24 Rev. Mr. Scraggs on Good and Bad Tempers. (Aug. 1, make such sacrifices in order to procure quicker sensations than men, we have peace. A temper may be truly pacific, been charged with baviog sharper temgentle, and condescending, and yet firmly pers, and being more unwilling to forgive determined to maintain what is right, hö ihan the other sex. I will not take upon resisting injustice. Thirdly, a cheerfuldis- me to say how far in general such a position. Some are constitutionally gloo- charge is true, but I hope, my dear, that my, and others, from mistaken notions of it will not be so with you. O never forreligion, think that, in order to be seri- get that one great point to your present ous, they must be in some measure sad. and future comfort is the due regulation A truly cheerful temper is lively, but not of your temper, as an individual, and too light, ard animated without being more particularly if you should become too volatile. Lastly, there is an equani- a wife and a mother. The character of mity of temper. Perhaps this is the most Serena, in Mr. Hayley's poem on the desirable of any, especially as it respects Triumphs of Teinper, is truly amiable, personal bappiness. Not that there is and such a lovely picture, as I wish you, any person of so even a disposition as my dear, and all females, frequently to never to be ruffled; but some have so view, in order to imitate.” Finally, let much self-conmand as to be seldom very, every one strive to possess and preserve much elated or too much depressed. a good temper. An amiable disposition

Having offered many discriminating is often the gift of nature in the confusreflections on good and bad tempers, I mation of the individual; but a proper shall now propose some admonitory ad- education and a regular life, with ibe vice respecting tempers in general. And influence of vital religion, will contribuie in the first place, Never indulge an im- very much to form a good temper, and proper disposition. We are naturally so to sweeten and regulate one that is not blind to our own failings, that many ill- so. It must also be remembered, that tempered persons do not know they are as old age, poverty, or disappointments, so, and very few are humble enough to have a tendency, by degrees, to render own it. But as the mischiefs arising from excellent dispositions less amiable, pescherishing such a disposition are mani- sons under such circumstances should be fold, therefore all possible means should on their guard, lest their tempers, by such be continually used to curb an improper changes, be materially injured. temper. On this part of the subject an I shall leave the subject on the minds excellent modern author thus writes :- of the readers with the following appro“ It will be readily acknowledged, that priate quotation :-“ Much has been some are born with unhappy tempers, written of late years respecting the misebut more derive them from habitual in- ries of life; but I am persuaded, that dulgence. Persons in high life, or in the principal source of most of them is easy circumstances, too often cherish the indulgence of bad tempers. Thus their evil humours, having it in their they poison the comforts of life, set a power to gratify them, and being sur- bad example, and are ungrateful to God rounded with fåtterers. We may attri- for his bountiful goodness. Some of this bute most of the evils of domestic life:to cast wear it in their visage, or to use a an unbappy determination of some bad- phrase of Shakspeare, they have a vinegar tempered persons to have their own way, aspect. However, this is no certain rule; and the want of condescension in others for it is well known, that many with an at the beginning of a disagreement. Ha- open and smiling countenance have very bits of strict temperance, and especially bad tempers. But now let us take a the restraints of religion, are the very short view of the man who is habitually best means to prevent improper indul. good tempered. Having only a good gencies of this kind." Secondly, let not moral character, and common sense, he trifles put you out of temper. We fre- will be well received in life, though he quently see that small matters ruffle the may have no riches, learning, wit, or mind more than such as are really im- comeliness of person to recommend him. portant, especially where the natural His pleasant behaviour and kind treattemper is not good : and it is a lament- ment of others will excite them to make able fact, that more families have been suitable returns ; and those who cannot divided or friends separated by the in- serve liim, will at least be gentle towards dulgence of evil tempers, than by-most his errors and faults. He may not shine other occurrences, The following ad. in conversation, but his affability and vice of a lady to one of her late pupils, cheerfulness will please and enliven is worthy of serious consideration, par- every company into which he comes. ticularly by females :-“As our sex have In sickness, poverty, or sorrow, he will 1816.)

