√ Century of Experience Evidence Name of Reader / Listener / Reading Group Author of Text Title of Text Form of Text 1700-1799 'I told him that from reading Gay's writings, I had taken an affection to his Grace's family from my earliest years.' James Boswell John Gay [unknown] Print : Book1700-1799 'I have now one great satisfaction, which is reading Hume's "History". It entertains and instructs me. It elevates my mind and excites noble feelings of every kind.' James Boswell David Hume History of England Print : Book1700-1799 'David Hume and John Dryden are at present my companions' James Boswell David Hume History of England Print : Book1700-1799 'David Hume and John Dryden are at present my companions' James Boswell John Dryden [unknown] Print : Book1700-1799 'I returned to my friend's chambers and we read some of Mr Addison's papers in "The Spectator" with infinite relish' James Boswell Joseph Addison The Spectator Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 'In my younger years I had read in the "Lives of the Convicts" so much about Tyburn that I had a sort of horrid eagerness to be there' James Boswell [unknown] Lives of the convicts Print : Book, Pamphlet1700-1799 'At night at home, I read the Church service by myself with great devotion' James Boswell [n/a] [Church service] Print : Book1700-1799 'I then got "The North Briton" and read it at Child's. I shall do so now every Saturday evening' James Boswell [n/a] The North Briton Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 'I employed the day in reading Hume's "History", which enlarged my views, filled me with great ideas, and rendered me happy' James Boswell David Hume History of England Print : Book1700-1799 'This forenoon I read the history of Joseph and his brethren, which melted my heart and drew tears from my eyes. It is simply and beautifully told in the Sacred Writings.... James Boswell [n/a] Bible Print : Book1700-1799 'Some time ago I left off the pamphlet shop in the passage to the Temple Exchange Coffee-house, and took "The North Briton" from the publisher of it, Mr Kearsley in Ludga... James Boswell [unknown] [novels] Print : Book1700-1799 ' [Letter from Boswell to Johnson] Your critical notes on the specimen of Lord Hailes's "Annals of Scotland" are excellent. I agreed with you on every one of them. He him... James Boswell David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes Annals of Scotland Manuscript : Unknown1700-1799 'Some time ago I left off the pamphlet shop in the passage to the Temple Exchange Coffee-house, and took "The North Briton" from the publisher of it, Mr Kearsley in Ludga... James Boswell [n/a] The North Briton Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 'In this [producing a biography of Johnson] he has not been very successful, as I have found upon a perusal of those papers, which have been since transferred to me. Sir ... James Boswell Samuel Johnson [papers left at his death] Manuscript : Unknown1700-1799 'In this [producing a biography of Johnson] he has not been very successful, as I have found upon a perusal of those papers, which have been since transferred to me. Sir ... James Boswell John Hawkins Life of Samuel Johnson Print : Book1700-1799 'There is, in the B. Museum, a letter from Bishop Warburton to Dr Birch, on the subject of biography; which, though I am aware it may expose me to a charge of artfully ra... James Boswell Dr Warburton [Letter to Thomas Birch] Manuscript : Letter1700-1799 'Instead of melting down my materials into one mass, and constantly speaking in my own person, by which I might have appeared to have more merit in the execution of the w... James Boswell William Mason Memoirs of Gray Print : Book1700-1799 'That the conversation of a celebrated man, if his talents have been exerted in conversation, will best display his character, is, I trust, too well established in the ju... James Boswell William Mason [Memoir of William Whitehead] Print : Book1700-1799 'He appears, from his early notes or memorandums in my possession, to have at various times attempted, or at least planned, a methodical course of study, according to com... James Boswell Samuel Johnson [memoranda of his reading] Manuscript : Unknown1700-1799 'The hand-writing [in the original sketch for "Irene"] is very difficult to read, even by those who were best acquainted with Johnson's mode of penmanship which at all ti... James Boswell Samuel Johnson [original notes for "Irene"] Manuscript : Unknown1700-1799 'I myself recollect such impressions [of reverence, like Johnson displayed for the "Gentleman's Magazine"] from "The Scots Magazine", which was begun at Edinburgh in the ... James Boswell [n/a] Scot's Magazine, The Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 'Talking of birds, I mentioned Mr. Daines Barrington's ingenions Essay against the received notion of their migration'. James Boswell Daines Barrington [Essay on bird migration] Print : Unknown1700-1799 'Mr Dodsley this year brought out his "Preceptor", oned of the most valuable books for the improvement of young minds that has appeared in any language' James Boswell Robert Dodsley Preceptor, The Print : Book1700-1799 'His "Vanity of Human Wishes" has less of common life, but more of a philosophick dignity than his "London". More readers, therefore, will be delighted with the pointed s... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Vanity of Human Wishes, The Print : Unknown1700-1799 'he was not altogether unprepared as a periodical writer; for I have in my possession a small duodecimo volume, in which he has written, in the form of Mr Locke's "Common... James Boswell Samuel Johnson [notes collected for periodical articles] Print : UnknownManuscript : duodecimo book1700-1799 'I profess myself to have ever had a profound veneration for the astonishing force and vivacity of mind which "The Rambler" exhibits [Boswell then talks at length of the ... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Rambler, The Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 '["Rambler"] No 32 on patience, even under extreme misery, is wonderfully lofty, and as much above the rant of stoicism, as the Sun of Revelation is brighter than the twi... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Rambler, The Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 'I have seen some volumes of Dr Young's copy of "The Rambler", in which he has marked the pasages which he thought particularly excellent, by folding down a corner of the... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Rambler, The Print : Book, Serial / periodical1700-1799 'It has of late been the fashion to compare the style of Addison and Johnson, and to depreciate, I think very unjustly, the style of Addison as nerveless and feeble, beca... James Boswell Joseph Addison [essays] Print : Book, Serial / periodical1700-1799 'Let me add, that Hawkesworth's imitations of Johnson are sometimes so happy,that it is extremely difficult to distinguish them, with certainty, from the compositions of ... James Boswell John Hawkesworth Adventurer, The Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 '[referring to a dispute over whether Johnson wrote certain papers in "The Adventurer"] Mrs Williams told me that, "as he had [italics] given [end italics] those Essays t... James Boswell James Boswell [account given to him by Mrs Williams] Manuscript : Unknown1700-1799 'On the 6th of March came out Lord Bolingbroke's works, published by Mr David Mallet. The wild and pernicious ravings, under the name of [italics] Philosophy [end italics... James Boswell Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke Philosophical works Print : Book1700-1799 'In one of his little memorandum-books I find the following hints for his intended "Review or Literary Journal":
"[italics] The Annals of Literature, foreign as well as ... James Boswell Samuel Johnson [memoranda for a projected literary journal] Manuscript : Codex, memorandum book1700-1799 'Let the Preface [to Johnson's Dictionary] be attentively perused, in which is given, in a clear, strong, and glowing style, a comprehensive, yet particular view of what ... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Dictionary Print : Book1700-1799 'all the esays [in the "Universal Visitor"] marked with two [italics] asterisks [end italics] have been ascribed to him; but I am confident, from internal evidence, that ... James Boswell Samuel Johnson [essays] Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 'all the esays [in the "Universal Visitor"] marked with two [italics] asterisks [end italics] have been ascribed to him; but I am confident, from internal evidence, that ... James Boswell [n/a] The Universal Visitor Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 'Yet there are in the "Idler" several papers which shew as much profundity of thought, and labour of language, as any of this great man's writings'. [Boswell mentions num... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Idler, The Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 'This Tale ["Rasselas"], with all the charms of oriental imagery, and all the force and beauty of which the English language is capable, leads us through the most importa... James Boswell Samuel Johnson History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia Print : Book1700-1799 'This Tale ["Rasselas"], with all the charms of oriental imagery, and all the force and beauty of which the English language is capable, leads us through the most importa... James Boswell Voltaire [pseud.] Candide: Or, All for the Best Print : Book1850-1899 'I could not but smile, at the same time that I was offended, to observe Sheridan, in "The Life of Swift", which he afterwards published, attempting, in the writhings of ... James Boswell Thomas Sheridan Life of the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Swift, The Manuscript : Unknown1850-1899 'Her [Mrs Sheridan's] novel, entitled "Memoirs of Miss Sydney Biddulph", contains an excellent moral, while it inculcates a future state of retribution; and what it teac... James Boswell Frances Sheridan Memoirs of Miss Sydney Biddulph, The Print : Book1850-1899 '"Cibber's familiar style, however, was better than that which Whitehead has assumed. [italics] Grand [end italics] nonsense is insupportable. Whitehead is but a little m... James Boswell William Whitehead [poem on Garrick] Print : Unknown1850-1899 'In this depreciation [by Johnson] of Churchill's poetry I could not agree with him. It is very true that the greatest part of it is upon the topicks of the day, on which... James Boswell Charles Churchill [poems] Print : Book1850-1899 'In this depreciation [by Johnson] of Churchill's poetry I could not agree with him. It is very true that the greatest part of it is upon the topicks of the day, on which... James Boswell Charles Churchill Prophecy of Famine, The. A Scots Pastoral Print : Book1850-1899 'I mentioned the periodical paper called "The Connoisseur." He said it wanted matter. No doubt it has not the deep thinking of Johnson's writings. But surely it has just ... James Boswell [n/a] Connoisseur, The Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 'I at this time kept up a very frequent correspondence with Sir David [Dalrymple]; and I read to Dr. Johnson to-night the following passage from the letter which I had la... James Boswell David Dalrymple [letter to Boswell] Manuscript : Letter1700-1799 'On Tuesday, July 18, I found tall Sir Thomas Robinson sitting with Johnson. Sir Thomas said, that the King of Prussia valued himself upon three things;—upon being a hero... James Boswell Frederick II King of Prussia Memoirs of the house of Brandenburg. From the earl... Print : Book1700-1799 'On Tuesday, July 18, I found tall Sir Thomas Robinson sitting with Johnson. Sir Thomas said, that the King of Prussia valued himself upon three things;—upon being a hero... James Boswell Frederick II King of Prussia [poems] Print : Book1700-1799 ' [Johnson said] "Hume, and other sceptical innovators, are vain men, and will gratify themselves at any expence. Truth will not afford sufficient food to their vanity; s... James Boswell David Hume Enquiry concerning Human Understanding Print : Book1700-1799 'He said, Dr. Joseph Warton was a very agreeable man, and his "Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope," a very pleasing book. I wondered that he delayed so long to give... James Boswell Joseph Warton Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope Print : Book1700-1799 'I was much pleased to find myself with Johnson at Greenwich, which he celebrates in his "London" as a favourite scene. I had the poem in my pocket, and read the lines al... James Boswell Samuel Johnson London: A Poem in Imitation of the Third Satire of... Print : Book1700-1799 '[Boswell to Johnson] Of the modern Frisick, or what is spoken by the boors at this day, I have procured a specimen. It is [italics] Gisbert Japix's Rymelerie [end italic... James Boswell Gisbert Japix Rymelerie Print : Book1700-1799 'He wrote a review of Grainger's "Sugar Cane, a Poem", in the "London Chronicle". He told me, that Dr. Percy wrote the greatest part of this review; but, I imagine, he di... James Boswell Samuel Johnson London Chronicle [review of Grainger's "Sugar Cane... Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 'From one of his Journals I transcribed what follows :
"At church, Oct.—65.
