Life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.

Front matter

, J

•'' •. Samuel Johnson.

4/7^

Chapter II

Johnson enters Oxford University — Introduction — Appearance and Behavior — Impression — Tutor — Irregular Attendance — Cause — Evinces special Talents — Applause — Hypochondria — Efforts for EeKef— Mind Uninjured— Religious State— Law's " Serious Call " — Its Influence — College Studies — Manner of Reading— Popularity— Sociability— Poverty — Return to Lichfield —Father's Death— Noble Position 33

Chapter III

The " Situation "—First Efforts— A School Usher— Disgust- Resignation — At Birmingham — Proposals — Candidate for Teaching — Failure — Curious Letter — Marriage — Ride to the Church- Singular Beginning of Matrimonial Life 43

Chapter IV

A Private Academy — Announcement — Pupils — Failure — Causes — Goes to London — Mode of Living — Tragedy, '* Irene " — lo Contents.

VisitB Home— Returns to London with Mrs. Johnson—" Irene" rejected by the Players — Gentlemen's Magazine — Poem, "London "—Much celebrated— Diappointments Page 50

Chapter V

Johnson "shut up" to his Pen— " Parliamentary Debates" — Curious Process— A Speech of Pitt— Greatly celebrated and applauded— Johnson its Author— Disapproval of Conscience- Numerous Compositions— Life of Richard Savage— Johnson's extreme Poverty — His Wife— A silent Interval — Surmise of BosweU 61

CHAPTER VL

Johnson commences his Dictionary — Plan of the Work — Dedication — ^Extract — Publishers — Compensation — Amanuenses — Mode of Procedure— Diversions— Club— Its Purpose— Johnson's Manner of Conversation — Anecdote — Wit and Humor — " Vanity of Human Wishes" — Mode of Composition — Affecting Incident — Tragedy, "Irene" — Arranged for the Stage by Garrick — Moderate Success — Financial Result 69

Chapter VII

" The Rambler" commenced — Preparatory Prayer — Character of " The Rambler " — Public Estimate — Death of Mrs. Johnson — Her Husband's deep Affection for her — Improved Circumstances — ^Francis Barber— Enlarged Circle of Friends — " The Adventurer "—His great Work 78

CHAPTER VIIL Prayer at New Year, 1753— Progress of the Dictionary— Life of Edward Cave— Breach with Lord Chestei-field- Letter to his Lordship— Johnson's Opinion of him—" Letters to his Son"— Johnson visits Oxford— Reception— Anecdote of his First Tutor — Receives the Degree of Master of Arts — Acknowledgments. 8fi

Chapter IX

Dictionary Finished — Seven Years' Work — Vexation of the Publishers — Flattering Notices — Author's somber Eeflections — Poverty — Various Compositions — Judgment of Friends — A new Edition of Shakspeare — Personal Notices of John son... Page 100

Chapter X

A new Edition of Shakspeare — Prospectus — Outrageous delay of the Work — Churchill's Satire — Character of the Notes — Commences "The Idler "—Continued two Years— Its Character — Johnson invited to the Clerical Profession — Declines — Finances again low — Eetrenchment — Letter to his dying Mother — Her Death — Writes " Easselas " — Rapid Composition — Compensation —Great Celebrity 112

Chapter XI

Johnson still writing— Still poor— Dawn of Day— George III. — Patron of Science and Art — Johnson recommended for a Pension — A Pension of Fifteen Hundred Dollars Awarded — His Gratitude — A " Reward of Merit " — Letter to Lord Bute— Benevolence amid altered Circumstances — General Mode of Life — Attachment to London — Ireland — Noble Sentiments — Remarks upon Methodism and Wesley 120

Chapter XII

James Bos well — Peculiarities — Travels — Reverence for Johnson — Talents for Biography — Introduction — First Reception — Second Interview — Johnson's appearance at the Interview — Kit Smart— Next Interview and Conversation— Power of Education — Johnson's liking for Boswell — Curious Alliance — Boswell greatly Elated— Conversations at " The Miter "—Criticisms — Mutual Friendship established 129

Chapter XIII

Oliver Goldsmith— A Brief Notice of Him— One of Johnson's Admirers — Appreciated in Eeturn — Characteristic Anecdote — Churchill — Arbuthnot — Addison — Ogilvie — " Noble wild Prospects " — Mrs. Brooke and the St. Lawrence — Brighthelmstone Downs — Particular Plans of Study — Historians — Converse with "Wise Men preferable to Sightseeing — An Impudent Fellow — Hume's Style— His Skepticism — Johnson's Answer to Hume against Miracles— His Love for Young People Page 140