North Staffordshire Pitt Club.

25

upon it.

always meet with some to help or sym- to praise or abuse him but himself.” pathise with him, and his death will be in the first of these supposed diasincerely lamented by all who were ac- logues, Sir Joshua bimself, by high encoquainted with biin."

iniums upon Garrick, is represented as Buckingham. G. G. SCRAGGS. drawing down upon him Jubnson's cen

sure; in the secund, Mr. Gibben, by NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE PIIT CIUB. taking the opposite side, calls fbrth his THIS meeting does not stand upon praise. the usual fouring of a provincial club, DR. JOHNSON AND SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS. being an association only of such members Reynolds. Let me alone, I'li bring of the Los Don Pirt Club, who reside him out (usitle). I have been thinking, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, the Polleries, Dr. Johnson, this morning, on a matter and the neighbourhood. It is therefore that has puzzled nie very much; it is a sather to be segarded as a part of the subject that I dare say has often passert suther society, than as a distinct insti. in your thoughts, and, though I cannot, lation, the members wearing the same I dare say you have iuade up your mind medal and dress, and adopting the same toasts, &c. in every respect, as at the Johnson. Tilly fally, what is all ibis anniversary meetings in town. There is, preparation-what is all this mighty malhowever, a local establishinent, consist - ter? ing of a president, secretary, and irea- R. Whiy, it is a very weighty matter. surer, and a committee for the purpose The subject I have been thinking upon of keeping up a correspondence, and is—Predestination and free-will, iwo being the mediuins of communication things I cannot reconcile together for the with the club in London.

life of me; in my opinion, Dr. Johnson, The first annual meeting was held at Free-will and Fore-knowledge cannot be the Roebuck Inn, in Newcastle-under- reconciled. Lyme, in May, 1813, when Sir John J. Sir, it is not of very great importEOENSOR HEATHCOTE was elected stand- ance what your opinion is upon such a ing president, and John TOMIINSON, question. Esq. was appointed to the joint office of R. But I meant only, Dr. J. to know secretary and treasurer. T'he London your opinion.-Club so highly approved of the plan J. No, Sir; you meant no such thing: which was adopted, that at a meeting in you meant only to shew the gentleJanuary, 1814, they unanimously re- men that you are not the inan they took solved to send a copy of the resolutions you to be, but that you tilink of high of the North Staffordshire establishment inatters sometimes, and that you may to some member of the Pitt Club in each have the credit of having it said, that county of the kingdom, with a recoin- you held an arguident with Sam Jobuson faendation of them for general adoption on Predestination and Free-will;--a subthroughout the nation; and at the saine ject of that magnitude as to have entime, they presented the gold medal of gaged the attention of the world—to the club to Sir John Heathcore as pres llave perpicxed the wisdom of man for zident, and honoured the local secretary these two thousand years;-1 subject on with a vote of thanks.

which the fallen angels, who had yet not May 26, 1814.

lost all their original brightness, find

themselves in wundering muzes lust. XB. EDITOR,

That such a subject could be discussed I FORWARD to you, for insertion in in the levity of convivial conversation your Magazine, the accompanying paper, is a degree of absurdity beyond what is which has just faller into my hands, and easily conceivable. which, as a production of Sir Joshua R. It is so as you say, to be sure; I Reynolds, and illustrative of the charac- talked once to our friend Garrick upon ters of two very eminent men, who were this subject, but I remember we could both his intimate friends, cannot fail to make nothing of it. ause your readers.

J. O noble pair ! London, July, 1816. BIOGRAPHICUS. R. Garrick was a clever fellow, Dr.

J.; Garrick, take hiin altogether, was The following jeu d'esprit was written certainly a very great man. by Sir JosuuA REYNOLDS, to illustrate a J. Garrick, Sir, may be a great man Temark which he bad made-" That Dr. in your opinion, as far as I know, but he Jogason considered GARRICK as his pro- was not so in nine; little things are perty, aod would never suffer any one great to little men, NEw MONTHLY MAG,-No. 31.

