Tales ... to be continued in the succeeding numbers.'"""
"""Since dinner I have read much logic and enjoyed it, it is interesting to me, may, I think, with attention, do me good - reading Watts impresses deeply in my mind how very careful I should be of judging'"""
"""I read to the old Normans'"""
"""read in Barclay's Apology in the evening'"""
"""Finished the """"""""Anecdotes of the Founders of the French Revolution"""""""". I have found that considerably more of it has appeared in the """"""""Monthly Magazine"""""""" than they acknowledge. The second volume is probably more original.'"""
"""Saw at Book John's [In margin: A person who stands in the Market Place & sells books & of whom I have sometimes bought books] """"""""New Memoirs of Literature for the Year 1725"""""""" by [?] Roche. It is a review of books published that year in England...'"""
"""Finished the """"""""Whisperer or Tales & Speculations"""""""" by Gabriel Silvertongue.  It was written by J. Montgomery and part of it appeared in """"""""The Iris"""""""" in the year 1795. All the pieces are very entertaining, in so much that I do not know which I prefer above the rest. Mr Evans gave it me [bought on July 15] together with """"""""Prison Amusements & his Trial"""""""" [by Montgomery].'"""
"""I had a satisfactory reading with my little boys more so than I almost remember'"""
"""Took the """"""""Gent. Mag."""""""" to the Library, & brought Frederick Morton Eden's """"""""State of the Poor""""""""; he gives an account of the state of the poor in most of the large parishes in England, & amongst the rest Sheffield.'"""
"""I took Radcliffe's """"""""Tour"""""""" to the Library; I was not so much entertained with it, as I expected tho her descriptions are very fine.'"""
"""Finished Bertrand De Moleville's """"""""Memoirs of the Last Year of the Reign of Louis the 16th"""""""".  They contain much curious, and I presume, authentic information relative to the crisis of the Revolution...'"""
"""at night snug time reading after the rest of the family were in bed'"""
"""Wrote out of the """"""""Analytical Review"""""""" an account of the Abbey of Glastonbury which they have extracted from Gilpin's Observations.'"""
"""Finished the """"""""Paradise Regained"""""""".  Milton has been most unhappy in the choice of his subject;--an inexplicable and suspicious legend...'"""
"""Finished Bishop Shipley's Works; to the reading of which I had been powerfully recommended by M-h.  A vein of good sense, expressed in an original, unaffected, and frequently energetic and impressive manner, runs through the whole of these compositions....'"""
"""took """"""""Joan of Arc"""""""" to the library. I think the 4 first books, are much superior to any which follow, if we except the 9th [in margin: & the vision of the Maid] but even that [Book 9] contains something rather disgusting towards the beginning. His descriptions of battles are sometimes confused.'"""
"""I went to see E. Golder, and friend Bullen came in ... we read a little in the Testament and the journal of Job Scott'"""
"""I went to see E. Golder, and friend Bullen came in ... we read a little in the Testament and the journal of Job Scott'"""
"""Having now occasion to go into Kent on business, I on Friday the 10th. went in the coach with Mr Chaldecott and 4 others to London where I quarter'd as usual (now my son had left it) at the Bolt and Tun (or Sussex Hotel, Bonverie Street, as Mr Carter now entitled it) taking with me for my usual travelling reading the novel of """"""""Vaurien"""""""".'"""
"""Read Dryden's Dedication to his """"""""Translations of Juvenal's Satires"""""""":--a stranger, rambling composition...'"""
"""Read the 1st Vol. of Sully's """"""""Memoirs"""""""".  They open a scene of manners, which, to modern conception, appears perfectly romantic...'"""
"""Finished the """"""""Travels of Anacharsis"""""""".  This work is ably executed, and must have cost prodigious pains; but it still leaves us, as we must ever be left, extremely ignorant of the political constitutions, religious worship, and private manners of the Greeks...'"""
"""Finished the """"""""Epistle to a Friend"""""""". I do not so much admire it as I did the """"""""Pleasures of Memory"""""""".'"""
"""Read Horace Walpole's """"""""Historic Doubts on the Life and Reign of Richard the 3d.""""""""--doubts, which he has in some measure transfused into my mind...'"""