Chapter XIV

Johnson's Library — Private Study — Excursion to Greenwich with Boswell — Conversation on the Classics — On Methodist Preaching — Advice to Boswell in respect to Reading and Study — Return home late — More pleasant Talk — The Friendship of Johnson and Boswell — Speculations — Boswell starts on his Travels — Johnson accompanies him to Harwich — Humorous Conversation with a Lady — Returns to London 154

Chapter XVIII

Johnson's Eeligious Position — Sundry Extracts from Ms Diary — His Eeligious Experience collated with that of his Contemporary, Fletcher of Madeley — Inference — Judicious Eemarks of Johnson relating to the Christian Question Page 183

CHAPTER XIXV

Johnson receives the Degree of LL.D. — Introduction to the Thrales— Sketch of Mr. Thrale— Of Mrs. Thrale— An elegant Home — Eecreations — Sunshine and Quiet after Clouds and Tempests — A Melancholy Sequence — Johnson's London Home. 191

Chapter XX

Johnson finishes his Edition of Shakspeare — Nine Years in hand — But slightly interested in the "Work — Hence a Moderate Result — Johnson's Interview with George III. — Report of their Conversation — Johnson greatly pleased with the King 200

Chapter XXI

Catharine Chambers, a Servant of the Johnson Family Fortythree Years — Last Sickness— Johnson visits Home — Prays with her — The Prayer for her — Strictures upon the Prayer — Prayer of the Syrophenician Woman — Other Prayers of Johnson 209

CHAPTER XXIL I Conversation on Religion — Romanism — Presbyterianism — Thirty-nine Articles — Predestination —Papal Doctrines — Johnson's respect for the Roman Church — Subject of Death — Future State 215

CHAPTER XXIIL

Sketch of Johnson at sixty-four years of age — Piety — Knowledge — Reasoning Power — Imagination — Temperament — Conversation — Person — Countenance — Convulsive Movements — Dress 226

CHAPTER XXIV.

Jolinson on a Tour to the Hebrides — Eeaches Edinburgh — Guest of Boswell — Bos well's Family — Interview with Distinguished Men — Conversation about Burke, Newton, Whitefield, Wesley —Johnson and Boswell start for the West. Page 231

CHAPTER XXV.

Specimen of Egotism — The Travelers leave Edinburgh — Frith of Forth— St. Andrews — Johnson's Wrath at John Knox — Dundee — Montrose — Lord Monboddo — Aberdeen — The University — Pleasant Interviews — Inverness — The Highlands — Glenelg — Isle of Skye— Welcome Reception — Island Scenery — Isle of Easay — The Crossing — Singing — Music and Dancing — Delight of the Travelers— Island Described— Return to Skye— Islands of Mull and Col— Mild Climate— Discomforts — lona— Splendid Extract — Eeaches the Main Land 237

CHAPTER XXVI.

Return to Edinburgh— Johnson arrives at London— Industry as a Traveler— Prepares an Account of his Tour— Letters to Mrs. Thrale while in Scotland— Bos well's Home— Professors at St. Andrews — Expenses of Education — Further Notices of the Islands— Glasgow— Edinburgh 246

CHAPTER XXVIL Johnson on another Tour — Accompanies the Thrales to Wales- —Absence of Three Months— Publishes his " Journey to the Western Islands "— " The Patriot "—Toryism— Extract— " Taxation no Tyranny"— His general bearing toward America — Dissent of Boswell — Bosw ell's Sentiments touching "Taxation no Tyranny "—Noble Rebuke from Dr. Towers— Rev. Mr. Temple — Wesley Sympathizes with Johnson — Johnson's Compliment to Hira— " Per Contra" 255

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Johnson still Traveling — Visits Paris — Weary of Sight-seeing — Describes the French — Eeflections upon French Manners- Curious Specimens — Converses in Latin — His Knowledge of French— Eetarn to England Page 264

CHAPTER XXIX.

Dr. Johnson at Seventy — No Mental Decay — Deemed Dotage Unnecessary — Its Causes — Mrs. Knowles — Conversation on Friendship —" Except an American" — In a Rage — The possible Secret — Conversation on Death — "Weak Faith and Mighty Bigotry— The more Divine Way 268

CHAPTER XXX.

A pleasant Incident — Johnson meets a Fellow-student after Forty-nine Years — Gradual Recognition — The Interview and Conversation — Eeflections and Queries — Another Meeting . . 276

CH.APTER XXXT.

