in them, I shall take it ill to be deprived of the benefit. Be so good as to let me hear from you, when you have leisure.” LETTER III. "Tissington, 29th Dec. 1753. "DEAR SIR, -You very obligingly say, 'Few are so busy as not to find time to do what they delight in doing.' That I have been one of those few, my not having, till now, found time to answer your last kind letter may convince you. My indisposition, and confinement on that account, made it necessary for me to double my application for my little flock; and, as my strength increased, I found occasions to exercise its increase also; so that I really have not had a moment to spare. I know you will be better pleased to infer from hence that my health is much mended, than you would be with the finest and most artful arrangement of abstract reasoning that ever was penned. I have been a great moralizer; and, perhaps, if all my speculative chains were linked together, they would fill a folio as large as the largest of those many wrote by the philosophical Duchess of Newcastle, and be just as useful as her labours. But I have wholly given up all attempts of this sort, convinced by experience that they could at most afford only a present relief. The one remedy for all and every kind of sorrow, the deeply experienced royal prophet thus expresses: "In the multitude of sorrows which I had in my heart, thy comforts have refreshed my soul.' The sovereign balm for every heart-felt wound "As I think I write; and express my thoughts in words that first offer, sans premeditation, as you see. As I have told you before, I write to the friend, not to the Mr. Johnson, who himself writes better than any man. I shall comply with your request, and not inclose this; though at the same time I am conscious I have so little claim to a place among your riches, that a waste paper drawer will be a much properer one for my poor productions: however, if they have this merit, and you regard them as proofs that I much esteem you, they will answer my purpose, which is that of being regarded as, dear sir, your affectionate and sincere friend, "H. BOOTHBY. "My jewels are all well. "One reason for my inclosing my former letters was the not being sure of your right direction, but I hope I have recollected one. You have not answered my question in my last postscript." 1 [Relative to the Adventurer.-ED.] LETTER IV. "Saturday, 16th Feb. 1754. "DEAR SIR,—I could almost think you had been long silent' on purpose that you might make the prettiest reflections on that silence imaginable; but I know you never need auxiliaries; your own powers are on every occasion abundantly sufficient. I come now only, as it were, to call upon you in a hurry, and to tell you I am going to the Bath. So it is determined for me. Lodgings are taken; and on Monday we are to set out, Mr. Fitzherbert, the two eldest dear ones, and myself. This change of place for six or eight weeks I must notify to you, for fear I should be deprived of a letter of yours a day longer than your own affairs make necessary. If nothing unforeseen prevents, Mrs. Hill Boothby will be found on the South Parade, Bath, by a letter directed there, after the next week, for we shall travel slowly. "I will add a few more words, though I am very busy, and a very few will fully show my thoughts on morality. The Saviour of the world, truth itself says, ' He came not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it.' "I wonder not at your hesitating to impart a secret to a woman; but am the more obliged to you for communicating it as a secret, after so hesitating. Such a mark of your deliberate confidence shall be strictly regarded; and I shall seek for letter T 2, that I may read with redoubled pleasure. I want to know when the Great Dictionary will prove itself truly so, by appearing. Every thing that relates to Mr. Johnson has the best wishes of a friendly heart; here I include Mrs. Williams, and desire she will accept her share, which I am sure she will with pleasure, on account of my being, dear sir, your sincere friend, and much obliged humble servant, "H. BOOTH BY. "P.S. As a friend of yours and Dr. L[awrence]'s, and one who seems worthy to be such, I am solicitous to inquire after the health of Dr. Bathurst 3. "Excuse hurry and its effects-I mean my health is very weak, and I have much to do." [It is evident that Johnson's share of the correspondence was considerable, but, except a few towards the close, none of his letters have been preserved.-ED.] 2 [See ante, v. i. p. 240, Editor's note. There can no longer be any doubt that Johnson was the author of the papers in the Adventurer marked T., and it seems probable, from Miss Boothby's emphatic statement, that she will read them with redoubled plea sure, that Johnson had told her that their common friend, Dr. Bathurst, had some interest in these papers. This supports Mrs. Williams's version, to which Johnson himself assented, though it does not explain how Johnson, distressed as he was, could afford to transfer to Dr. Bathurst the profits of his labours.-ED.] 3 [This and the preceding paragraphs confirm the idea that, at Dr. Lawrence's, she had become acquainted with Johnson, Miss Williams, and Dr. Bathurst.-ED.] LETTER V. "Bath, 11th March, 1754. “DEAR SIR,—It is impossible for me not to pay due regard to your kind solicitude for my better health. I shall therefore begin this letter, as you enjoin me, with an account of it, and tell you it really is better. The waters did not agree with me for some days after I began drinking them; but a little medicinal assistant administered by Dr. Hartley has so reconciled us, that for a week past they have been very salutary, given me an appetite, strength to use exercise without fatigue, whole nights of sweet sleep, and, what some people here would even prefer to these, better looks. For all these I am truly thankful to the giver of all good. You are doubtful whether I am not hurt by needless anxiety. Be no longer so; but be sure I am not: "sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," is my preservative from all anxious thought for the morrow. I look not forward but to an eternity of peace and joy, and in this view all vain solicitude for the things of this life is taken away. "You find pleasure in writing letters, and to me. I will put a stop to your further inquiry into the cause of this, by most truly assuring you, you give me a very great pleasure in reading your letters. I earnestly wish to be indeed your friend; and as far as I am capable of being such, I beg you always to be certain you are conferring an obligation when you confide in me, or command me. Immediately after I received your last letter, I tripped to the bookseller's for the Gentleman's Magazine': many masterly strokes in the picture would have made the hand known to me, had not you named it. You will not be displeased when I tell you, one circumstance drew from me a silent tear, viz. one of the last acts of reason,' &c. and this melting was part from natural tenderness, part from sympathy. How then can I condemn your sorrow? Yet I must, even because I have myself formerly been overwhelmed with fruitless grief for the loss of a friend; and therefore by miserable experience can warn all from splitting on this rock. Fly from it. Many are the resources shown to fly to; but believe me, there is but one that can avail—religion. 