"""Mary Berry to Mrs Cholmeley, 12 January 1799: 'Somerville's """"""""Anne"""""""" is, I think, more dry than his """"""""William,"""""""" but clear, distinct, impartial, and wonderfully informing; his chapters on the Union of Scotland are particularly so [goes on to note aspects of Scottish situation during Queen Anne's reign, including rebellious elements ('of none of which circumstances I had before any just idea') and to compare this with current situation in Ireland]'."""
"""quite vexed to teach my children in so shabby a room as the laundry; [underline] Pride [end underline] I think it was; however, I had a very comfortable reading with them'"""
"""wrote a little logic this afternoon and read Jones on the Figurative languages of the Scriptures'"""
"""When I came to extract the remarks on Dodsley, I found [they?] were remarks upon an old edition & that the editors we have published in 1782, have adopted the remarks & c.'"""
"""When I came to extract the remarks on Dodsley, I found [they?] were remarks upon an old edition & that the editors we have published in 1782, have adopted the remarks & c.'"""
"""Read my Testament and felt not destitute of religion'"""
"""Read the first Vol. of Hurd's """"""""Sermons at Lincoln's-Inn""""""""...'"""
"""I have had it before, but have brought it now for the sake of copying a story or two out of it, of which there are very many entertaining ones'"""
"""Read Richardson's """"""""Philosophical Analysis"""""""" of some of Shakespear's Characters.  The design is happy, and, upon the whole, ingeniously executed...'"""
"""I first wrote in my journal, read in the Testament after breakfast'"""
"""You must get La Peyrouse's Voyage - and Vancouver's, and a book just come out on practical education by a Mr Edgeworth - [italics] Edgeworth on Practical Education [end italics] i vol. 4to I believe. It is written conjointly by Father and daughter, and is the result of 20 years reflection and Experiment. I have heard some extracts from it which delighted me very much'."""
"""You must get La Peyrouse's Voyage - and Vancouver's, and a book just come out on practical education by a Mr Edgeworth - [italics] Edgeworth on Practical Education [end italics] i vol. 4to I believe. It is written conjointly by Father and daughter, and is the result of 20 years reflection and Experiment. I have heard some extracts from it which delighted me very much'."""
"""Looked over a Volume of """"""""Lettres Choisies de Mesdames Sevigne et Maintenon""""""""...'"""
"""D[orothy] W[ordsworth] copied a number of epitaphs into [Dove Cottage MS 20] between late April and 17 Dec. 1799, namely: epitaph of Josias Franklin and his wife; Benjamin Franklin's epitaph; and an """"""""Epitaph taken from the Parish Church-Yard of Marsk in the County of York"""""""".'"""
"""D[orothy] W[ordsworth] copied a number of epitaphs into [Dove Cottage MS 20] between late April and 17 Dec. 1799, namely: epitaph of Josias Franklin and his wife; Benjamin Franklin's epitaph; and an """"""""Epitaph taken from the Parish Church-Yard of Marsk in the County of York"""""""".'"""
"""D[orothy] W[ordsworth] copied a number of epitaphs into [Dove Cottage MS 20] between late April and 17 Dec. 1799, namely: epitaph of Josias Franklin and his wife; Benjamin Franklin's epitaph; and an """"""""Epitaph taken from the Parish Church-Yard of Marsk in the County of York"""""""".'"""
"""Went to the library. Saw in Volume 4th of Nichol's """"""""Select Collections of Poems"""""""" a poetical account of the monuments in Westminster Abbey, written with a considerable degree of humour.'"""
"""Read Gibbon's """"""""Essai sur l'Etude de la Litterature"""""""":  an ostentatious performance...'"""
"""Finished Lord Bacon's Letters, edited by Birch.  It is grievous to see this great man, who appears from various passages fully sensible of his vast powers and attainments, and impressed with a just confidence of the weight he would have with posterity, eternally cringing...'"""
"""Mary Berry to Mrs Cholmeley, 17 May 1799: 'I was much entertained by some letters which [Uvedale] Price showed me from Sr George Beaumont, Fox, and Knight, containing criticisms on the series of plays which he (Price) had set them all reading.  They were excellent, the ideas of three very superior understandings and tastes'."""
