a young gentleman of good fortune who have been profoundly reverenced by his pudied early. As yet, his name had nothing pils. His oddities of manner, and uncouth of that celebrity which afterwards com-gesticulations, could not but be the subject manded the highest attention and respect of of merriment to them; and in particular, the mankind. Had such an advertisement ap-young rogues used to listen at the door of peared after the publication of his London, or his Rambler, or his Dictionary, how would it have burst upon the world! with what eagerness would the great and the wealthy have embraced an opportunity of putting their sons under the learned tuition of Samuel Johnson! The truth, however, is, that he was not so well qualified for being a teacher of elements, and a conductor in learning by regular gradations, as men of inferior powers of mind. His own acquisitions had been made by fits and starts, hy violent irruptions into the regions of knowledge; and it could not be expected that his impatience would be subdued, and his impetuosity restrained, so as to fit him for a quiet guide to novices. The art of communicating instruction, of whatever kind, is much to be valued; and I have ever thought that those who devote themselves to this employment, and do their duty with diligence and success, are entitled to very high respect from the community, as Johnson himself often maintained. Yet I am of opinion, that the greatest abilities are not only not required for this office, but render a man less fit for it.

While we acknowledge the justness of Thomson's beautiful remark,

"Delightful task! to rear the tender thought, And teach the young idea how to shoot!" we must consider that this delight is perceptible only by "a mind at ease," a mind at once calm and clear; but that a mind gloomy and impetuous, like that of Johnson, cannot be fixed for any length of time in minute attention, and must be so frequently irritated by unavoidable slowness and errour in the advances of scholars, as to perform the duty, with little pleasure to the teacher, and no great advantage to the pupils. Good temper is a most essential requisite in a preceptor. Horace paints the character as bland:

"Ut pueris olim dant crustula blandi Doctores, elementa velint ut discere prima." Johnson was not more satisfied with his situation as the master of an academy, than with that of the usher of a school; we need not wonder, therefore, that he did not keep his academy above a year and a half. From Mr. Garrick's account he did not appear to

[Thomson's beautiful remark is just, only because the poet applies it to the first education of a child by its own fond parents, and not to the drudgery of hired instruction in the advanced stages of learning.-ED.]

his bedchamber, and peep through the keyhole, that they might turn into ridicule his tumultuous and awkward fondness for Mrs. Johnson, whom he used to name by the familiar appellation of Tetty or Tetsey, which, like Betty or Betsey, is provincially used as a contraction for Elizabeth, her christian name, but which to us seems ludicrous, when applied to a woman of her age and appearance. Mr. Garrick described her to me as very fat, with a bosom of more than ordinary protuberance, with swelled cheeks, of a florid red, produced by thick painting, and increased by the liberal use of cordials; flaring and fantastick in her dress, and affected both in her speech and her general behaviour 2. I have seen Garrick exhibit her, by » his exquisite talent of mimickry, so as to excite the heartiest bursts of laughter; but he, probably, as is the case in all such representations, considerably aggravated the picture.

That Johnson well knew the most proper course to be pursued in the instruction of youth 3, is authentically ascertained by the following paper in his own hand-writing, given about this period to a relation, and now in possession of Mr. John Nichols: "Scheme for the Classes of a Grammar School.

"When the introduction, or formation of nouns and verbs, is perfectly mastered, let them learn

"Corderius by Mr. Clarke, beginning at

2 [In Loggan's drawing of the company at Tonbridge Wells, in 1748, engraved and published in Richardson's Correspondence, vol. 3, Mrs Johnson's figure is not inferior to that of the other ladies (some of whom were fashionable beauties) either in shape or dress; but it is a slight sketch, and too small and indistinct to be relied upon for details: but she must have been a silly woman to have contracted so disproportionate an alliance.-ED.]

3 [That this crude sketch, for the arrangement of the lower classes of a grammar school "authentically ascertains that Johnson well knew struction of youth," is a bold and illogical asthe most proper course to be pursued in the insertion. It may even be doubted whether it is good as far as it goes, and whether the beginning the assistance of translations, be indeed the most with authors of inferior latinity, and allowing proper course of classical instruction; nor are we, while ignorant of the peculiar circumstances for which the paper was drawn up, entitled to conIclude that it contains Dr. Johnson's mature and general sentiments, on even the narrow branch of education to which it refers. Indeed, in the second paper, Johnson advises his friend not to read "the latter authours till you are well versed in those of the purer ages."-ED.]

