Life of Johnson, Volume 1 - 1709-1765 by James Boswell
page 265 of 928 (28%)
page 265 of 928 (28%)
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'My Lord,
'Your Lordship's most humble, 'Most obedient servant, 'SAM. JOHNSON[771].' 'While this was the talk of the town, (says Dr. Adams, in a letter to me) I happened to visit Dr. Warburton, who finding that I was acquainted with Johnson, desired me earnestly to carry his compliments to him, and to tell him, that he honoured him for his manly behaviour in rejecting these condescensions of Lord Chesterfield, and for resenting the treatment he had received from him, with a proper spirit. Johnson was visibly pleased with this compliment, for he had always a high opinion of Warburton[772]. Indeed, the force of mind which appeared in this letter, was congenial with that which Warburton himself amply possessed[773].' [Page 264: For 'garret' read 'patron.' A.D. 1754.] There is a curious minute circumstance which struck me, in comparing the various editions of Johnson's imitations of Juvenal. In the tenth Satire, one of the couplets upon the vanity of wishes even for literary distinction stood thus: 'Yet think[774] what ills the scholar's life assail, 'Pride[775], envy, want, the _garret_, and the jail.' But after experiencing the uneasiness which Lord Chesterfield's |
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