"""read Watts' Logic'"""
"""Took Colquhoun's """"""""treatise of the police of the metropolis"""""""" to the library. I have not read it but, Mr Evans has; he says that he gives a most dreadful idea of the state of London; he says there are no less than 200, 000 persons, who when they get up in the morning do not know where they shall lay their head at night. That very miserable story, which I have cut out of an old """"""""Iris"""""""" & is amongst the rest of the newspaper scraps, & entitled """"""""On the Police of Paris"""""""" Mr Col[...] says was related to him by a Foreign Ambassador, who was at Paris at the time.'"""
"""Mary Berry to Mrs Cholmeley, 19 February 1799: 'Mr. Sotheby sent me his """"""""Battle of the Nile."""""""" [...] There seems to be a number of good lines in the poem, but the conduct of it is not to me clear'."""
"""I had a comfortable time with my children only I felt too anxious for uncle Joseph to see them as he was here but he did not; I am fearful I should be vain of my reading, I feel I am so now; I hope if I try to overcome it, I shall not be so'"""
"""Some of his pictures are good, and as his family is very noble and greatly allied, one sees many faces one has read of both in English and Scotch history, which I always think amusing'."""
"""Mary Berry to Mrs Cholmeley, 2 April 1799: 'In the many hours I have spent alone this week, I have been able, though by very little bits at a time, to go entirely through Hannah More [whose """"""""Strictures on the Modern System of Female Education"""""""" she writes of receiving on 21 March 1799], and Mrs. Woolstonecroft [sic] immediately after her.'"""
"""Mary Berry to Mrs Cholmeley, 2 April 1799: 'In the many hours I have spent alone this week, I have been able, though by very little bits at a time, to go entirely through Hannah More [whose """"""""Strictures on the Modern System of Female Education"""""""" she writes of receiving on 21 March 1799], and Mrs. Woolstonecroft [sic] immediately after her.'"""
"""I read much this morning in St Basil, which is to me excellent, interesting and beautiful. He advises a constant thanksgiving for the many blessings we enjoy; and that we should not grumble at the evils we are subject to; how much more cause I have for thankfulness than sorrow'"""
"""Took the 1st vol of Lodges' """"""""Illustrations of British History"""""""" to the Library; I brought the 2nd volume; the 5th volume of Gibbon's """"""""Decline and Fall"""""""" not beeing yet come in. Brought also the """"""""European Mag"""""""" for Jan 1798. It contains proposals from Dr Gleig (the editor of the last 6 vols of the Encyclopedia Britannica). For publishing 2 supplementary volumes at 25 s a volume, in which will be particularly contained the new theory of chemistry.'"""
"""I read to dear little Mary'"""
"""Read Soame Jenyns' """"""""Origin of Evil"""""""".  His grand solution of the introduction of evil is, that it could not have been prevented, by Omnipotence, without the loss of some superior good...'"""
"""W[ordsworth] received a copy [of the Annual Anthology] in Aug. [1799], and discussed it in his letter to [Joseph] Cottle of 2 Sept.'"""
"""Read Cambridge's """"""""Scribleriad"""""""".  The mock heroic is well sustained throughout; but the Poem is deficient in broad humour...'"""
"""The Dowager Lady Spencer to Mary Berry, from Nuneham (seat of George Simon, second Earl of Harcourt), 21 August 1799: 'Have you ever seen the 3d vol. of Mason's Poems, published two years ago?  I never did till I came here; and I have found some sweet things in them, which I have been reading this morning in the flower-garden facing the cinerary urn Lord Harcourt has erected to his memory [goes on to transcribe final six lines of sonnet written by Mason 'in his 70th year'].' """
"""I had a quiet afternoon on the sofa in my room reading Mason on self knowledge, French, and Job Scott's journal, which I like vastly and found really doing me good, at least edifying me'"""
"""I had a quiet afternoon on the sofa in my room reading Mason on self knowledge, French, and Job Scott's journal, which I like vastly and found really doing me good, at least edifying me'"""
"""I had a quiet afternoon on the sofa in my room reading Mason on self knowledge, French, and Job Scott's journal, which I like vastly and found really doing me good, at least edifying me'"""
"""I have read a good deal of Lavator's journal and have felt sympathy with him. I like the book as it reminds me of my duty'"""
"""Finished Tasso's """"""""Jerusalem"""""""", in Hoole's Translation comparing it occasionally with the original, and with Fairfax's version...'"""