They were recommended to Mr. Colson 1, | academy, by the following letter from Mr an eminent mathematician and master of an Walmsley:

in that object), but whose works were little known in his own day, and are now quite neglected, though Doctor Anderson has introduced him into the Scotch edition of the British Poets, and noticed the two productions mentioned in the text in the following hyperbolic strain:

"The English language, probably, cannot boast a finer example of the power of poetry than the Tears of Old May-day;' the happy union which it exhibits of genius and of art is so truly admirable, that it may be pronounced inimitable. His 'Mulberry-tree, an allegorical tale, is equally remarkable for fertility of invention, facility of expression, and propriety of application. Garrick and Dr. Johnson are characterised with equal happiness and skill!!!"-Life of Lovibond. To the editor this boasted allegory seems little better than rhymed nonsense; the meaning (if it has any) seems to be, that Shakspeare's works are a mulberry-tree, which Garrick climbs to gather the fruit, while Johnson, "less frolic," puts his "mighty haunches" to the trunk and shakes

"TO THE REVEREND MR. COLSON. "Lichfield, March 2, 1787. "DEAR SIR,-I had the favour of yours, and am extremely obliged to you; but I cannot say I had a greater affection for you upon it than I had before, being long since so much endeared to you, as well by an early friendship, as by your many excellent and valuable qualifications; and, had I a son of my own, it would be my ambition, instead of sending him to the university, to dispose of him as this young gentleman is.

"He, and another neighbour of mine, one Mr. Samuel Johnson, set out this morning for London together. David Garrick is to be with you early the next week, and Mr. Johnson to try his fate with a tragedy, and to get himself employed in some translation, either from the Latin or the French. Johnson is a very good scholar and poet, and I have great hopes will turn out a fine tragedy-writer. If it should any way lie in your way, doubt not but you would be rea"Wither'd leaves, wither'd limbs, blighted fruits, blight-dy to recommend and assist your country"G. WALMSLEY."

down

ed flowers,"

and when "rubbish enough" has been shaken down, poor, withered, blighted, rubbishy Shakspeare is dismissed with the following elegant and complimentary salvo:

"Yet mistake me not, rabble, this tree's a good tree; Does honour, Dame Nature, to Britain and thee. And the fruit on the top, take its merit in brief, Makes a noble dessert, when the dinner's roast beef." Mr. Lovibond leaves us to guess what the roast beef is, compared to which SHAKSPEARE is but a plate of mulberries.-ED.]

The reverend John Colson was bred at Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and in 1728, when George the Second visited that university, was created master of arts. About that time he became first master of the free school at Rochester, founded by Sir Joseph Williamson. In 1739, he was appointed Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in the University of Cambridge, on the death of Professor Sanderson, and held that office till 1751, when he died. He published Lectures on Experimental Philosophy, translated from the French of l'Abbé Nodet, 8vo. 1732, and some other tracts. Our author, it is believed, was mistaken in stating him to have been master of an academy. Garrick, probably, during his short residence at Rochester, lived in his house as a private pupil.-MALONE.

[Mr. Malone's note is not quite accurate. Mr. Colson was elected to Rochester school, not about 1728, but June 1, 1709; and the Abbé whose lectures Mr. Colson translated was Nollet, aud not Nodet, and his lectures were not published in Paris till 1742. Mrs. Piozzi, and after her Mr. Malone, and, of course, all subsequent editors, have stated that the character of Gelidus, in the 24th Rambler, was meant to represent Mr. Colson; but this may be doubted, for, as Mr. Colson resided constantly at Rochester till his removal to Cambridge, it is not likely that Mr. Walmesley's letter could produce any intercourse or acquaint

man,

How he employed himself upon his first coming to London is not particularly knowno. I never heard that he found any protection or encouragement by the means of Mr. Colson, to whose academy David Garrick went. Mrs. Lucy Porter told me, that Mr. Walmsley gave him a letter of introduction to Lintot his bookseller, and that Johnson wrote some things for him; but I imagine this to be a mistake, for I have discovered no trace of it, and I am pretty sure he told me, that Mr. Cave was the first publisher 3 by whom his pen was engaged in London.

ance between him and Johnson: and it appears, from Davies's Life of Garrick (vol. i. p. 14), a work revised by Johnson, that Mr. Colson's character could have no resemblance to the absurdities of Gelidus. This gentleman, commonly called Professor Colson, must not be confounded with Mr. Colson, Fellow of University College, Oxford, who was, as Lord Stowell informs me, an intimate friend of Dr. Johnson's, and not a little eccentric in his habits and manners.-ED.]

2 One curious anecdote was communicated by himself to Mr. John Nichols. Mr. Wilcox, the bookseller, on being informed by him that his intention was to get his livelihood as an authour, eyed his robust frame attentively, and with a significant look, said, "You had better buy a porter's knot." He, however, added, "Wilcox was one of my best friends."-BOSWELL.

[Wilcox could only have been one of his best friends by affording him employment; perhaps this observation may lead to a discovery of some of Johnson's earlier publications.-ED.]