" To avoid all singularity; [italics] Bonaventura [end italics]
" To come in before ser... James Boswell Samuel Johnson [journal] Manuscript : Unknown1700-1799 'He kept the greater part of mine [letters] very carefully; and a short time before his death was attentive enough to seal them up in bundles, and ordered them to be deli... James Boswell James Boswell [letter to Johnson from Corsica] Manuscript : Letter1700-1799 'This violence [of Dr Johnson against Rousseau] seemed very strange to me, who had read many of Rousseau's animated writings with great pleasure, and even edification; ha... James Boswell Jean Jacques Rousseau Emile Print : Book1700-1799 'This violence [of Dr Johnson against Rousseau] seemed very strange to me, who had read many of Rousseau's animated writings with great pleasure, and even edification; ha... James Boswell Jean Jacques Rousseau Discourse on Inequality Print : Book1700-1799 '"Sir, (continued he) there is all the difference in the world between characters of nature and characters of manners; and [italics] there [end italics] is the difference... James Boswell Samuel Richardson [unknown] Print : Book1700-1799 '"Sir, (continued he) there is all the difference in the world between characters of nature and characters of manners; and [italics] there [end italics] is the difference... James Boswell Henry Fielding [unknown] Print : Book1700-1799 'He allowed high praise to Thomson, as a poet; but when one of the company said he was also a very good man, our moralist contested this with very great warmth, accusing ... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Lives of the Poets Print : Book1700-1799 'He allowed high praise to Thomson, as a poet; but when one of the company said he was also a very good man, our moralist contested this with very great warmth, accusing ... James Boswell James Thomson [letters to his sister and accounts by them of his... Manuscript : Letter1700-1799 '"The London Chronicle", which was the only newspaper he constantly took in, being brought, the office of reading it aloud was assigned to me. I was diverted by his impat... James Boswell [n/a] London Chronicle Print : Newspaper1700-1799 'His description of its [the situation in the Falklands] miseries in this pamphlet ['Thoughts on the late Transactions respecting Falkland's Islands'] is one of the fines... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Thoughts on the late Transactions respecting Falkl... Print : Pamphlet1700-1799 'We talked of his two political pamphlets, "The False Alarm," and "Thoughts concerning Falkland's Islands." Johnson. "Well, sir, which of them did you think the best?" Bo... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Thoughts on the Late Transactions respecting Falkl... Print : Pamphlet1700-1799 'We talked of his two political pamphlets, "The False Alarm," and "Thoughts concerning Falkland's Islands." Johnson. "Well, sir, which of them did you think the best?" Bo... James Boswell Samuel Johnson False Alarm, The Print : Pamphlet1700-1799 'Boswell. "I do not know whether there are any well attested stories of the appearance of ghosts. You know there is a famous story of the appearance of Mrs. Veal, prefixe... James Boswell Charles Drelincourt Christians Defense against the Fears of Death Print : Book1700-1799 '[Johnson said] "I see they have published a splendid edition of Akenside's works. One bad ode may be suffered; but a number of them together makes one sick." Boswell. "A... James Boswell Mark Akenside Pleasures of Imagination, The Print : Book1700-1799 'I mentioned Elwal the heretick, whose trial Sir John Pringle had given me to read.'
