‘—Quid virtus et quid sapientia possit,
Utile proposuit nobis exemplar Ulyssen[74].’
Should there be any cold-blooded and morose mortals who really dislike this Book, I will give them a story to apply. When the great Duke of Marlborough, accompanied by Lord Cadogan, was one day reconnoitering the army in Flanders, a heavy rain came on, and they both called for their cloaks. Lord Cadogan’s servant, a good humoured alert lad, brought his Lordship’s in a minute. The Dukes servant, a lazy sulky dog, was so sluggish, that his Grace being wet to the skin, reproved him, and had for answer with a grunt, ‘I came as fast as I could,’ upon which the Duke calmly said, ‘Cadogan, I would not for a thousand pounds have that fellow’s temper!’
There are some men, I believe, who have, or think they have, a very small share of vanity. Such may speak of their literary fame in a decorous style of diffidence. But I confess, that I am so formed by nature and by habit, that to restrain the effusion of delight, on having obtained such fame, to me would be truly painful. Why then should I suppress it? Why ‘out of the abundance of the heart’ should I not speak[75]? Let me then mention with a warm, but no insolent exultation, that I have been regaled with spontaneous praise of my work by many and various persons eminent for their rank, learning, talents and accomplishments; much of which praise I have under their hands to be reposited in my archives at Auchinleck[76]. An honourable and reverend friend speaking of the favourable reception of my volumes, even in the circles of fashion and elegance, said to me, ‘you have made them all talk Johnson.’—Yes, I may add, I have Johnsonised the land; and I trust they will not only talk, but think, Johnson.
To enumerate those to whom I have been thus indebted, would be tediously ostentatious. I cannot however but name one whose praise is truly valuable, not only on account of his knowledge and abilities, but on account of the magnificent, yet dangerous embassy, in which he is now employed[77], which makes every thing that relates to him peculiarly interesting. Lord MACARTNEY favoured me with his own copy of my book, with a number of notes, of which I have availed myself. On the first leaf I found in his Lordship’s hand-writing, an inscription of such high commendation, that even I, vain as I am, cannot prevail on myself to publish it.
July 1, 1793[78].
ADVERTISEMENT TO THE THIRD EDITION.
Several valuable letters, and other curious matter, having been communicated to the Author too late to be arranged in that chronological order which he had endeavoured uniformly to observe in his work, he was obliged to introduce them in his Second Edition, by way of ADDENDA, as commodiously as he could. In the present edition these have been distributed in their proper places. In revising his volumes for a new edition, he had pointed out where some of these materials should be inserted; but unfortunately in the midst of his labours, he was seized with a fever, of which, to the great regret of all his friends, he died on the 19th of May, 1795[79]. All the Notes that he had written in the margin of the copy which he had in part revised, are here faithfully preserved; and a few new Notes have been added, principally by some of those friends to whom the Author in the former editions acknowledged his obligations. Those subscribed with the letter B were communicated by Dr. Burney: those to which the letters J B are annexed, by the Rev. J. Blakeway, of Shrewsbury, to whom Mr. Boswell acknowledged himself indebted for some judicious remarks on the first edition of his work: and the letters J B-O. are annexed to some remarks furnished by the Author’s second son, a Student of Brazen-Nose College in Oxford. Some valuable observations were communicated by James Bindley, Esq., First Commissioner in the Stamp-Office, which have been acknowledged in their proper places. For all those without any signature, Mr. Malone is answerable.—Every new remark, not written by the Author, for the sake of distinction has been enclosed within crotchets: in one instance, however, the printer by mistake has affixed this mark to a note relative to the Rev. Thomas Fysche Palmer, which was written by Mr. Boswell. and therefore ought not to have been thus distinguished.
[Page 15: Advertisement to the Third Edition.]
I have only to add, that the proof-sheets of the present edition not having passed through my hands, I am not answerable for any typographical errours that may be found in it. Having, however, been printed at the very accurate press of Mr. Baldwin, I make no doubt it will be found not less perfect than the former edition; the greatest care having been taken, by correctness and elegance to do justice to one of the most instructive and entertaining works in the English language.
EDMOND MALONE[80].
April 8, 1799.
A CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE OF THE PROSE WORKS[81] OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D.
[N.B. To those which he himself acknowledged is added acknowl. To those which may be fully believed to be his from internal evidence, is added intern. evid.]
1735. Abridgement and translation of Lobo’s Voyage to Abyssinia, acknowl.
1738. Part of a translation of Father Paul Sarpi’s History of the Council of Trent. acknowl.
[N.B. As this work after some sheets were printed, suddenly stopped, I know not whether any part of it is now to be found.]
For the Gentleman’s Magazine.
Preface. intern. evid.
Life of Father Paul. acknowl.
1739. A complete vindication of the Licenser of the Stage from the malicious and scandalous aspersions of Mr. Brooke, authour of Gustavus Vasa. acknowl.
Marmor Norfolciense: or, an Essay on an ancient prophetical inscription in monkish rhyme, lately discovered near Lynne in Norfolk; by PROBUS BRITANNICUS. acknowl.
[Page 17: A Chronological Catalogue of Prose Works]
For the Gentleman’s Magazine.
Life of Boerhaave. acknowl.
Address to the Reader. intern. evid.
Appeal to the Publick in behalf of the Editor. intern. evid.
Considerations on the case of Dr. Trapp’s Sermons; a plausible attempt to prove that an authour’s work may be abridged without injuring his property. acknowl.
1740. For the Gentleman’s Magazine.
Preface. intern. evid.
Life of Admiral Drake. acknowl.
Life of Admiral Blake. acknowl.
Life of Philip Barretier. acknowl.
Essay on Epitaphs. acknowl.
1741. For the Gentleman’s Magazine.
Preface. intern. evid.
A free translation of the Jests of Hierocles, with an introduction. intern. evid.
Debate on the Humble Petition and Advice of the Rump Parliament to Cromwell in 1657, to assume the Title of King; abridged, methodized and digested. intern. evid.
Translation of Abbé Guyon’s Dissertation on the Amazons. intern. evid.
Translation of Fontenelle’s Panegyrick on Dr. Morin. intern. evid.
1742. For the Gentleman’s Magazine.
Preface. intern. evid.
Essay on the Account of the Conduct of the Duchess of Marlborough. acknowl.
An Account of the Life of Peter Burman. acknowl.
The Life of Sydenham,