I shall here insert; both because it will appear at this time with peculiar propriety, and because it will tend to propagate and increase that "fervour of loyalty," which in me, who boast of the name of Tory, is not only a principle, but a passion.

"SIR,

"To the King.

I presume to lay before your majesty the last labours of a learned bishop, who died in the toils and duties of his calling. He is now beyond the reach of all earthly honours and rewards; and only the hope of inciting others to imitate him, makes it now fit to be remembered, that he enjoyed in his life the favour of your majesty.

"The tumultuary life of princes seldom permits them to survey the wide extent of national interest, without losing sight of private merit; to exhibit qualities which may be imitated by the highest and the humblest of mankind; and to be at once amiable and great.

"Such characters, if now and then they appear in history, are contemplated with admiration. May it be the ambition of all your subjects to make haste with their tribute of reverence! and as posterity may learn from your majesty how kings should live, may they learn likewise from your people how they should be honoured! I am, may it please your majesty, with the most profound respect, your majesty's most dutiful and devoted subject and servant.'

In the summer he wrote a prologue *, which was spoken before "A Word to the Wise," a comedy by Mr. Hugh Kelly, which had been brought upon the stage in 1770; but he being a writer for ministry in one of the newspapers, it fell a sacrifice to popular fury, and, in the playhouse phrase, was damned. By the generosity of Mr. Harris, the proprietor of

Covent-garden theatre, it was now exhibited for one night, for the benefit of the author's widow and children. To conciliate the favour of the audience was the intention of Johnson's prologue, which, as it is not long, I shall here insert, as a proof that his poetical talents were in no degree impaired.

"This night presents a play, which public rage,
Or right or wrong, once hooted from the stage:
From zeal or malice now no more we dread,
For English vengeance wars not with the dead.
A generous foe regards with pitying eye

The man whom fate has laid where all must lie.
To wit, reviving from its author's dust,
Be kind, ye judges, or at least be just:
Let no renewed hostilities invade
Th' oblivious grave's inviolable shade.
Let one great payment every claim appease,
And him who cannot hurt, allow to please;
To please by scenes, unconscious of offence,
By harmless merriment or useful sense.

Where aught of bright or fair the piece displays,
Approve it only; 'tis too late too praise.
If want of skill or want of care appear,
Forbear to hiss; the poet cannot hear.

By all, like him, must praise and blame be found,
At last, a fleeting gleam or empty sound:
Yet then shall calm reflection bless the night

When liberal pity dignified delight;

When pleasure fired her torch at virtue's flame,

And mirth was bounty with an humbler name." (1)

(1) Mr. Murphy related in Dr. Johnson's hearing one day, and he did not deny it, that when Murphy joked him for having been so diligent of late between Dodd's sermon and Kelly's prologue, Dr. Johnson replied, "Why, Sir, when they come to me with a dead staymaker and a dying parson, what can a man do?"-Piozzi.

In

on or

my Remarks But of all play sure from it false Is there of Genius Thro Fancy, thro whose aim quite A To truth can, two Thrikes Nor spelers on this Lives such a Main: While worthy

247

CHAPTER VIII.

1777.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan.-Savage's "Sir Thomas Overbury." Thomson. Mrs. Strickland. The Townley Collection. - Dr. Dodd. - Boswell at the Tomb of Melancthon.-Isaac De Groot.—Dr. Watts. -Letter to Mrs. Boswell. Visit to Ashbourne.

--

66 Harry Jackson.”. Sidney's "Arcadia.". - Projected Trip to the Baltic. Grief for the Loss of Relatives and Friends. Incomes of Curates. Johnson's humane and zealous Interference in behalf of Dr. Dodd.

Á CIRCUMSTANCE which could not fail to be very pleasing to Johnson occurred this year. The tragedy of "Sir Thomas Overbury," written by his early companion in London, Richard Savage, was brought out with alterations at Drury-lane theatre. (1) The prologue to it was written by Mr. Richard Brinsley Sheridan; in which, after describing very pathetically the wretchedness of

"Ill-fated Savage, at whose birth was given

No parent but the Muse, no friend but Heaven,"

he introduced an elegant compliment to Johnson on

(1) Our author has here fallen into a slight mistake. The prologue to this revived tragedy being written by Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Boswell very naturally supposed that it was performed at Drury-lane theatre. But in fact, as Mr. Kemble observes to me, it was acted at the theatre in Covent-garden.

M,