James Boswell [unknown] [legal trial papers] Unknown 1700-1799 'He censured Ruffhead's "Life of Pope"; -and said, "he knew nothing of Pope, and nothing of poetry." He praised Dr. Joseph Warton's "Essay on Pope"; but said, he supposed... James Boswell Joseph Warton Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope Print : Book1700-1799 'The conversation now turned on critical subjects. Johnson. "Bayes, in 'The Rehearsal', is a mighty silly character. If it was intended to be like a particular man, it co... James Boswell George Villiers, Second Duke of Buckingham Rehearsal, The Print : Book1700-1799 'Fielding being mentioned, Johnson exclaimed, "he was a blockhead :" and upon my expressing my astonishment at so strange an assertion, he said, "What I mean by his being... James Boswell Henry Fielding Tom Jones Print : Book1700-1799 'We talked of Tacitus, and I hazarded an opinion that with all his merit for penetration, shrewdness of judgment, and terseness of expression, he was too compact, too muc... James Boswell Tacitus Histories Print : Book1700-1799 'At this time it appears from his "Prayers and Meditations," that he had been more than commonly diligent in religious duties, particularly in reading the Holy Scriptures... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Prayers and Meditations Manuscript : Unknown1700-1799 'I expressed a liking for Mr. Francis Osborne's works, and asked him what he thought of that writer. He answered, "A conceited fellow. Were a man to write so now, the boy... James Boswell Francis Osborne [unknown] Print : Book1700-1799 'I expressed a liking for Mr. Francis Osborne's works, and asked him what he thought of that writer. He answered, "A conceited fellow. Were a man to write so now, the boy... James Boswell Joseph Addison Spectator, The Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 'On Saturday, April 3, the day after my arrival in London this year, I went to his house late in the evening, and sat with Mrs. Williams till he came home. I found in the... James Boswell London Chronicle Print : Newspaper1700-1799 'I mentioned Sir John Dalrymple's "Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland", and his discoveries to the prejudice of Lord Russel and Algernon Sydney. Johnson. " Why, Sir, ev... James Boswell John Dalrymple Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland Print : Book1700-1799 '[on Good Friday] We went to church both in the morning and evening. In the interval between the two services we did not dine; but he read in the Greek New Testament, and... James Boswell [unknown] [books belonging to Johnson] Print : Book1700-1799 'In Archbishop Laud's Diary I found the following passage, which I read to Dr. Johnson:
"1623. February 1, Sunday. I stood by the most illustrious Prince Charles, at d... James Boswell William Laud [diary] Print : Book1700-1799 'I spoke of Allan Ramsay's "Gentle Shepherd," in the Scottish dialect, as the best pastoral that had ever been written; not only abounding with beautiful rural imagery, a... James Boswell Allan Ramsay Gentle Shepherd, The Print : Book1700-1799 'Johnson, though remarkable for his great variety of composition, never exercised his talents in fable, except we allow his beautiful tale published in Mrs. Williams's "M... James Boswell Samuel Johnson [tale in Mrs Williams's 'Miscellanies'] Print : Book1700-1799 'Johnson, though remarkable for his great variety of composition, never exercised his talents in fable, except we allow his beautiful tale published in Mrs. Williams's "M... James Boswell Samuel Johnson [manuscript plan for a fable] Manuscript : Unknown1700-1799 ' [Johnson said of Goldsmith] "Take him as a poet, his 'Traveller' is a very fine performance; ay, and so is his 'Deserted Village,' were it not sometimes too much the ec... James Boswell William Robertson History of Scotland 1542 - 1603 Print : Book1700-1799 '[letter from Boswell, to Johnson] It gives me much pleasure to hear that a republication of "Isaac Walton's Lives" is intended. You have been in a mistake in thinking th... James Boswell Izaak Walton Lives of Dr John Donne, Sir Henry Wotton, Mr Richa... Print : Book1700-1799 'In his [Johnson's] manuscript diary of this year, there is the following entry:
"Nov. 27. Advent Sunday. I considered that this day, being the beginning of the eccles... James Boswell Samuel Johnson [diary] Manuscript : Unknown1700-1799 '[Letter from Boswell to Johnson] Be pleased to accept of my best thanks for your "Journey to the Hebrides", which came to me by last night's post. I did really ask the f... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland. Print : Book1700-1799 'His "Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland" is a most valuable performance. It abounds in extensive philosophical views of society, and in ingenious sentiment and l... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland Print : Book1700-1799 'His disbelief of the authenticity of the poems ascribed to Ossian, a Highland bard, was confirmed in the course of his journey by a very strict examination of the eviden... James Boswell James Macpherson [Ossian poems, culminating in] Fingal, an Ancient ... Print : Book1700-1799 Unfavourable as I am constrained to say my opinion of this pamphlet [Johnson's 'Taxation no Tyranny; an answer to the Resolutions and Address of the American Congress'] w... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Taxation no Tyranny; an answer to the Resolutions ... Print : Pamphlet1700-1799 Unfavourable as I am constrained to say my opinion of this pamphlet [Johnson's 'Taxation no Tyranny; an answer to the Resolutions and Address of the American Congress'] w... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Taxation no Tyranny; an answer to the Resolutions ... Print : Pamphlet, proof leaves of a pamphlet with handwritten corrections1700-1799 'Next day I dined with Johnson at Mr. Thrale's. He attacked Gray, calling him a "dull fellow." Boswell. "I understand he was reserved, and might appear dull in company; b... James Boswell Thomas Gray The Bard: A Pindaric Ode Print : Unknown1700-1799 'Next day I dined with Johnson at Mr. Thrale's. He attacked Gray, calling him a "dull fellow." Boswell. "I understand he was reserved, and might appear dull in company; b... James Boswell Thomas Gray Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard Print : Unknown1700-1799 'The "Odes to Obscurity and Oblivion," in ridicule of "cool Mason and warm Gray", being mentioned, Johnson said, "They are Colman's best things." [Boswell reports a conve... James Boswell William Mason Elfrida Print : Book1700-1799 'I often wondered at his [Johnson's] low estimation of the writings of Gray and Mason. Of Gray's poetry I have, in a former part of this work, expressed my high opinion; ... James Boswell William Mason Elfrida Print : Book1700-1799 'I often wondered at his [Johnson's] low estimation of the writings of Gray and Mason. Of Gray's poetry I have, in a former part of this work, expressed my high opinion; ... James Boswell William Mason Caractacus: A Dramatic Poem Print : Book1700-1799 'I often wondered at his [Johnson's] low estimation of the writings of Gray and Mason. Of Gray's poetry I have, in a former part of this work, expressed my high opinion; ... James Boswell William Mason [minor poems] Print : Book1700-1799 '[Dr Thomas Campbell, who dined with Johnson on 3 April 1775] has since published "A Philosophical Survey of the South of Ireland," a very entertaining book, which has, h... James Boswell Thomas Campbell Philosophical Survey of the South of Ireland, in a... Print : Book1700-1799 'Mr. Scott of Amwell's "Elegies" were lying in the room. Dr. Johnson observed "They are very well; but such as twenty people might write." Upon this I took occasion to co... James Boswell John Scott [Elegies] Print : Book1700-1799 'I had brought with me a great bundle of Scotch magazines and newspapers, in which his "Journey to the Western Islands" was attacked in every mode; and I read a great par... James Boswell [n/a] [various Scottish magazine reviews of Johnson's 'J... Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 'I censured some ludicrous fantastick dialogues between two coach horses and other such stuff, which Baretti had lately published. He joined with me and said, "Nothing od... James Boswell Giuseppe Baretti [unidentified 'Dialogues'] Print : Book1700-1799 'He spoke slightingly of Dyer's "Fleece".— "The subject, Sir, cannot be made poetical. How can a man write poetically of serges and druggets ? Yet you will hear many peop... James Boswell James Grainger Sugar Cane, The Print : Book1700-1799 '[At the home of the Quaker Mr Lloyd] I having asked to look at Baskerville's edition of "Barclay's Apology", Johnson laid hold of it; and the chapter on baptism happenin... James Boswell Robert Barclay Apology for the True Christian Divinity Print : Book1700-1799 'Mr. Seward mentioned to us the observations which he had made upon the strata of earth in volcanoes, from which it appeared, that they were so very different in depth at... James Boswell Patrick Brydone Tour Through Sicily and Malta. In A Series of Lett... Print : Book1700-1799 'On Sunday, March 31, I called on him, and shewed him as a curiosity which I had discovered, his "Translation of Lobo's Account of Abyssinia", which Sir John Pringle had ... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Translation of Lobo's Account of Abyssinia Print : Book1700-1799 'I observed the great defect of the tragedy of "Othello" was, that it had not a moral; for that no man could resist the circumstances of suspicion which were artfully sug... James Boswell William Shakespeare Othello Print : Book1700-1799 'We talked of the Reviews, and Dr. Johnson spoke of them as he did at Thrale's. Sir Joshua [Reynolds] said, what I have often thought, that he wondered to find so much go... James Boswell [Monthly and Critical Reviews] Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 'He told me that "so long ago as 1748 he had read 'The Grave, a Poem', but did not like it much." I differed from him; for though it is not equal throughout, and is seldo... James Boswell Robert Blair 'The Grave, a Poem' Print : Unknown1700-1799 'On Monday, April 29, he and I made an excursion to Bristol, where I was entertained with seeing him enquire upon the spot, into the authenticity of 'Rowley's Poetry,' as... James Boswell Thomas Chatterton [poems supposedly by Thomas Rowley] Manuscript : Unknown1700-1799 ' [Johnson said] "There is much talk of the misery which we cause to the brute creation; but they are recompensed by existence. If they were not useful to man, and theref... James Boswell Francis Hutcheson System of Moral Philosophy Print : Book1700-1799 'When I read this [Johnson's argument regarding a legal case on the liberty of the pulpit in which Boswell was involved] to Mr. Burke, he was highly pleased, and exclaime... James Boswell Samuel Johnson [a legal argument] Manuscript : Unknown1700-1799 'BOSWELL. "Yet Cibber was a man of observation?" JOHNSON. "I think not." BOSWELL. "You will allow his 'Apology' to be well done". JOHNSON. "Very well done, to be sure, Si... James Boswell Colley Cibber Apology for the Life of Mr. Colley Cibber Print : Book1700-1799 'BOSWELL. "Yet Cibber was a man of observation?" JOHNSON. "I think not." BOSWELL. "You will allow his 'Apology' to be well done". JOHNSON. "Very well done, to be sure, Si... James Boswell Colley Cibber [Plays] Print : Book1700-1799 '[letter from Boswell to Johnson] I have, since I saw you, read every word of Granger's "Biographical History". It has entertained me exceedingly, and I do not think him ... James Boswell James Granger Biographical History of England from Egbert the Gr... Print : Book1700-1799 '[letter from Boswell to Johnson] Your paper on "Vicious Intromission" is a noble proof of what you can do even in Scotch law.'
