obliged, most obedient, and most humble servant,

'SAM. JOHNSON.'


The Rambler has increased in fame as in age. Soon after its first folio
edition was concluded, it was published in six duodecimo volumes; and
its authour lived to see ten numerous editions of it in London, beside
those of Ireland and Scotland.

The style of Johnson was, undoubtedly, much formed upon that of the
great writers in the last century, Hooker, Bacon, Sanderson, Hakewell,
and others; those 'GIANTS,' as they were well characterised by A GREAT
PERSONAGE, whose authority, were I to name him, would stamp a reverence
on the opinion.

Johnson assured me, that he had not taken upon him to add more than four
or five words to the English language, of his own formation; and he was
very much offended at the general licence, by no means 'modestly taken'
in his time not only to coin new words, but to use many words in senses
quite different from their established meaning, and those frequently
very fantastical.

Sir Thomas Brown, whose life Johnson wrote, was remarkably fond of
Anglo-Latin diction; and to his example we are to ascribe Johnson's
sometimes indulging himself in this kind of phraseology. Johnson's
comprehension of mind was the mould for his language. Had his
conceptions been narrower, his expression would have been easier. His
sentences have a dignified march; and, it is certain, that his example
has given a general elevation to the language of his country, for many