3 [Perhaps he meant that Cave was the first to whom he was regularly and constantly engaged, but Wilcox and Lintot may have employed him

He had a little money when he came to town, and he knew how he could live in the cheapest manner. His first lodgings were at the house of Mr. Norris, a staymaker, in Exeter-Street, adjoining Catherinestreet, in the Strand. "I dined (said he) very well for eightpence, with very good company, at the Pine-Apple in New-street, just by. Several of them had travelled. They expected to meet every day; but did not know one another's names. It used to cost the rest a shilling, for they drank wine; but I had a cut of meat for sixpence, and bread for a penny, and gave the waiter a penny; so that I was quite well served, nay, better than the rest, for they gave the waiter nothing 1."

He at this time, I believe, abstained entirely from fermented liquors: a practice to which he rigidly conformed for many years together, at different periods of his life 2.

occasionally; and Dodsley certainly printed his London before Cave had printed any thing of his but two or three trifles in the Gentleman's Magazine.-ED.]

[But if we may trust Mr. Cumberland's recollection, he was about this time, or very soon after, reduced still lower; "for painful as it is to relate" (says that gentleman in his Memoirs, vol. 1. p. 355), I have heard that illustrious scholar, Dr. Johnson, assert, and he never varied from the truth of fact, that he subsisted himself for a considerable space of time upon the scanty pittance of fourpence halfpenny per day." When we find Dr. Johnson tell unpleasant truths to, or of, other men, let us recollect that he does not appear to have spared himself on occasions in which he might be forgiven for having done so.-ED.]

His OFELLUS in the Art of Living in London, I have heard him relate, was an Irish painter, whom he knew at Birmingham, and who had practised his own precepts of economy for several years in the British capital. He assured Johnson, who, I suppose, was then meditating to try his fortune in London, but was apprehensive of the expense, "that thirty pounds a year was enough to enable a man to live there without being contemptible. He allowed ten pounds for clothes and linen. He said a man might live in a garret at eighteenpence a week; few people would inquire where he lodged; and if they did, it was easy to say, 'Sir, I am to be found at such a place. By spending threepence in a coffee-house, he might be for some hours every day in very good company; he might dine for sixpence, breakfast on bread and milk for a penny, and do without supper. On clean-shirt-day he went abroad, and paid visits." I have heard him more than collected with esteem and kindness, and did once talk of his frugal friend, whom he renot like to have one smile at the recital. "This man (said he, gravely) was a very sensible man, who perfectly understood common affairs: a man of a great deal of knowledge of the world, fresh from life, not strained through books. He borrowed a horse and ten pounds at Birmingham. Finding himself master of so much money, he set off for West Chester, in order to get to Ireland. He returned the horse, and probably the ten pounds too, after he got home.""

Considering Johnson's narrow circumstances in the early part of his life, and particularly at the interesting æra of his launching into the ocean of London, it is not to be wondered at, that an actual instance, proved by experience, of the possibility of enjoying the intellectual luxury of social life upon a very small income, should deeply engage his attention, and be ever recollected by him as a circumstance of much importHe ance. He amused himself, I remember, by computing how much more expense was absolutely necessary to live upon the same scale with that which his friend described, when the value of money was diminished by the progress of commerce. It may be estimated that double the money might now with difficulty be sufficient.

[At this time his abstinence from wine may, perhaps, be attributed to poverty, but in his subsequent life he was restrained from that indulgence by, as it appears, moral or rather medical considerations. He probably found by experience that wine, though it dissipated for a moment, yet eventually aggravated the hereditary disease under which he suffered; and perhaps it may have been owing to a long course of abstinence that his mental health seems to have been better in the latter than in the earlier portion of his life. says, in his Prayers and Meditations, p, 73, "By abstinence from wine and suppers, I obtained sudden and great relief, and had freedom of mind restored to me; which I have wanted for all this year, without being able to find any means of obtaining it."-See also 16th September, 1773.Selden had the same notions; for being consulted by a person of quality whose imagination was Amidst this cold obscurity, there was strangely disturbed, he advised him "not to dis-one brilliant circumstance to cheer him; he order himself with eating or drinking; to eat very was well acquainted with Mr. Henry Herlittle supper, and say his prayers duly when he vey 1, one of the branches of the noble famwent to bed; and I (Selden) made but little question but he would be well in three or four days." -Table Talk, p. 17.

These remarks are important, because depression of spirits is too often treated on a contrary ystem, from ignorance of, or inattention to, what may be its real cause.-ED.]

1 The Honourable Henry Hervey, third son of the first Earl of Bristol, quitted the army and took orders. He married a sister of Sir Thomas Aston, by whom he got the Aston estate, and assumed the name and arms of that family.-Vide Collins's Peerage. BoswELL