James Boswell Samuel Johnson [paper on an aspect of Scottish law] Unknown 1700-1799 ' [letter from Boswell to Johnson] I have not yet distributed all your books [presumably a new edition of the "Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland"]. Lord Hailes a... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland Print : Book1700-1799 '[letter from Boswell to Johnson] You forget that Mr. Shaw's "Erse Grammar" was put into your hands by myself last year. Lord Eglintoune put it into mine. I am glad that ... James Boswell Samuel Johnson [proposals for the publication of William Shaw's '... Print : Unknown1700-1799 '[letter from Boswell to Johnson] Our worthy friend Thrale's death having appeared in the newspapers, and been afterwards contradicted, I have been placed in a state of v... James Boswell [newspapers] Print : Newspaper1700-1799 ' [letter from Boswell to Johnson] What do you say of Lord Chesterfield's "Memoirs and last Letters"?' James Boswell Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield Memoirs and Last Letters Print : Book1700-1799 '[ letter from Boswell to Johnson, responding to the latter's contention that there existed no adequate 'Life' of Thomson] Since I received your letter I have read his [T... James Boswell Theophilus Cibber Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland Print : Book1700-1799 '[ letter from Boswell to Johnson, responding to the latter's contention that there existed no adequate 'Life' of Thomson] Since I received your letter I have read his [T... James Boswell Patrick Murdoch [Life of Thomson, prefixed to an edition of 'The S... Print : Book1700-1799 '[ letter from Boswell to Johnson, responding to the latter's contention that there existed no adequate 'Life' of Thomson] Since I received your letter I have read his [T... James Boswell anon. [Life of Thomson, prefixed to an edition of 'The S... Print : Book1700-1799 '[ letter from Boswell to Johnson, responding to the latter's contention that there existed no adequate 'Life' of Thomson] Since I received your letter I have read his [T... James Boswell Biographia Britannica Print : Book1700-1799 '[ letter from Boswell to Johnson, responding to the latter's contention that there existed no adequate 'Life' of Thomson] Since I received your letter I have read his [T... James Boswell Biographical Dictionary Print : Book1700-1799 '[ letter from Boswell to Johnson, responding to the latter's contention that there existed no adequate 'Life' of Thomson] Since I received your letter I have read his [T... James Boswell Joseph Warton Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope Print : Book1700-1799 ' [letter from Boswell to Johnson] Without doubt you have read what is called "The Life of David Hume", written by himself, with the letter from Dr. Adam Smith subjoined ... James Boswell David Hume My Own Life Print : Book1700-1799 '[letter from Boswell to Johnson] I lately read Rasselas over again with great satisfaction'. James Boswell Samuel Johnson History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia , the Print : Book1700-1799 'He [Johnson] wrote also "The Convict's Address to his unhappy Brethren", a sermon delivered by Dr. Dodd [ a clergyman condemned to deatn for fraud], in the chapel of New... James Boswell Samuel Johnson [sermon written for Dr Dodd] Manuscript : Unknown1700-1799 'In the afternoon I tried to get Dr. Johnson to like the Poems of Mr. Hamilton of Bangour, which I had brought with me: I had been much pleased with them at a very early ... James Boswell William Hamilton [poem on Winter] Print : Book1700-1799 'In the afternoon I tried to get Dr. Johnson to like the Poems of Mr. Hamilton of Bangour, which I had brought with me: I had been much pleased with them at a very early ... James Boswell William Hamilton [poems] Print : Book1700-1799 'He [Johnson] was much diverted with an article which I shewed him in the "Critical Review" of this year, giving an account of a curious publication, entitled, "A Spiritu... James Boswell Critical Review Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 'Some of the ancient philosophers held, that all deviations from right reason were madness; and whoever wishes to see the opinions both of ancients and moderns upon this ... James Boswell Thomas Arnold Observations on Insanity Print : Book1700-1799 'I talked to him [Johnson] of Forster's "Voyage to the South Seas", which pleased me; but I found he did not like it. "Sir, (said he,) there is a great affectation of fin... James Boswell George Forster Voyage Round the World in his Britannic Majesty's ... Print : Book1700-1799 'I have no doubt that a good many sermons were composed for Taylor [with whom Johnson and Boswell were staying] by Johnson. At this time I found, upon his table, a part o... James Boswell Samuel Johnson [sermon written for John Taylor] Manuscript : Unknown1700-1799 'I have no doubt that a good many sermons were composed for Taylor [with whom Johnson and Boswell were staying] by Johnson. At this time I found, upon his table, a part o... James Boswell John Taylor Sermons left for publication by the Reverend John ... Print : Book1700-1799 'We viewed a remarkable natural curiosity at Islam; two rivers bursting near each other from the rock, not from immediate springs, but after having run for many miles und... James Boswell Robert Plott Natural History of Staffordshire Print : Book1700-1799 'Talking of Rochester's Poems, he said, he had given them to Mr. Steevens to castrate for the edition of the poets, to which he was to write Prefaces. Dr. Taylor (the onl... James Boswell Gilbert Burnet Some passages of the life and death of the Right H... Print : Book1700-1799 'I asked whether Prior's Poems were to be printed