"""Looked over the 1st and 2d Parts of Watts' """"""""Logic""""""""...'"""
"""Mary Berry to Mrs Cholmeley, Thursday 23 May 1799: 'I began Homer's Iliad on Wednesday last, to my no small delight, and felt no particular difficulty in the comprehension of the first doz. lines'."""
"""Finished the perusal of Blair's """"""""Lectures on Rhetoric"""""""".  The praise of ingenuity, of a judgment in general correct, and a taste for the most part timidly correct, I can readily allow him; but to no higher order of merit in a critic...'"""
"""The anecdotes of Bowyer is to me a very entertaining book, I intend to read it through. I was much pleased with the following epigram by Sr Mr Brown """"""""The king to Oxford sent a [?] horse/for Tories own no argument but force [13 lines of verse] [...]"""""""" The following anecdote is related of David Papillon [...] [page long extract].'"""
"""Began Burnet's """"""""Theory of the Earth"""""""".  Nothing can exceed the dexterity, or liveliness, or picturesque force, of his reasoning...'"""
"""Having finish'd my business in this neighbourhood, I on the next day (Friday the 24th) return'd to London in the coach, in w'ch being alone great part of the way I finished the novel of the """"""""Young Philosopher"""""""" & in the evening began that of """"""""Ned Evans"""""""" which I sat and read at the Bolt and Tunn, where I found the principal topic of conversation in the coffee room was Sheridan's new play of Pizarro, w'ch came out that evening at Drury Lane.'"""
"""Having finish'd my business in this neighbourhood, I on the next day (Friday the 24th) return'd to London in the coach, in w'ch being alone great part of the way I finished the novel of the """"""""Young Philosopher"""""""" & in the evening began that of """"""""Ned Evans"""""""" which I sat and read at the Bolt and Tun, where I found the principal topic of conversation in the coffee room was Sheridan's new play of Pizarro, w'ch came out that evening at Drury Lane.'"""
"""I have been reading Lavator on self knowledge, and like it much. I find it difficult to confine my attention to what I am reading; books tells us to think clearly and fix our ideas to the subject before us; I wish they would tell us how to do it'"""
"""On 25.7.1799, I have seen a month or two ago, in the """"""""Mon Mag"""""""" an account of the publication of the first part of the 1st vol [of the Supplement to the Encyclopedia Britannica].'"""
"""12 verse. 4th chap: Paul to Timothy; this does strike my mind deeply; Let no man despite thy youth but be thou an example to the believers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity. 14th verse neglect not the gift that is in thee.'"""
"""Mary Berry, letter of 26 December 1799: 'What little I could read during two days and part of two nights has been Mercier's """"""""Nouveau Paris"""""""", a sort of continuation of his former """"""""Tableau de Paris"""""""".  This last, in six vols. is one of the most stupid, unclearly thought, ridiculous books I ever saw, and yet I read it, not without entertainment and instruction'."""
"""Mary Berry, letter of 26 December 1799: 'What little I could read during two days and part of two nights has been Mercier's """"""""Nouveau Paris"""""""", a sort of continuation of his former """"""""Tableau de Paris"""""""".  This last, in six vols. is one of the most stupid, unclearly thought, ridiculous books I ever saw, and yet I read it, not without entertainment and instruction [...] Of a very different nature is a little book I have lately read over again for the third or fourth time, -- I mean, Mackintosh's accounts of his proposed lectures on the Law of Nature and Nations.  Such a compendious syllabus of all the leading principles of truth and virtue I never met with!  I mentioned it to you last year, I think, when I first got it.'"""
"""Read with much interest, in a Collection of Fugitive Pieces, an """"""""Introduction to the Theory of the Human Mind"""""""", by J. Usher, author of Clio....'"""
