I hope Mr. Dilly conveyed to you my Letter on the State of the Nation' from the Author. I know your political principles, and indeed your settled system of thinking upon civil society and subordination, to be according to my own heart. And therefore I doubt not you will approve of my honest zeal. But what monstrous effects of Party do we now see! I am really vexed at the conduct of some of our friends 2. Amidst the conflict, our friend of Port Elliot is with much propriety created a Peer 3. But why o why did he not obtain the title of Baron Mahogany? Genealogists and Heralds would have had curious work of it to explain and illustrate that title. I 2 I ever am with sincere regard, Life, iv. 258, 260-1. Johnson wrote to Boswell on Feb. 27:-'I am very much of your opinion, and, like you, feel great indignation at the indecency with which the King is every day treated.' Ib. iv. 261. The struggle between the late Coalition Ministry and the King and Pitt was still going on. Among those whom Boswell calls 'our friends' was Burke. 3 He had been raised to the peerage, under the title of Baron Eliot of St. Germans, in a time of great dishonour. 'Pitt's cousin, Earl Temple, had been in the royal closet, and had there been authorised to let it be known that His Majesty would consider all who voted for the bill [Fox's India bill] as his enemies. The ignominious commission was performed; and instantly a troop of Lords of the Bedchamber, of Bishops who wished to be translated, Your affectionate humble servant, JAMES BOSWell. and of Scotch peers who wished to be re-elected made haste to change sides.' Macaulay's Misc. Writings, ed. 1871, p. 407. On Dec. 30, 1783, Horace Walpole wrote (Letters, viii. 447):—'They are crying Peerages about the streets in barrows, and can get none off.' At the general election of 1780 Eliot had been opposed to the King's party. Gibbon, who lost his seat, writes:-'Mr. Elliot was now deeply engaged in the measures of opposition, and the electors of Liskeard are commonly of the same opinion as Mr. Elliot.' Gibbon's Misc. Works, v. 238. * At a dinner at Sir Joshua Reynolds', in 1781, ' Mr. Eliot mentioned a curious liquor peculiar to his country, which the Cornish fishermen drink. They call it Mahogany; and it is made of two parts gin, and one part treacle, well beaten together.' Life, iv. 78. JAMES MY LORD, JAMES BOSWELL TO LORD THURLOW'. Dr. Samuel Johnson, though wonderfully recovered from a complication of dangerous illness, is by no means well, and I have reason to think that his valuable life cannot be preserved long, without the benignant influence of a southern climate. It would therefore be of very great moment were he to go to Italy before Winter sets in; and I know he wishes it much. But the objection is that his pension of £300 a year would not be sufficient to defray his expence, and make it convenient for Mr. Sastres, an ingenious and worthy native of that country, and a teacher of Italian here, to accompany him 2. As I am well assured of your Lordship's regard for Dr. Johnson I presume, without his knowledge, so far to indulge my anxious concern for him, as to intrude upon your Lordship with this suggestion, being persuaded that if a representation of the matter were to be made to his Majesty by proper authority the Royal Bounty would be extended in a suitable manner. Your Lordship I cannot doubt, will forgive me for taking this liberty. I even flatter myself you will approve of it. I am to set out for Scotland on Monday morning; so that if your Lordship should have any commands for me, as to this pious negotiation, you will be pleased to send them before that time. But Sir Joshua Reynolds, with whom I have consulted, will be here, and will gladly give all attention to it. I am with very great respect, Your Lordship's most obedient and most humble servant, JAMES BOSWell. General Paoli's, Upper Seymour Street, Portman Square 3. 24 June, 1784. From the copy in Boswell's handwriting of the original. This copy Boswell, no doubt, had given to Reynolds, when, on setting out for Scotland, he left the management of the pious negotiation' described in the letter in Sir Joshua's hands. Life, iv. 326, 339. For Thurlow's answer see ib. p. 336; ante, i. 441. For this interesting letter I am indebted to Lady Colomb. 2 In the Life there is no mention of Sastres as his companion, though his going explains why a larger sum was required. 