VoL, VI. E

son

26

Sir Joshua Reynolds on Johnson and Garrick. [Aug. 1, R, I have heard you say, Dr. John- J. I do not pretend to know, Sir,

what your meaning qay be, by saying be J. Sir, you never lieard me say that had as much reputation as he deserved ; David Garrick was a great man; you he deserved much, and lie had much, may have heard me say that Garrick was G. Why surely, Dr. Johnson, bis a good repeater-of other men's words; merit was in small bings only; he had -words put into his mouth by other none of those qualities that make a real meu ; this makes but a faint approach great man, towards being a great man.

J. Sir, I as little understand what R. But take Garrick upon the whole, your meaning may be, when you speak of now, in regard to conversation

the qualities that make a great man ;mit J. Well, Sir, in regard to conversation, is a vague term. Garrick was no comI never discovered in the conversation mon man; a man above the common of David Garrick any intellectual energy, size may surely, without any great imany wide grasp of thought, any extensive propriety, be called a great nan. In compreliension of mind, or that he pos- my opinion, he bas very reasonably fulsessed any of those powers to which filled the prophecy which be once regreat could, with any degree of propriety, minded me of having made to luis mother, be applied ---

when she asked we how little Darid R. But still

went on at school, that I should say to J. Hold, Sir, I have not done-there her, that he would come to be banged, are, to be sure, in the laxity of colloquial or come to be a great man. No, Sir; it speech, various kinds of greatness; a

is undoubtedly true, that the same quanian may be a great tobacconist, a man lilies, united with virtue or vice, inale a inay be a great painter, he may be like hero or a rogue, a great general or a wise a great mimick; now you inay be highwayman. Now Garrick, we are The one, and Garrick the other, and yet sure, was never hanged, and in regard to nelther of you be great meli.

his being a great man, you must take R. But, Dr. Johnson,

the whole man together.-It must be J. Hold, Sir; I have often lamented considered in bow many things Garrick how dangerous it is to investigate and to excelled in which every man desires to discriminate character, to men who have excel. Setting aside bis excellence as an no discriminative powers.

actor, in which he is acknowledged to R. But Garrick, as a companion, I be unrivalled; as a man, a poet, as a heard you say--no longer ago than last convivial companion, you will find but Wednesday, at Mr. Thrale's table--- few bis cquals, and none bis superior.

J. You tease ine, Sir. Whatever you As a man, he was kind, friendly, benemay have heard me say, no longer ago volent, and generous. than last Wednesday, at Mr. Thrale's G. Of Garrick's generosity I never table, I tell you I do not say so now; heard; I understood his character to besides, as I said before, you may not be totally the reverse, and that he was have understood me - you misappre- reckoned to have loved money. hended me--you may not have heard me. J. That he loved money nobody will

R. I am very sure I heard you. dispute ;--who does not but if you

J. Besides, besides Sir, besides-do mean, by loving money, that he was paryou not know--are you so ignorant as simonious to a fault, Sir, you have been not to know, that it is the highest degree misinformed. To Foote, and such scounof rudeness to quote a man against linn- drels, who circulated those reports to sell?

such profligate spendthifts prudence is R. But if you differ from yourself, nieanness, and economy is avarice. That and give one opinion to-day

Garrick, in early youtli, was brought up J. Llave done, Sir, the company you in strict habits of economy I helieve, and sec are tired, as well as myself.

that they were necessary I have heard Tother Side.

from biiselt: 10 suppose that Garrick

might inadvertently nct from this babit, Joknson. No, Sir; Garrick's fame and be saving in small things, can be no was prodigious, not only in England, but wonder; but let it be remembered at all over Europe ; even in Russia, I have the same time, that, if he was frugal by been told, he was a proverb, when any habit, he was liberal from principle : one had repeated well he was called a that when he acted from reflection be second Garrick.

did what his fortune enabled him to do, Gibbon. I think he had full as much and what was expected from such a forreputation as he deserred.

tune. I remeinber no instance of Da.