entire: Johnson said they were. I mentioned Lord Hailes's censure of Prior, in his Preface to a collection of "Sacred Po... James Boswell Matthew Prior [Poems] Print : Book1700-1799 'Mallet's "Life of Bacon" has no inconsiderable merit as an acute and elegant dissertation relative to its subject; but Mallet's mind was not comprehensive enough to embr... James Boswell David Mallet Life of Francis Bacon, The Print : Book1700-1799 I have read, conversed, and thought much upon the subject, and would recommend to all who are capable of conviction, an excellent Tract by my learned and ingenious friend... James Boswell John Ranby Doubts on the Abolition of the Slave Trade Print : Pamphlet1700-1799 '[letter from Boswell to Johnson] Did you ever look at a book written by Wilson, a Scotchman, under the Latin name of Volusenus, according to the custom of literary men a... James Boswell Florentius Volusenus [pseud.] De Animi Tranquillitate Print : Book1700-1799 '[Letter from Boswell to Johnson] The alarm of your late illness distressed me but a few hours ; for on the evening of the day that it reached me, I found it contradicte... James Boswell London Chronicle Print : Newspaper1700-1799 'I mentioned that I had in my possession the Life of Sir Robert Sibbald, the celebrated Scottish antiquary, and founder of the Royal College of Physicians at Edinburgh, i... James Boswell Robert Sibbald [manuscript Life] Manuscript : Unknown1700-1799 '[in a conversation about journals, Boswell said] "And as a lady adjusts her dress
before a mirrour, a man adjusts his character by looking at his journal." I next year... James Boswell Francis Atterbury [Funeral Sermon for Lady Cutts] Print : Book1700-1799 'I looked into Lord Kaimes's "Sketches of the History of Man"; and mentioned to Dr. Johnson his censure of Charles the Fifth, for celebrating his funeral obsequies in hi... James Boswell Henry Home, Lord Kames Sketches of the History of Man Print : Book1700-1799 'Sir John Pringle had expressed a wish that I would ask Dr. Johnson's opinion what were the best English sermons for style. I took an opportunity to-day of mentioning sev... James Boswell Samuel Ogden [Sermons] Print : Unknown1700-1799 'After wandering about in a kind of pleasing distraction for some time, I got into a corner, with Johnson, Garrick, and Harris. GARRICK: (to Harris.) "Pray, Sir, have you... James Boswell Homer Iliad and Odyssey Print : Book1700-1799 'After wandering about in a kind of pleasing distraction for some time, I got into a corner, with Johnson, Garrick, and Harris. GARRICK: (to Harris.) "Pray, Sir, have you... James Boswell Homer Iliad and Odyssey Print : Book1700-1799 'He [Johnson] told us, that he had given Mrs. Montagu a catalogue of all Daniel Defoe's works of imagination; most, if not all of which, as well as of his other works, he... James Boswell Daniel Defoe Robinson Crusoe Print : Book1700-1799 'On Sunday, April 12, I found him at home before dinner; Dr. Dodd's poem entitled "Thoughts in Prison" was lying upon his table. This appearing to me an extraordinary eff... James Boswell William Dodd Thoughts in Prison Print : Book1700-1799 'Dr. Mayo having asked Johnson's opinion of Soame Jenyns's "View of the Internal Evidence of the Christian Religion";--JOHNSON. "I think it a pretty book; not very theolo... James Boswell Soame Jenyns View of the Internal Evidence of the Christian Rel... Print : Book1700-1799 'DR. MAYO (to Dr. Johnson). "Pray, Sir, have you read Edwards, of New England, on "Grace"?" JOHNSON. "No, Sir". BOSWELL. "It puzzled me so much as to the freedom of the h... James Boswell Jonathan Edwards [on Grace] Print : Book1700-1799 'Mr. Allen, the printer, brought a book on agriculture, which was printed, and was soon to be published. It was a very strange performance, the authour having mixed in it... James Boswell William Marshall Minutes of Agriculture Print : Book1700-1799 'I told him, that his "Rasselas" had often made me unhappy; for it represented the misery of human life so well, and so convincingly to a thinking mind, that if at any ti... James Boswell Samuel Johnson History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia Print : Book1700-1799 ' [Boswell lamenting the dificulty of compiling a definitive Johnson bibliography] I once got from one of his friends a list, which there was pretty good reason to suppos... James Boswell [list of Johnson's works compiled by Mr Levett] Manuscript : Unknown'[letter from Boswell to Johnson] 'I am eager to see more of your Prefaces to the Poets; I solace myself with the few proof sheets which I have'. James Boswell Samuel Johnson Lives of the Poets Print : proof sheets'Johnson this year expressed great satisfaction at the publication of the first volume of "Discourses to the Royal Academy", by Sir Joshua Reynolds, whom he always consid... James Boswell Joshua Reynolds Discourses Delivered at the Royal Academy Print : Book'On Friday, April 2, being Good-Friday, I visited him in the morning as usual; and finding that we insensibly fell into a train of ridicule upon the foibles of one of our... James Boswell Richard Allestree Government of the Tongue, The Print : Book'In the interval between morning and evening service, he [Johnson] endeavoured to employ himself earnestly in devotional exercises; and as he has mentioned in his "Prayer... James Boswell Blaise Pascal Pensees Print : Book'On Monday, May 3, I dined with him at Mr. Dilly's; I pressed him this day for his opinion on the passage in Parnell, concerning which I had in vain questioned him in sev... James Boswell Thomas Parnell Hermit, The Print : Book'shall insert as a literary curiosity. [The letter is given. It begins as follows]
"TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.