"Lives of the English Poets" — Its Origin — How Written — Its Character — Gratification of the Publishers — Extra Compensation—A Rare Collection of Biography 283

CHAPTER XXXII.

Death of Mr. Thale — A great Bereavement — Johnson one of his Executors — Letter to Mrs. Thrale — Second Letter — Third Letter — Johnson takes formal leave of the Family 286

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Johnson suffers a Paralytic Stroke — Death of Mrs. Williams — Letter to Mrs. Montague — Letter to Mrs. Porter — Letter to Mrs. Thrale 202

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Another Conversation — Hannah More and other Distinguished Ladies — Burke — Foote — " The Eambler " translated into Russian— JRoman Catholic Religion — A Casuistical Question discussed — Another Religious Conversation Page 298

CHAPTER XXXV.

Johnson Struggling with two Fatal Diseases — Affecting Note to Boswell — Clings to Life — Makes his Will — Its Provisions — Despairs of Life — Decision of his Physician — Last Days — Death — A Peaceful Departure — Buried in Westminster Abbey — Monument in St. Paul's Cathedral 308

CHAPTER XXXVL

Johnson on Books and Reading — Don Quixotte — Pilgrim's Progress — Robinson Crusoe — Iliad — Mary Wortley Montague's Letters — Johnson's Manner of Reading — Advice on Reading Books through — ^Reading and Writing — Suitable Books always in Readiness — Advantage of Small Books — Inclination as Connected with Reading — Reading and Conversation — ■" Snatches " of Reading — Boys' Reading — Reading and Business — "Never be without a Book " — Books recommended to a Young Man. . 312

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Johnson's Remarkable Powers of Conversation — His Appreciation of its Great Value— A Silent Young Lady— Johnson's Method of Conversation — Lord Bacon's Precept — Johnson's View of "Solid" Conversation — Unsuitable Topics — Talking for Fame — For Relief of a Burdened Mind — Burke — How Johnson's Conversational Skill was acquired— Questioning — Requisites 321

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Johnson's Power of Composition — Interesting Conversation on the Subject — Eapid Composition — Accuracy — Danger from Slow Composition — Blair — Sermons — Curious Calculation — Advice to a Young Clergyman — "Invent, then Embellish" — Composition should be commenced early — Lord Granville — "Happy Moments " for Composition— Johnson's View Page 329

CHAPTER XXXIX.

Sayings and Anecdotes — The Whole Mind — Military and Literary Fame— An Author's First Work— Biography of Literary Men— Duty of a Biographer— Priestley's Theological Works- Christian Argument — Grotius — Newton— Baxter's Works — Wesley — His Continual Motion — Whitefield — Johnson's Opinion of his Oratory — Secret of its Influence — Dr. Watts — His Poetry and other Works — Spontaneous Friendship — Love — Marrying for Love— Curious Dialogue concerning Marriage— More Sober View of Love — Rural Life — Lord Bute's Country Seat — Conversation — Labor and Exercise — Keeping Accounts — Questioning — Rebuke of a Questioner— Johnson himself a Questioner— His hatred of long Stories— Anecdote— Dotage— Johnson denounces the Idea 334

(|llttslrati:0ns*

Page Samuel Johnson 2

Paklob of House in which Johnson was Born 20

Lichfield in 1730 55

Johnson Eepulsed from Chesterfield's Door 91

Johnson's House in Gough Square 105

Boswell's Introduction to Johnson 133

Goldsmith under Arrest 143

LIFE

OF

SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D,

Chapter I

Samuel Johnson was born at Lichfield, England, September i8, 1709. His father was Michael Johnson, of obscure birth, and was settled in Lichfield as a bookseller and stationer. Both of his parents were somewhat advanced at the time of their marriage. Hence only two children were born to them : Samuel, the illustrious subject of this sketch, and Nathaniel, who died at the early age of twentyfive.

Not much is recorded of the father of Samuel Johnson. He seems to have been for a time

successful in his business, yet afterward lost 2 most of his property, and declined into straitened circumstances. The son writes as fol-

MICHAEL JOHNSON.

lows of his parents: " My father and mother had not much happiness from each other.

