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1766.

should be imparted to them by a tranflation of the holy books into their own language. If obedience to the will of God be neceffary to happiness, and tat. 57. knowledge of his will be neceffary to obedience, I know not how he that with-holds this knowledge, or delays it, can be faid to love his neighbour as himself. He, that voluntarily continues ignorance, is guilty of all the crimes which ignorance produces; as to him, that should extinguish the tapers of a light-house, might justly be imputed the calamities of fhipwrecks. Christianity is the highest perfection of humanity; and as no man is good but as he wishes the good of others, no man can be good in the highest degree, who wishes not to others the largest measures of the greatest good. To omit for a year, or for a day, the most efficacious method of advancing Christianity, in compliance with any purposes that terminate on this fide of the grave, is a crime of which I know not that the world has yet had an example, except in the practice of the planters of America, a race of mortals whom, I fuppose, no other man wishes to refemble.

"The Papifts have, indeed, denied to the laity the ufe of the bible; but this prohibition, in few places now very rigorously enforced, is defended by arguments, which have for their foundation the care of fouls. To obfcure, upon motives merely political, the light of revelation, is a practice reserved for the reformed; and, furely, the blackest midnight of popery is meridian sunshine to such a reformation. I am not very willing that any language should be totally extinguifhed. The fimilitude and derivation of languages afford the moft indubitable proof of the traduction of nations, and the genealogy of mankind. They add often physical certainty to hiftorical evidence; and often fupply the only evidence of ancient migrations, and of the revolutions of ages which left no written monuments behind them.

Every man's opinions, at least his desires, are a little influenced by his favourite studies. My zeal for languages may feem, perhaps, rather overheated, even to those by whom I defire to be well esteemed. To those who have nothing in their thoughts but trade or policy, present power, or present money, I should not think it necessary to defend my opinions; but with men of letters I would not unwillingly compound, by wishing the continuance of every language, however narrow in its extent, or however incommodious for common purposes, till it is repofited in fome verfion of a known book, that it may be always hereafter examined and compared with other languages, and then permitting its difufe. For this purpose, the translation of the bible is moft to be defired. It is not certain that the fame method will not preferve the Highland language, for the purposes of learning, and abolish it from

1767.

daily use. When the Highlanders read the Bible, they will naturally wish to Atat. 56. have its obscurities cleared, and to know the history, collateral or appendant. Knowledge always defires increase: it is like fire, which must first be kindled by fome external agent, but which will afterwards propagate itself. When they once defire to learn, they will naturally have recourfe to the nearest language by which that defire can be gratified; and one will tell another that if he would attain knowledge, he must learn English.

"This fpeculation may, perhaps, be thought more fubtle than the groffnefs of real life will eafily admit. Let it, however, be remembered, that the efficacy of ignorance has been long tried, and has not produced the confequence expected. Let knowledge, therefore, take its turn; and let the patrons of privation stand awhile afide, and admit the operation of pofitive principles.

"You will be pleased, Sir, to affure the worthy man who is employed in the new translation, that he has my wifhes for his fuccefs; and if here or at Oxford I can be of any use, that I fhall think it more than honour to promote his undertaking.

"I am forry that I delayed fo long to write. I am, Sir,
"Your most humble fervant,

"Johnson's-court, Fleet-ftreet,

Aug. 13, 1766.

SAM. JOHNSON."

The opponents of this pious fcheme being made afhamed of their conduct, the benevolent undertaking was allowed to go on.

The following letters, though not written till the year after, being chiefly upon the fame fubject, are here inferted.

"DEAR SIR,

To Mr. WILLIAM DRUMMOND.

"THAT my letter fhould have had fuch effects as you mention, gives me great pleasure. I hope you do not flatter me by imputing to me more good than I have really done. Those whom my arguments have perfuaded to change their opinion, show such modesty and candour as deserve great praife.

"I hope the worthy tranflator goes diligently forward. He has a higher reward in profpect, than any honours which this world can bestow. I wish I could be useful to him.

"The publication of my letter, if it could be of use in a cause to which all other causes are nothing, I fhould not prohibit. But firft, I would have you

you
confider whether the publication will really do any good; next, whether
by printing and distributing a very small number, you may not attain all that
you propose; and, what perhaps I fhould have faid first, whether the letter,
which I do not now perfectly remember, be fit to be printed.

"If you can confult Dr. Robertson, to whom I am a little known, I fhall be fatisfied about the propriety of whatever he fhall direct. If he thinks that it should be printed, I entreat him to revife it; there may, perhaps, be fome negligent lines written, and whatever is amiss, he knows very well how to rectify'.

"Be pleased to let me know, from time to time, how this excellent defign goes forward.

"Make my compliments to young Mr. Drummond, whom I hope you will live to fee fuch as you defire him.

"I have not lately feen Mr. Elphinston, but believe him to be profperous. I fhall be glad to hear the fame of you, for I am, Sir,

"Johnfon's-court, Fleet-ftreet,

"Your affectionate humble fervant,

SAM. JOHNSON."