DEAR SIR,
In the year 1763, being at London, I was car... James Boswell Hugh Blair [letter concerning Pope and Bolingbroke] Manuscript : Letter1700-1799 'So easy is his style in these "Lives", that I do not recollect more than three uncommon or learned words; one, when giving an account of the approach of Waller's mortal ... James Boswell Samuel Johnson Lives of the Poets Print : Book1700-1799 '[Croft's 'Life of Young, adapted by Johnson for his 'Life'] has always appeared to me to have a considerable share of merit, and to display a pretty successful imitation... James Boswell Herbert Croft Life of Young Print : Book1700-1799 ''It gives me much pleasure to observe, that however Johnson may have casually talked, yet when he sits, as "an ardent judge zealous to his trust, giving sentence" upon t... James Boswell Edward Young Night Thoughts Print : Book1700-1799 ''It gives me much pleasure to observe, that however Johnson may have casually talked, yet when he sits, as "an ardent judge zealous to his trust, giving sentence" upon t... James Boswell Samuel Johnson [Life of Young in 'Lives of the Poets'] Print : Book1700-1799 'Miss Hannah More has admirably described a [italics] Blue-stocking Club [end italics], in her "Bas Bleu", a poem in which many of the persons who were most conspicuous t... James Boswell Hannah More Bas Bleu; or Conversation Print : Unknown1700-1799 'that gentleman [Dr Shebbeare], whatever objections were made to him, had knowledge and abilities much above the class of ordinary writers, and deserves to be remembered ... James Boswell John Shebbeare Letters on the English Nation Print : Book1700-1799 'Johnson and Shebbeare were frequently named together, as having in former reigns had no predilection for the family of Hanover. The authour of the celebrated "Heroick Ep... James Boswell William Mason Heroick Epistle to Sir William Chambers Print : Unknown1700-1799 'Johnson praised the Earl of Carlisle's Poems, which his Lordship had published with his name, as not disdaining to be a candidate for literary fame. My friend was of opi... James Boswell William Whitehead 'Elegy to Lord Villiers' Print : Unknown1700-1799 'Soon after this time I had an opportunity of seeing, by means of one of his friends, a proof that his talents, as well as his obliging service to authours, were ready as... James Boswell George Crabbe Village, The Manuscript : Unknown1700-1799 'That learned and ingenious Prelate [Dr Hurd] it is well known published at one period of his life "Moral and Political Dialogues", with a woefully whiggish cast. Afterwa... James Boswell Richard Hurd Moral and Political Dialogues: being the substance... Print : Book1700-1799 'BOSWELL. "Pray, Sir, is the 'Turkish Spy' a genuine book?" JOHNSON. "No, Sir. Mrs. Manley, in her 'Life', says that her father wrote the first two volumes: and in anothe... James Boswell Giovanni Paolo Marana Letters written by a Turkish spy, who lived five a... Print : Book1700-1799 'Horace having been mentioned; BOSWELL. "There is a great deal of thinking in his works. One finds there almost every thing but religion". SEWARD. "He speaks of his retur... James Boswell Horace Print : Book1700-1799 'I wrote to him, begging to know the state of his health, and mentioned that Baxter's "Anacreon", "which is in the library at Auchinleck, was, I find, collated by my fath... James Boswell Anacreon Print : Book1700-1799 'A pleasing instance of the generous attention of one of his [Dr Johnson's] friends has been discovered by the publication of Mrs. Thrale's collection of "Letters". In a ... James Boswell Hester Lynch Thrale Letters Print : Book1700-1799 'Johnson was very quiescent to-day [17th May 1784] . Perhaps too I was indolent. I find nothing more of him in my notes, but that when I mentioned that I had seen in the ... James Boswell Thomas a Kempis Imitation of Christ Print : Book1700-1799 'I brought a volume of Dr. Hurd the Bishop of Worcester's "Sermons", and read to the company some passages from one of them, upon this text, "Resist the Devil, and he wil... James Boswell Richard Hurd Sermons Print : Book1700-1799 'I mentioned Jeremy Taylor's using, in his forms of prayer, "I am the chief of sinners", and other such self-condemning expressions. "Now, (said I) this cannot be said wi... James Boswell Jeremy Taylor Golden Grove; or a Manuall of daily prayers and li... Print : Book1700-1799 'We may apply to him [Johnson] a sentence in Mr. Greville's "Maxims, Characters, and Reflections"; a book which is entitled to much more praise than it has received: "ARI... James Boswell Fulke Greville Maxims, Characters, and Reflections, Critical, Sat... Print : Book1700-1799 'These Voyages, (pointing to the three large volumes of "Voyages to the South Sea", which were just come out) who will read them through? A man had better work his way be... James Boswell [books of Voyages to the South Seas] Print : Book1700-1799 'When I pointed out to him in the newspaper one of Mr. Grattan's animated and glowing speeches, in favour of the freedom of Ireland, in which this expression occurred (I ... James Boswell [a newspaper] Print : Newspaper1700-1799 'I shewed him some verses on Lichfield by Miss Seward, which I had that day received from her, and had the pleasure to hear him approve of them. He confirmed to me the tr... James Boswell Anna Seward [poem on Lichfield] Manuscript : Unknown1700-1799 'I shall now fulfil my promise of exhibiting specimens of various sorts of imitation of Johnson's style.
In the "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, 1787", there... James Boswell Robert Burrowes [Essay on Johnson's style] Print : Book1700-1799 'A distinguished authour in "The Mirror", a periodical paper, published at Edinburgh, has imitated Johnson very closely. Thus, in No. 16,--
"The effects of the return o... James Boswell Henry Mackenzie [imitation of Johnson] Print : Serial / periodical1700-1799 'A distinguished authour in "The Mirror", a periodical paper, published at Edinburgh, has imitated Johnson very closely. Thus, in No. 16,--
"The effects of the return o... James Boswell Vicesimus Knox Essays Moral and Literary Print : Book1700-1799 'A distinguished authour in "The Mirror", a periodical paper, published at Edinburgh, has imitated Johnson very closely. Thus, in No. 16,--
"The effects of the return o... James Boswell John Young Criticism on Gray's Elegy in a Country Churchyard Print : Unknown1700-1799 'Two very valuable articles, I am sure, we have lost [when Johnson, dying, burnt many of his papers] , which were two quarto volumes, containing a full, fair, and most pa... James Boswell Samuel Johnson [MS Autobiography] Manuscript : quarto volumes