DR. JOHNSON AND MR. GIBBON.

from a

1816.)
Sir Joshua Reynolds on Johnson and Garrick.

27 vid's parsimony but once, when he stop- Garrick over Foote, this conduct is an ped Mrs. Wolfington from replenishing instance; he disclained entering into the tea-pot; it was already, he said, as competition with such a fellow, and red as blood; and this instance is doube made bim the buffoon of the company; ful, and happened many years ago. In or, as you say, brought him out, And the latter part of his life I observed no what was at last brought out, but coarse blaneable parsimony in David; his ta- jests and vulgar merrimeni, indecency ble was elegant and even splendid; his and impiety, a relation of events nlich, house both in town and country, bis upon the face of thein, could never have equipage, and, I think, all his babits of happened, characters grossly conceived life, were such as might be expected and as coarsely representert! Foote

man who had acquired great was even no mimic; be went out of riches.-In regard to his generosity, which himself it is true, but without going into you seem to question, I shall only say; another man; he is excelled by Garrick there is no man to whom I would apply even in this, which is considered as with more confidence of success, for the Foote's greatest excellence. Garrick, loan of two hundred pounds to assist a besides bis exact imitation of the voice common friend, than to David, and this and gesture of his original, to a degree too with very little, if any, probability of of refinement of which Foote had no its being repaid.

conception, exhibited the mind and G. You were going to say something more of thinking of the person imitated. of him as a writer-you don't rate bim Besides, Garrick confined his powers very high as a poet.

within the limits of decency-be had a j. Sir, a man may be a respectable character to preserve, Fooie had none. poet without being a Homer, as a man By Foule's bulloonery and broadfaced may be a good player, without being a merriment, private friendship, public Garrick. In the lighter kinds of poetry decency, and everything estimable in the appendages of the drama, he was, amongst men, were trod under foot, if not the first, in the rery first class. We all kno:v the difference of their reHe had a readiness and facility, a der. ception in the world. No man, however terity of mind that app-ared extraordi- high in rank or literature, but was proud nary even to men of experience, and to know Garrick, and was glad to have who are not apt to wonder from igno- him at his table; no man ever consirance. Writing prologues, epilogues, dered or treated Garrick as a player : and epigrains, he said he considered as he may be said to have stepped ont of his trade, and he was what a man should his own rank, into an bigher, and by be, always, at all times ready at bis raising himself he raised the rank of his trade. He required two hours for a profession. At a convivial table liis ex, prologue or epilogue, and fire minutes hilarating powers were unrivalled; he for an epigram. Önce at Burke's table was lively, entertaining, quick in discernthe company proposed a subject, and ing the ridicule of life, and as ready in Garrick finished his epigram within the representing it, and on graver subjects time; the same experiment was repeated there were few topics in which he could ia the garden, and with the same suc- not bear his part. It is injurious to the

character or Garrick to be named in the G. Garrick had some flippancy of same breath with Foote. That Foote parts, to be sure, and was brisk and was admitted sometimes into good comlively in company; and by help of mi- pany (to do the man what credit I can) mickry and story-telling, made himself a I will allow, but then it was merely to pleasant companion: but here the whole play tricks. Foote's merriment was that world gave the superiority to foole, and of a buffoon, and Garrick’s that of a genGarrick himself appears to have felt as tleman. if bis genius was rebuked by the superior G. I have been told, on the contrary, powers of Foote. It has been often ob- that Garrick in company had not the served, that Garrick never dared to enter easy manners of a gentleman. into competition with him, but was con. j. Sir, I don't know what you may tent to act an under-part to bring Foote have been told, or what your ideas may

be of the manners of gentlemen. GarJ. That this conduct of Garrick's rick bad no vulgarity in his manners; it might be interpreted by the gross minds is true, Garrick had not the airioess of a of Foote and his friends, as if be was fop, nor did he assume an affected inditafraid to encounter him, I can easily ference to what was passing; he did not imagine. Of the natural superiority of lounge from the table to the window,

cess.

