Deformities of Samuel Johnson, Selected from His Works

126

Ibid.

127

Thomson's life.

128

The author has no intention here to disseminate political opinions – His only meaning is to prove, that somebody has neither principle, nor consistency, nor shame.

129

Life of Shenstone.

130

Gentleman's Magazine.

131

Vide life of Milton.

132

Life of Smith.

133

Tour, p. 8, 12mo edit.

134

The Crucifix – Gulliver's Travels.

135

'And read their history in a nation's eyes.' Gray's Elegy.

136

On this subject nothing liberal could be expected from Dr Johnson, who, in spite of his murmurs about Excise, and his actual benevolence in private life, has always been the firm advocate of oppression. His project of hiring the Cherokees to massacre the North Americans (vide supra p. 32) may serve to inform us what he himself would have done, had he been seated in the saddle of authority. But what shall be said for some Scottish historians who have adopted the same ideas? One of them tells us, that Beaton had prepared a list of three hundred and sixty of the leaders of the Protestant party, whose lives and fortunes were to be sacrificed to the rapacity and the pride of this ambitious prelate. Yet he pronounces the killing of such a dangerous monster to be a most execrable deed. He dwells with studied exultation on the execution of Charles I. but if our King really deserved his fate, Was not Beaton by many degrees more criminal? An author can hardly spend his time worse, than in writing to flatter the prejudices, and to corrupt the common sense of the world.

137

Preface to Shakespeare.

138

Quere. What is unquenchable curiosity? and how can a play excite curiosity which cannot be satisfied by its conclusion?

139

Preface to Shakespeare.

140

Ibid.

141

Weekly Mirror, No. 12.

142

Monthly Review, on Dr Graham's Pindaricks.

143

Dr Johnson's life of Pope.

144

Vide Terence and the Careless Husband.

145

Vide Dr Johnson's life of Shenstone.

146

Vide Preface to Dr Johnson's octavo Dictionary, 4th edition.

147

Vide Measure for measure.

148

Vide Dictionary.

149

Optics, P. 349.

150

Chem. I. P. 399. 614.