"""Read the 1st Book of Hooker's """"""""Ecclesiastical Polity""""""""...'"""
"""I wrote and read a little before breakfast'"""
"""Took Gibbon to the library. I have not had time to read more than one chapter being engaged with Bowyers. I can procure it another time.'"""
"""Looked over Horace Walpole's """"""""Fugitive Pieces""""""""...'"""
"""Read Mackinosh's """"""""Vindiciae Gallicae"""""""".  His style and manner in the Piece are magnificent, but uniformly cumbrous, and occasionally coarse...'"""
"""Finished Hurd's """"""""Lectures on the Prophecies""""""""...'"""
"""At ten o'clock we all met in the study and my father read to us. - I fear my mind is not sufficiently obedient to its God. After dinner I taught Danny to read and did a little logic. Since that I have been reading aloud a long homily and there I committed a fault. John asked me to let him read and I did not, which takes off the satisfaction of reading for I did not do as I would be done by.'"""
"""At ten o'clock we all met in the study and my father read to us. - I fear my mind is not sufficiently obedient to its God. After dinner I taught Danny to read and did a little logic. Since that I have been reading aloud a long homily and there I committed a fault. John asked me to let him read and I did not, which takes off the satisfaction of reading for I did not do as I would be done by.'"""
"""Mary Berry to Mrs Cholmeley, 3 February 1799: 'I hope you have read the Irish debates on the Union.  I think you will have found in them much abuse, little eloquence, and very little argument [...] I myself was shown a letter by Mathew (Col. Mathew), which, from its handwriting, and the office manner in which it was drawn up, I am sure must have come from a clerk of the Parliament'."""
"""Mary Berry to Mrs Cholmeley, 3 February 1799: 'I hope you have read the Irish debates on the Union.  I think you will have found in them much abuse, little eloquence, and very little argument [...] The famous Irish pamphlet in favor of the Union, called, """"""""Cease your Funning"""""""", which after much trouble I got to read, disappointed me; it is sharp and well-kept-up irony from beginning to end, on a pamphlet on the other side, by the Ld Lieut.'s secretary; but it is not very entertaining, and not at all instructive.'"""
"""Mary Berry to Mrs Cholmeley, 3 February 1799: 'In compliance with your request and my own wishes, I have been and am reading with much attention Mr. Wilberforce's book, and likewise strictures on it, in a series of letters by Mr. Belsham'."""
"""Mary Berry to Mrs Cholmeley, 3 February 1799: 'In compliance with your request and my own wishes, I have been and am reading with much attention Mr. Wilberforce's book, and likewise strictures on it, in a series of letters by Mr. Belsham'."""
"""Brought the """"""""Monthly Review"""""""" from Miss Haynes; this month they review Conder's """"""""Arrangement of Provincial Coins"""""""", but they do it in a very slight manner.'"""
"""One afternoon his eye caught Paine's """"""""Rights of Man"""""""", and he picked it up and began to study it intently. Absorbed, he """"""""continued reading for half an hour"""""""", the bookseller's son remembered'"""
"""god was Merciful & spoke Peace to my Soul, & now I found that with god which Passeth all understanding, & rejoiced all the day long, & saw everything in a new light ... I now read the Scriptures with great delight, & recomended them to my wife , & my father, who was my constant companion &c ...'"""
"""Byron to John Hanson, [? November 1799]: 'I congratulate you on Capt. Hanson's being appointed commander of the Brazen sloop of war ... The manner I knew that Capt. Hanson was appointed Commander of the ship before mentioned was this[.] I saw it in the public paper.'"""
"""[Marginalia]"
"""At some time between late April and 17 Dec. 1799, D[orothy] W[ordsworth] copied the epitaph of Sir George Vane at the parish church of Long Newton, Durham, as published in [William] Hutchinson, [History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham] into D[ove] C[ottage] MS 20.'"""
"""[Marginalia]"
"""[Marginalia]"
"""During my late visit to the Hammonds, they had acquainted me with the names of the principal characters amongst our former neighbours in East Kent, pointed at in Mr E Bridges then late popular novel of """"""""Arthur Fitzalbini"""""""" w'ch we on that account had lately read.'"""