1

28

Sir Joshua Reynolds on Johnson and Garrick. (Aug. 1, and from thence to the fire; or whilst in this disposition now it is no longer you were addressing your discourse to necessary; I receive at present as much dum, turn from you and talk to his next favour as I have a right to expect. I neighbour; or give any indication that

am not one of the complainers of the he was tired of his company; if such neglect of merit. manners form your ideas of a fine gentle- G. Your pretensions, Dr. Johnson, man, Garrick had them not.

nobody will dispute; I cannot place G. I mean that Garrick was more Garrick on the same footing : your reoverawed by the presence of the great, putation will continue increasing after and more ohsequious to rank, tbau Foote, your death, when Garrick will be totally who considered himself as their equal, forgotten : you will be for ever consiand treated them with the same fami- dered as a classic. liarity as they treated each other,

J. Enough, Sir, enough; the comJ. He did so, and what did the fellow pany would be better pleased to see us get by it? The grossness of his inind quarrel than bandying compliments. prevented bim from seeing that this fa- G. But you must allow, Dr. Johnmiliarity was merely suffered as they son, that Garrick was too much a slave would play with a dog; he got no ground to fame, or rather, to the mean ambition by affecting to call peers by their sur- of living with the great-terribly afraid names; the foolish fellow fancied that of making himself cheap even with them; lowering them was raising himself to by which he debarred himself of much their level. This affectation of familiarity pleasant society. Employing so much with the great, this childish ambition of attention and so much management upon momentary exaltation, obtained by the little things, implies, I think, a little naglect of those ceremonies which cus- mind. It was observed by his friend tom has established as the barriers be- Colman, that he never went into comtween one order of society and another, pany but with a plot how to get out of only shewed his fully and meanness; he it; he was every minute called out, and did not see that, by encroaching on went off or returned as there was or was others' dignity, he puts himself in their not a probability of his shining. power, either to be repelled with help- J. In regard to his mean ambition, less indignity, or endured by clemency as you call it, of living with the great, and condescension. Garrick, by paying what was the boast of Pope, and is every due respect to rank, respected himself; man's wish, can be no reproach to Garwhat he gave was returned, and what rick: he who says be despises it, knows was returned he kept for ever; his ad. he lies. That Garrick husbanded his vancement was on firin ground-be was fame, the fame which he had justly acrecognized in public as well as respected quired both at the theatre and at the in private; and as no man was ever table, is not denied; but where is the more courted and better received by blame either in the one case or the other, the public, sono inan was ever less of leaving as little as he could to chance? spoiled by its flattery. Garrick conti- Besides, Sir, consider what you have nued advancing to the last till he said, you first deny Garrick's pretensions had acquired every advantage that high to fame, and then accuse him of too birth or title could bestow, except the great an attention to preserve what he precedence of going into a room; but never possesser. when he was there, he was treated with G. I don't understand as much attention as the first man at the J. Sir, I can't help that. table. It is to the credit of Garrick that G. Well, but, Dr. Johnson, you

will he never laid any claim to this distinc- not vindicate bin in his over and above tion-it was as voluntarily allowed as if attention to his fame, his inordinate deit had been his birthright. In this, I sire to exhibit himself to new men; like confess, I looked on David with some a coquer, ever seeking after conquests, degree of envy, not so much for the re

to the total neglect of old friends and adspect he received, as for the manner of mirers: its being acquired ; what fell into his “ He threw off his friends like a huntsman lup unsought, I bave been forced to his pack :" claun :-I began the world by fighting always looking out for now gaine. my way. There was something about J. When you quoted the line from nie that invited insuli, or at least a dis- Goldsmith, you ought in fairness to have position to neglect; and I was equally given what followed : disposed to repel insult and to claim

“ He knew when he pleased he could whistle attention; and I fear continue too much them back;"