She had no value for his relations ; those, indeed, whom we knew of were much lower than hers. This contempt began, I know not on which side, very early; but, as my father was little at home, it had not much effect. They seldom conversed, for my father could not bear to talk of his affairs ; and my mother, being unacquainted zvith books, cared not to talk of any thing else. ... Of business she had no distinct conception ; and, therefore, her discourse was composed only of complaint, fear, and suspicion. Neither of them ever tried to calculate the profits of trade, or the expenses of living. My

Life of Samuel JoJuison.

mother concluded that we were poor, because we lost by some of ^ our trades ; but ' the truth was that : my father, having, in the early part of his life, contracted debts, never had trade mrs. johnson.

sufficient to enable him to pay them and to maintain his family." *

* A romantic incident of the father, Michael Johnson, seems to be well authenticated. " A young woman of Leek, in Staffordshire, while he served his apprenticeship there, conceived a violent passion for him ; and though it met with no favorable return, followed him to Lichfield, where she took lodgings opposite to the house in which he lived, and indulged her hopeless flame. When he was informed that it so preyed upon her mind that her life was in danger, he, with a generous humanity, went to her and offered to marry her, but it was then too late. Her vital power was exhausted, and she actually exhibited one of the very rare instances of dying for love. She was buried in the Cathedral of Lichfield ; and he, with a tender regard, placed a stone over her grave."

Thus Samuel Johnson was a poor boy, though in very early life he gave evidence of that independence of spirit, and some other traits of character, by which he was so much distinguished in subsequent life. At four years old, "one day when the servant, who used to be sent to school to conduct him home, had not come in time, he set out by himself, though he was then so near-sighted that he was obliged to stoop down on his hands and knees to take a view of the kennel before he ventured to step over it. His schoolmistress, afraid that he might miss his way, or fall into the kennel, or be run over by a cart, followed him at some distance. He happened to turn about and perceive her, and feeling her careful attention as an insult to his manliness, he ran back to her in a rage, and beat her as well as his strength would permit." *

This defect in his vision seems to have been caused by scrofula, which he is said to

* A doubtful story. All this is too much for a boy of four years.

Life of Savmel Johnson. 25

have contracted from his nurse ; from whom, after ten weeks, he was taken home a poor diseased infant, and almost blind. His mother, yielding to the superstitious notion so long prevalent that a royal contact would heal this malady, brought him to Queen Anne, whose touch, however, failed to benefit him. " I was taken to London," he says, '' to be touched for the evil by Queen Anne. I always retained some memory of this journey, though I was then but thirty months old."

Samuel's first teacher was a Mrs. Oliver ; a widow lady who taught a school for young children in Lichfield. This lady, when, a dozen years afterward, he was starting for Oxford University, came to take leave of him, brought him, in her simplicity, a present of gingerbread, and told him he was the best scholar she ever had. The memory of this early compliment always delighted him ; and, in after years, he was wont to say that " this was as high a proof of his merit as he could conceive."

Life of Samuel yohnson.

LICHFIELD SCHOOL.

At about ten years of age he began the study of Latin with Mr. Hawkins, a subordinate teacher of Lichfield School, which school was very respectable in its time. As he advanced, he came under the tutorship of the master of the school, Mr. Hunter. This Hunter, though a capital teacher, seems to have been terribly severe withal ; beating his pupils unmercifully, and punishing them equally for not knowing a thing as for neglecting to acquire it. Yet Johnson was always aware how much he owed to Mr. Hunter. A friend one day asked him " how he had acquired so accurate a knowledge of Latin," in which he was exceeded by no man of his time. He answered, " My master whipped me very well. Without that, sir, I should have done nothing." He added, that " while Hunter was flogging his boys unmercifully, he used to say, 'and this I do to save you from the gallows.' " *

The intellectual superiority of Samuel Johnson was perceived and acknowledged from his earliest years. There seems to have been no dispute or contest here ; but the case was as clear as "the superiority of stature in some men above others." One of his schoolmates at this time states that he never knew him corrected at school but for talking, and diverting other boys, from their business. He seemed

'-■ Dr. Joliiisou seems to have always approved the rod for the correction of children. "I would rather," said he, "have the rod to be the general terror to all, to make them learn, than tell a child, ' If you do thus or thus you will be more esteemed than your brothers or sisters.' " Ay ; but is there no third way, and superior to either of the others?

to learn by intuition ; for though indolence and procrastination were inherent in his constitution, whenever he made an exertion he did more than any one else. In short, he is a memorable instance of what has been often observed, that " the boy is the man in miniature ;" and that the distinguishing characteristics of each individual are the same through the whole course of life. His favorites used to receive very liberal assistance from him ; and such was the submission and deference with which he was treated, such the desire to obtain his regard, that three of the boys used to come in ll I the morning as his