"""Here I also met with some books of a higher order, but which were then far beyond any comprehension. Among these were Hervey's """"""""Meditations"""""""", """"""""The Pilgrim's Progress"""""""", and an illustrated Bible. This last work was crowded with engravings which were called embellishments.'"""
"""Here I also met with some books of a higher order, but which were then far beyond any comprehension. Among these were Hervey's """"""""Meditations"""""""", """"""""The Pilgrim's Progress"""""""", and an illustrated Bible. This last work was crowded with engravings which were called embellishments.'"""
"""Here I also met with some books of a higher order, but which were then far beyond any comprehension. Among these were Hervey's """"""""Meditations"""""""", """"""""The Pilgrim's Progress"""""""", and an illustrated Bible. This last work was crowded with engravings which were called embellishments.'"""
"""About this time I also gained the good-will of an aged woman who sold cakes, sweetmeals, and fruit, and was moreover a dealer in little books...I had even then a taste for reading which was here qualified by me being permitted to read all the little stories which she kept on sale. They were, in truth, childish trifles, but I still think of them with pleasure because they were associated in my case with many pleasant recollections.'  """
"""It was about this time that I first met with Milton's """"""""Paradise Lost"""""""", in a thick volume with engravings and copious notes, probably a copy of Bishop Newton's edition of that noble poem. I found it, however, little better than """"""""a sealed book"""""""". Its versification puzzled me, while the loftiness of its subjects confused my understanding.'"""
"""?The first book which attracted my particular notice was """"""""The Pilgrim?s Progress"""""""", with rude woodcuts; it excited my curiosity in an extraordinary degree. There was """"""""Christian knocking at the strait gate"""""""", his """"""""fight wit Appolyn"""""""", his """"""""passing near the lions"""""""", his """"""""escape from Giant Dispair [sic]"""""""", his perils at """"""""Vanity Fair"""""""", his arrival in """"""""the land of Beula"""""""", and his final passage to """"""""Eternal Rest"""""""": all these were matters for the exercise of my feeling and my imagination. And then when it was explained to me ? as it was by my mother and sister...?"""
"""?during this winter I practised rather more than I had done before for the last two years for my master used to Read himself and make all as Could in the family on a Sabath [sic] evening and sometimes we were permitted to read Books of a religious nature as we sat by the fire side in the week day evenings but not always?."""
"""Brought vol 2nd """"""""Literary Memoirs of Living Authors of Great Britain"""""""" from the Surry Street Library [...] The author says Andrew Mackay [...] wrote the articles [...] in the Encyclopedia Britannica.'"""
"""I have not yet finished """"""""Joan of Arc"""""""". Near 500 lines at the beginning of the 2d book were supplied by S.T. Coleridge. These appear to me to be the worst I have ever read. Who would suppose that the following sentence is in blank verse. Fancy - Peopling air by absence [to] teach my self-control & c. In contrast to the above I will transcribe one of the most beautiful passages speaking of the death of a common soldier of unrecorded name.'"""
"""[...] Gaze on - then heart-sick [...] It is in the first edition of this poem, that I am reading, which Southey composed in 6 weeks & corrected it, while it was proceeding thro' the press. A second edition has since been published, which the reviews state to be much more perfect than the first.'"""
"""Brought Vol 2nd """"""""Literary Memoirs of Living Authors of Great Britain"""""""" from the Surry Street Library. It is a book on very great call.'"""
"""I then wrote a little journal, read a chapter away from the fire; rather as a cross to the body; but I had such a sweet time alone as to forget bodily cold, for I was inwardly warmed and cheered by feeling under the guidance and protection of the Most High; happy state!'"""
"""I then read french and wrote it, had one or two little interruptions'"""
"""I then read Mason on self knowledge till dinner, not with so much attention as I could wish; I seldom attend sufficiently to what I am reading, to remember at all accurately what I have been reading about'"""
"""After that Kitty made a proposition very pleasant to me, that we should sit together all the afternoon and read """"""""Pilgrim's Progress"""""""" and work; and we sat snugly over the nursery fire, and it was interesting and pleasant to me on two accounts, as I feel interested in the Allegory of the pilgrim and it was pleasant to be so snug with Kitty who I don't like to say much about ... We then drank tea; after tea Kitty and I read a little further ... after supper I read with Kitty until bed time.'"""