1766.

Etat. 57.

April 21, 1767.

To the fame.

"SIR,

"I RETURNED this week from the country, after an abfence of near fix months, and found your letter, with many others, which I fhould have answered fooner, if I had fooner seen them.

"Dr. Robertson's opinion was furely right. Men fhould not be told of the faults which they have mended. I am glad the old language is taught, and honour the tranflator as a man whom GOD has diftinguished by the high office of propagating his word.

"I must take the liberty of engaging you in an office of charity. Mrs. Heely, the wife of Mr. Heely, who had lately fome office in your theatre, is my near relation, and now in great diftrefs. They wrote me word of their fituation fome time ago, to which I returned them an anfwer which raised hopes of more than it is proper for me to give them. Their reprefentation of their affairs I have discovered to be fuch as cannot be trusted; and at this distance, though their cafe requires hatte, I know not how to act. She, or her daughters, may be heard of at Canongate Head. I must beg, Sir, that you will enquire

This paragraph fhews Johnson's real eftimation of the character and abilities of the celebrated Scottish Hiftorian, however lightly, in a moment of caprice, he may have spoken of his works.

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1766.

Etat. 57.

after them, and let me know what is to be done. I am willing to go to ten
pounds, and will transmit you fuch a fum, if upon examination you find it
likely to be of use. If they are in immediate want, advance them what you
think proper.
What I could do, I would do for the women, having no great
reason to pay much regard to Heely himself.

"I believe you may receive fome intelligence from Mrs. Baker, of the theatre, whose letter I received at the fame time with yours, and to whom, if you fee her, you will make my excufe for the feeming neglect of answering her.

"Whatever you advance within ten pounds fhall be immediately returned to you, or paid as you shall order. I trust wholly to your judgement. "I am, Sir, &c.

"London, Johnfon's-court, Fleet-
ftreet, Oct. 24, 1767.

SAM. JOHNSON."

Mr. Cuthbert Shaw, alike distinguished by his genius, misfortunes, and misconduct, published this year a poem, called "The Race, by Mercurius Spur, Efq." in which he whimfically made the living poets of England contend for pre-eminence of fame by running:

"Prove by their heels the prowefs of the head."

In this poem there was the following portrait of Johnson:

"Here Johnfon comes,-unbleft with outward grace,
"His rigid morals ftamp'd upon his face.
"While ftrong conceptions struggle in his brain

(For even Wit is brought to-bed with pain):
"To view him, porters with their loads would reft,
"And babes cling frighted to the nurse's breast.
« With looks convuls'd, he roars in pompous ftrain,
"And, like an angry lion, fhakes his mane.
"The Nine, with terror ftruck, who ne'er had seen,
"Aught human with fo horrible a mien,

"Debating whether they should stay or run,

"Virtue fteps forth, and claims him for her fon.

• This is the perfon concerning whom Sir John Hawkins has thrown out very unwarrantable

reflections both against Dr. Johnfon and Mr. Francis Barber.

• See an account of him in the European Magazine, January, 1786.

4

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The Honourable Thomas Hervey and his lady having unhappily difagreed, and being about to feparate, Johnfon interfered as their friend, and wrote him a letter of expoftulation, which I have not been able to find; but the fubftance of it is afcertained by a letter to Johnfon, in answer to it, which Mr. Hervey printed. The occafion of this correfpondence between Dr. Johnson and Mr. Hervey, was thus related to me by Mr. Beauclerk. "Tom Hervey had a great liking for Johnson, and in his will had left him a legacy of fifty pounds. One day he faid to me, Johnfon may want this money now, more than afterwards. I have a mind to give it him directly. Will you be fo good as to carry a fifty pound note from me to him?' This I pofitively refused to do, as he might, perhaps, have knocked me down for insulting him, and have afterwards put the note in his pocket. But I faid, if Hervey would write him a letter, and enclofe a fifty pound note, I fhould take care to deliver it. He accordingly did write him a letter, mentioning that he was only paying a legacy a little fooner. To his letter he added, P. S. I am going to part with my wife.' Johnson then wrote to him, faying nothing of the note, but remonftrating with him against parting with his wife."

When I mentioned to Johnson this ftory, in as delicate terms as I could, he told me that the fifty pound note was given to him by Mr. Hervey in confideration of his having written for him a pamphlet against Sir Charles Hanbury Williams, who, Mr. Harvey imagined, was the authour of an attack upon him; but that it was afterwards difcovered to be the work of a garretteer, who wrote "The Fool:" fo the pamphlet against Sir Charles was not printed.

In February, 1767, there happened one of the most remarkable incidents of Johnson's life, which gratified his monarchical enthusiasm, and which he loved to relate with all its circumstances, when requested by his friends. This was his being honoured by a private converfation with his Majefty, in the library at the Queen's houfe. He had frequently visited those splendid rooms Pp 2

and

1766. Etat. 57.

1767.

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