The life of Samuel Johnson, , comprehending an account of his studies and numerous works, in chronological order; a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons . his friend did for him,which Sir Joshua very kindly pre-sented to me, and from which anengraving has been made for Mr. Davies mentioned myname, and respectfully introducedme to him. I was much agitated ; and recollecting his prejudice againstthe Scotch, of which I had heard much, I said to Davies, Dont tellwhere I come from.â From Scotland, cried Davies, roguishly. , sa
The life of Samuel Johnson, , comprehending an account of his studies and numerous works, in chronological order; a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons . his friend did for him,which Sir Joshua very kindly pre-sented to me, and from which anengraving has been made for Mr. Davies mentioned myname, and respectfully introducedme to him. I was much agitated ; and recollecting his prejudice againstthe Scotch, of which I had heard much, I said to Davies, Dont tellwhere I come from.â From Scotland, cried Davies, roguishly. , said I, I do indeed come from Scotland, but I cannot helpit. I am willing to flatter myself that 1 meant this as light pleasantryto soothe and conciliate him, and not as an humiliating abasement atthe expense of my country. But however that might be, this speechwas somewhat unlucky ; for with that quickness of wit for which hewas so remarkable, he seized the expression, come from Scotland,which I used in the sense of being of that country ; and, as if I had saidthat I had come away from it, or left it, retorted, That, Sir, I find, iswhat a very great many of your countrymen cannot help. This stroke. THOMAS DAVIES. ^ Mr. Murphy, in his Essay on the Life and Genius of Dr. Johnson, has given an accountof this meeting considerahly different from mine, I am persuaded without any consciousnessof error. His memory, at the end of near thirty years, has undoubtedly deceived him, andhe supposes himself to have been present at a scene, which he has probably heard inaccu-rately described by others. In my note taken on the very day, in which I am confident Imarked everything material that passed, no mention is made of this gentleman; and I amsure, that I should not have omitted one so wellkno^vnin the literary world. It may easily beimagined that this my first interview with Dr. Johnson, with all its circumstances, made astrong impression on my mind, and would be registered with peculiar att
Size: 1461px × 1711px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorboswellj, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookyear1859