1 In the Gentleman's Magazine for February, 1753, p. 81, is inserted the thirtieth number of the "Adventurer," dated February 17, 1753, which was written by Dr. Johnson. In the same Magazine, the account of the tragedy of the Gamester seems also to have been written by him.—WRIGHT. [Mr. Wright's note is careless and erroneous to an almost incredible degree. The thirtieth number of the Adventurer was not written by Dr. Johnson, whose first paper is the thirty-fourth. Nor does Miss Boothby allude to the Gentleman's Magazine for February, 1753, but to that for 1754; and in which there is not (any more than in the former) any paper of the Adventurer written by Johnson. The "picture" alluded to is Johnson's Life of Cave, the first article in the Magazine for February, 1754-and in that the passage referred to is to be found, descriptive of Cave's death: "One of the last acts of reason which he exerted was, to press the hand which is now writing this little narrative."-ED.] My situation here allows me but a very small portion of time to myself. Mr. Fitzherbert loves company, and has a good deal. I have some acquaintance, and a few friends here, who by turns engage me. Thus, though I never go into the public scenes here, I can seldom be alone: but I was determined to secure half an hour, to thank you, and to tell you, whenever you favour me with your letters, no engagements shall prevent my assuring you, I receive them in every place with the greatest pleasure, and am, and shall be, dear sir, your affectionate friend, "H. BOOTHBY. "Overlook all defects." LETTER VI. "Bath, 1st April, 1754. "DEAR SIR,-That you find my health and well-being of consequence enough to be solicitous about, is a consideration so pleasing to me, that it is impossible your inquiries after them should ever be troublesome; and I have so high an opinion of your judgment, that, were I so situated as to consult it properly, and clearly state my questions, no nervous fine lady in Bath can more frequently have recourse to her doctor for advice, than I should have to you for yours in every doubtful point of conduct. The extreme cold has affected me; but, on the whole, I am, thank God, better than when I first came to this place and so cheerful, that those of my acquaintance who think there is no other use for spirits but to enjoy life in public, to speak in their own style, wonder I do not frequent the rooms, balls, &c. But the dreaming part of my life is over, and all my pursuits are bent towards the securing 'A sober certainty of waking bliss.' I fly from dissipation to serious recollection, a sort of labour which is succeeded by a cheerful rest. "Sir Charles Grandison I have not read. The reflection of having thrown away much precious time formerly in useless and unprofitable reading makes me extremely cautious; and I am in a bookseller's shop, like a bee in a garden, which you have seen fly round and round, from flower to flower, nor ever rests on any till it finds one which will yield pure honey. So I just touched Sir Charles Grandison in my examining flight; but, from my instinct, found there was no honey for me. Yet I am far from saying there may not be miel très doux for other kind of bees. However, I find the few to whose judgment I pay the greatest deference agree with you. Mr. Richardson's intention I honour; but to apply your own words truly1 on this occa 1 [Johnson, in one of his letters, had evidently expressed some apprehension, that, "with the best intentions, he might be troublesome." Miss Boothby hints that such an apprehension on his part was unfounded.--ED.] sion-The best intention may be troublesome.' And perhaps the same way and manner of executing may weary. His mistaking the manners and life of those whom you truly say we condescend to call great people, is, I think, very pardonable. It would not be worth a naturalist's while to spend the greatest part of his time in observing the various tinctures a camelion takes from every body it approaches; and yet he must do so, to give a true representation of the colours of its life. You can make the application. "I am entirely of your opinion with regard to education. I will labour all I can to produce plenty. But sanguine hopes will never tempt me to feel the torture of cutting disappointment. I have seen even Paul plant and Apollos water in vain, and am convinced God only can give the increase'. Mine is a fruitful soil. Miss Fitzherbert is yet every thing I can wish. Her eldest brother, a fine lively boy; but, entre nous, too indulgent a father will make it necessary for him to be sent to school-the sooner the better. Do you know of any school where a boy of six years old would be taken care of, chiefly as to his morals, and taught English, French, &c., till of a fit age for a public school? "You do not say a word of the Dictionary. Miss Fitzherbert and I are impatient for its publication. I know you will be so indulgent to a friend, as to let me have the pleasure of hearing from you soon. My sincere regard and best wishes will always attend you, as I am, dear sir, your obliged and affectionate friend, "H. BOOTH BY. "A rainy day has prevented my drinking the waters, or I should have hazarded the head-ache, rather than have been longer silent.” LETTER VII. 66 Bath, 20th May, 1754. "DEAR SIR,-How was I surprised this morning, when, on opening a letter from you, with the pleasing expectation of its being a reply to one I wrote to you above a week ago, I found you kindly complaining of my silence. The reflections you begin your letter with seemed to me, at first, as if you had mistaken in directing it to me, as I well knew I felt, and had very lately expressed, a regard you could not have the least doubt of. The servant assures me he put my letter into the post-box himself. The post-master assures me, none put there ever fail. Yet somehow this has failed. I shall be sorry if it does not reach you, as there were some parts of it (for it was no short one) wrote with the freedom and confidence of friendship; and the whole sufficient to prove I am never long silent, but from necessity. If this wanderer does at last find you, dear sir, sig ["I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." 1 Cor. iii. 6. -ED.] |