第34章

It is a sad saying,that 'most of those whom he wished to please had sunk into the grave;'and his case at forty-five was singularly unhappy,unless the circle of his friends was very narrow.He said to Sir Joshua Reynolds,'If a man does not make new acquaintance as he advances through life,he will soon find himself left alone.Aman,Sir,should keep his friendship in constant repair.'

In July this year he had formed some scheme of mental improvement,the particular purpose of which does not appear.But we find in his Prayers and Meditations,p.25,a prayer entitled 'On the Study of Philosophy,as an Instrument of living;'and after it follows a note,'This study was not pursued.'

On the 13th of the same month he wrote in his Journal the following scheme of life,for Sunday:

'Having lived'(as he with tenderness of conscience expresses himself)'not without an habitual reverence for the Sabbath,yet without that attention to its religious duties which Christianity requires;'1.To rise early,and in order to it,to go to sleep early on Saturday.

'2.To use some extraordinary devotion in the morning.

'3.To examine the tenour of my life,and particularly the last.

week;and to mark my advances in religion,or recession from it.

'4.To read the Scripture methodically with such helps as are at hand.

'5.To go to church twice.

'6.To read books of Divinity,either speculative or practical.

'7.To instruct my family.

'8.To wear off by meditation any worldly soil contracted in the week.'

1756:AETAT.47.]--In 1756Johnson found that the great fame of his Dictionary had not set him above the necessity of 'making provision for the day that was passing over him.'No royal or noble patron extended a munificent hand to give independence to the man who had conferred stability on the language of his country.We may feel indignant that there should have been such unworthy neglect;but we must,at the same time,congratulate ourselves,when we consider that to this very neglect,operating to rouse the natural indolence of his constitution,we owe many valuable productions,which otherwise,perhaps,might never have appeared.

He had spent,during the progress of the work,the money for which he had contracted to write his Dictionary.We have seen that the reward of his labour was only fifteen hundred and seventy-five pounds;and when the expence of amanuenses and paper,and other articles are deducted,his clear profit was very inconsiderable.Ionce said to him,'I am sorry,Sir,you did not get more for your Dictionary.'His answer was,'I am sorry,too.But it was very well.The booksellers are generous,liberal-minded men.'He,upon all occasions,did ample justice to their character in this respect.He considered them as the patrons of literature;and,indeed,although they have eventually been considerable gainers by his Dictionary,it is to them that we owe its having been undertaken and carried through at the risk of great expence,for they were not absolutely sure of being indemnified.

He this year resumed his scheme of giving an edition of Shakspeare with notes.He issued Proposals of considerable length,in which he shewed that he perfectly well knew what a variety of research such an undertaking required;but his indolence prevented him from pursuing it with that diligence which alone can collect those scattered facts that genius,however acute,penetrating,and luminous,cannot discover by its own force.It is remarkable,that at this time his fancied activity was for the moment so vigorous,that he promised his work should be published before Christmas,1757.Yet nine years elapsed before it saw the light.His throes in bringing it forth had been severe and remittent;and at last we may almost conclude that the Caesarian operation was performed by the knife of Churchill,whose upbraiding satire,I dare say,made Johnson's friends urge him to dispatch.

'He for subscribers bates his hook,And takes your cash;but where's the book?

No matter where;wise fear,you know,Forbids the robbing of a foe;But what,to serve our private ends,Forbids the cheating of our friends?'

First proposed in 1745--ED.

About this period he was offered a living of considerable value in Lincolnshire,if he were inclined to enter into holy orders.It was a rectory in the gift of Mr.Langton,the father of his much valued friend.But he did not accept of it;partly I believe from a conscientious motive,being persuaded that his temper and habits rendered him unfit for that assiduous and familiar instruction of the vulgar and ignorant which he held to be an essential duty in a clergyman;and partly because his love of a London life was so strong,that he would have thought himself an exile in any other place,particularly if residing in the country.Whoever would wish to see his thoughts upon that subject displayed in their full force,may peruse The Adventurer,Number 126.

1757:AETAT.48.]--MR.BURNEY having enclosed to him an extract from the review of his Dictionary in the Bibliotheque des Savans,and a list of subscribers to his Shakspeare,which Mr.Burney had procured in Norfolk,he wrote the following answer:

'TO MR.BURNEY,IN LYNNE,NORFOLK.

'SIR,--That I may shew myself sensible of your favours,and not commit the same fault a second time,I make haste to answer the letter which I received this morning.The truth is,the other likewise was received,and I wrote an answer;but being desirous to transmit you some proposals and receipts,I waited till I could find a convenient conveyance,and day was passed after day,till other things drove it from my thoughts;yet not so,but that Iremember with great pleasure your commendation of my Dictionary.