3I was (writes Boswell) enter SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS TO James Boswell'. Wednesday. This being St. Luke's day, the Company of Painters dine in their Hall in the City, to which I am invited and desired to bring any friend with me. As you love to see life in all its modes if you have a mind to go I will can [sic] you about two o'clock, the black-guards dine at half an hour after 2. Yours, James Boswell, Esq. J. REYNOLDS. DR. ADAMS TO DR. SCOTT 3. Oxford, Feb. 8, 1785. DEAR SIR, We have received a most agreeable Token of our Friend Dr. Johnson's Regard for his College in a Present of his Books and of his Publications of every kind which he sent us a little before his death. Mr. Sergrove informs me that there are some literary Anecdotes found among his Papers which you have had the Kind Thought of depositing likewise in our Library 5. These tained with the kindest attention as General Paoli's constant guest while I was in London, till I had a house of my own there.' Life, iii. 35. 1 From the original in the possession of Lady Colomb. 'Mr. Camden, the famous antiquarian, whose father was a painter in the Old Bailey, gave the Painter Stainers' Company a silver cup and cover, which they use every St. Luke's day at their election; the old Master drinking to the one then elected out of it.' Dodsley's London, 1761, v. 103. 2 Reynolds at home always' dined at five o'clock precisely.' Northcote's Reynolds, ii. 95. His strong language is perhaps due to his vexa will be most thankfully accepted under any conditions that you are pleased to prescribe. They shall be preserved among the few MSS. and rarer Books which are locked up from view and will greatly enrich this collection. He tells me also that he apprized you of a sort of promise which he thought the Doctor had made us of his Picture. But this is more than we have a right to say. We had indeed formed to ourselves an expectation of this kind which was grounded wholly on the following incident. The Doctor found in my Parlour some time ago a Print of himself which belonged to our Common Room: under which I had just then caused to be written a Line of his Favourite Miss Hannah More, And is not Johnson ours himself an Host ',' with which he seemed well pleased. This gave occasion to my Daughter to whom he was always very partial to say [piece torn off] to have his Picture in the Hall, and to hope that he would oblige us with it. His answer was that he had no Right to be placed among the Founders and Benefactors of the College in the Hall; that the most he could aspire to would be a Place in the Lodgings, if the Master could find Room for his Picture there. This we were willing to construe as an intention to comply with our Wishes and flattered ourselves accordingly. Should his Executors incline to put the same construction upon this, and have it in their power to fulfill this intention, they would confer the highest obligation upon us. It would indeed be a singular pleasure and matter of useful Reflection to have his Portrait always before us as the Memorial of one who excelled in every Virtue and was so great an Ornament to the College3. The Doctor's last visit was I believe to this College. › Ante, ii. 199. 2 'She happened to tell him that a little coffee-pot, in which she had made his coffee, was the only thing she could call her own. He turned to her with a complacent gallantry :— "Don't say so, my dear: I hope you don't reckon my heart as nothing."" Life, iv. 292. 3 His portrait by Reynolds, the gift of the late Mr. Andrew Spottis woode, hangs in the Common Room. A copy of the portrait of him by Reynolds in the National Gallery, taken by Miss Leveson, the daughter of the Scribe of the Johnson Club, and given by her to the College, hangs in the hall. There also is to be seen a copy of a portrait of Dr. Adams; it is to be hoped that some day it will be replaced by the original picture. We We had much serious Talk together during the few days that he staid with me: for which I ought to be the better as long as I live 1. He took a most affecting Leave of me, still saying that he would come again soon. I am, dear sir, with the most perfect Esteem, and obedient Servant, W. ADAMS. To Dr. Scott at Doctors Commons. 'He used the same words in a letter to Boswell written a few days later. Life, iv. 376. |