The Life of Samuel Johnson Including a Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides. With Additions and Notes, by J.w. Croker (Volume 5) - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1831. Excerpt: ... to the favour by communicating his name to me in a very obliging letter. It would be an idle waste of time to take any particular notice of the futile remarks, to many of which, a petty national resentment, unworthy of my countrymen, has probably given rise; remarks, which have been industriously circulated in the publick prints by shallow or envious cavillers, who have endeavoured to persuade the world that Dr. Johnson's character has been lessened by recording such various instances of his lively wit and acute judgment, on every topick that was presented to his mind. In the opinion of every person of taste and knowledge that I have conversed with, it has been greatly heightened; and I will venture to predict, that this specimen of the colloquial talents and extemporaneous effusions of my illustrious fellow-traveller will become still more valuable, when, by the lapse of time, he shall have become an ancient; when all those who can now bear testimony to the transcendent powers of his mind shall have passed away, and no other memorial of this great and good man shall remain but the following 'Journal," the other anecdotes and letters preserved by his friends, and those incomparable works which have for many years been in the highest estimation, and will be read and admired as long as the English language shall be spoken or understood. J. B. London, 15th August, 1786. No. XII. A CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE OK THE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D. N. B.--To those which he himself acknowledged is added acknoicl. To those which may be fully believed to be his from internal evidence is added intern, evid. 1735. Abridgment and translation of Lobo's Voyage to Abyssinia, acknowl. 1 I do not here include his poetical works; for, excepting his Latin translation of Pope's Messia...