"""Took Pindar's """"""""Tales of Hoy"""""""" to the library; I think it much inferior to most of his other publications which I have seen.  Corinna's """"""""Epitaph"""""""", which I have transcribed is however one of his prettiest productions. Brought the 1st vol of """"""""Remains of Living Authors"""""""".'"""
"""""""""""The Memoirs of Living Authors"""""""" appears to be quite a catch-penny job. The author gives a list of their works & sometimes his opinion on them. A book of this kind is very easily compiled from the Reviews.  The account of Mr Sheridan appears to me the best drawn up.'"""
"""Brought the """"""""Mon Mag"""""""" from Miss Haynes. It contains an account of the death of Dr Towers.'"""
"""Mary Berry to Mrs Cholmeley, 5 October 1799: 'Mentioning [...] [Madame de Coigny] puts me in mind of a book which I am now [italics]devouring[end italics] with delight, though no new one, and I am now reading it for the third time.  I mean Madme de Sevigne's Letters.'"""
"""Read Jackson's (of Exeter) """"""""Four Ages"""""""". He inverts the usual order; and promises halycon days, from the improvement of every art and every science, in the golden age to which we are rapidly advancing...'"""
"""Looked through the 3d. Book of Warburton's """"""""Divine Legation"""""""".  It is impossible to pursue this eccentric Genius steadily, through the mazy curves along which he wheels his airy flight...'"""
"""The following story is taken from p 248 of the anecdotes of Bowyer. Among the innumerable stories that are told of him [Dr Brown Willis] [...] [1 1/2 page story].'"""
"""Rose in pretty good time, read before breakfast, had a lesson in French, read English, wrote logic before dinner'"""
"""Rose in pretty good time, read before breakfast, had a lesson in French, read English, wrote logic before dinner'"""
"""I have been reading Watts on judgement this afternoon; it has led me into thought and particularly upon the evidence I have to believe in religion ... my mind has not been convinced by books; but what little faith I have confirmed by reading the Holy writers themselves.'"""
"""I on Tuesday the 8th went in the afternoon to Fareham by the telegraph, where I spent the evening & slept at the Red Lion, taking with me for my amusement there & in the coach the little novel of """"""""Maria or The Vicarage"""""""", w'ch I had seen well spoken of in a review.'"""
"""Finished the """"""""Memoirs of Living Authors"""""""".'"""
"""For the sake of improving myself in the French language, began to translate Vertot's """"""""Revolutions of Portugal"""""""".'"""
"""Read Milton's """"""""Samson Agonistes"""""""";--a noble Poem, but a miserable Drama...'"""
"""Perused, with delight and admiration, Mackintosh's """"""""Preliminary Discourse on the Study of the Law of Nature and Nations""""""""...'"""
"""Read the first 6 chapters of May's """"""""History of the Long Parliament""""""""; containing a retrospect of affairs, down to its assembling...'"""
"""Read Balguy's """"""""Discourses"""""""".  They are all masterly; but the first four, and the 8th, tower above the rest in excellence...'"""
"""I do not wonder at your wanting to read [italics for title] first impressions again, so seldom as you have gone through it, & that so long ago.'"""
"""Brought """"""""A Fortnights Ramble to the Lakes"""""""" from the Chapel Library; also the """"""""Analytical Review"""""""" for July 1798, to read a masterly critique on the """"""""Castle Spectre"""""""", which I saw performed last winter; they allow Mr Lewis no praise at all, indeed plagiarisms (chiefly from Mrs Radcliffe's Publications) are visible on every page.'"""
"""I am now reading Butler's Analogy'"""
"""W[ordsworth] did not read it [Thomas Beddoes, Domiciliary Verses] until it was reprinted in the Annual Anthology (1799).  [Joseph] Cottle sent W[ordsworth] a copy ... in Aug. 1799, and on 2 Sept he wrote back: """"""""Pray give yourself no uneasiness about Dr Beddoes's verses [which parodied the Lyrical Ballads] ... it is a very harmless performance.""""""""'"""