Record Number: 22119
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
'[from Bennet Langton's collection of 1780 Johnsoniana, passed to Boswell] 'One night at The Club he produced a translation of an Epitaph which Lord Elibank had written in English, for his Lady, and requested of Johnson to turn into Latin for him. Having read "Domina de North et Gray", he said to Dyer, "You see, Sir, what barbarisms we are compelled to make use of, when modern titles are to be specifically mentioned in Latin inscriptions." When he had read it once aloud, and there had been a general approbation expressed by the company, he addressed himself to Mr. Dyer in particular, and said, "Sir, I beg to have your judgement, for I know your nicety." Dyer then very properly desired to read it over again; which having done, he pointed out an incongruity in one of the sentences.'
Century:Date:
Until: 31 Dec 1780
Country:England
Timen/a
Place:city: London
other location: meeting of his 'Club' of literary friends
(Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
(Listener):
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
Reader / Listener / Reading Group:
Reader: Age:Adult (18-100+)
Gender:Male
Date of Birth:18 Sep 1709
Socio-Economic Group:Professional / academic / merchant / farmer
Occupation:writer
Religion:Anglican
Country of Origin:England
Country of Experience:England
Listeners present if any:e.g family, servants, friends
members of the 'Club', including Mr Dyer
Additional Comments:
n/a
Text Being Read:
Author: Title:[Epitaph on his Lady]
Genre:epitaph
Form of Text:Manuscript: Unknown
Publication Detailstranslated into Latin by Johnson
Provenanceowned
Source Information:
Record ID:22119
Source:James Boswell
Editor:R.W. Chapman
Title:Life of Johnson
Place of Publication:Oxford
Date of Publication:1980
Vol:n/a
Page:1072
Additional Comments:
n/a
Citation:
James Boswell, R.W. Chapman (ed.), Life of Johnson, (Oxford, 1980), p. 1072, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=22119, accessed: 26 April 2024
Additional Comments:
Originally published 1791.