■■'^ ^"^ humble attendants,

and carry him to school. One in the middle stooped while he sat upon his back, and one on each side supported him, and thus he -was borne BEARING JOHNSON TO SCHOOL. triumphant. Such a

Life of Saumel Johnsoji. 29

predominance of intellectual vigor is very remarkable, and does honor to human nature." *

" He discovered a great ambition to excel, which roused him to counteract his indolence. He was uncommonly inquisitive ; and his memory was so tenacious that he never forgot any thing that he either heard or read. Mr. Hector, one of his schoolmates, remembered having recited to him eighteen verses, which, after a little pause, he repeated verbatim — varying only one epithet, by which he improved the line."

" He never joined with the other boys in their ordinary diversions. His only amusement was in winter ; when he took a pleasure in being drawn barefooted upon the ice by a boy who pulled him along by a garter fixed round him ; no very easy operation, as his size was remarkably large."

As to his reading, at this period of his boy-

* "Intellectual vigor" is truly of great influence; but it is not absurd to suppose that some other kind of vigor in the boy Johnson might have induced such a ridiculous obsequiousness.

30 Life of Samuel yohnsoii.

hood, Johnson is said to have been immoderately fond of romances, which fondness he retained through Ufe ; and it was to this sort of reading that he attributed that " unsettled turn of mind which prevented his ever fixing in any profession." Will the youthful reader make a note of this ?

We find Johnson in the Lichfield school until about sixteen years of age, when he was transferred to a school at Stourbridge, where he passed a little more than a year, but without realizing so much benefit as was expected. Alluding to his progress at the two schools, he thus discriminated : " At one (Lichfield) I learned much in the school, but little from the master ; in the other I learned much from the master, but little in the school."

The two subsequent years — from seventeen to nineteen — he was at home. Of this interesting period of his life we have the following notice :

" The two years which he spent at home, after his return from Stourbrido;e, he passed in what he thought idleness, and was scolded by his father for his want of steady application. He had no settled plan of life, nor looked forward at all, but merely lived from day to day. Yet he read a great deal in a desultory manner, without any scheme of study, as chance threw books in his way, and inclination directed him through them. He used to mention one curious instance of his casual reading when but a boy. Having imagined that his brother had hid some apples behind a large folio upon an upper shelf in his father's shop, he climbed up to search for them. There were no apples, but the large folio proved to be Petrarch, whom he had seen mentioned in some preface as one of the restorers of learning. His curiosity having been thus excited, he sat down with avidity and read a great part of the book. What he read during these two years was not works of mere amusement — not voyages and travels, as he said, * but all literature, all ancient writers, all manly.' In this irregular manner I had looked into a great many books which were not commonly known at the Universities, where they seldom read any books but what are put into their hands by their tutors ; so that when I came to Oxford, Dr. Adams, now Master of Pembroke College, told me that I was the best qualified for the University that he had ever known come there."

Chapter II

October 31, 1728, and in his nineteenth year, Samuel Johnson was entered at Pembroke Col-

PEMBROKE COLLEGE GATEWAY.

lege, Oxford University. A gentleman, Mr. Corbett, entered at the same time a son who

34 Life of Samuel JoJinsoji.

had been educated in the same school with Johnson ; and it was proposed that the latter should attend young Corbett as an assistant in his studies, and thus receive as compensation his own support at the University.

Johnson's father accompanied him to Oxford ; and, as he introduced his boy to the tutors and others, he "seemed very full of the merits of his son," and told the company he was a good scholar and a poet, and wrote Latin verses. His figure and manner appeared strange to them, but he behaved modestly, and sat silent, till, upon something which occurred in the course of conversation, he suddenly struck in and quoted Macrobius ; * and thus he gave the first impression of that more extensive reading in which he had indulged himself"

Johnson's tutor seems not to have been a man of such abilities as were adequate or satisfactory to his new pupil ; and the latter would often risk the payment of a small fine rather

* A Latin author, who lived in the fifth century of the Christian era.

Life of S aimed jFohnson. 35

than attend the lectures of his tutor. Hence, on one occasion of being fined he says to his teacher, *' Sir, you have sconced me two pence for non-attendance at a lecture not worth one penny." In alluding afterward to this college tutor of his, he says of him, " He was a very worthy man, but a heavy man, and I did not profit much by his instructions ; indeed, I did not attend him much. The first day after I came to college I v/aited upon him, and then stayed away four. On the sixth, Mr. Jordan (the tutor) asked me why I had not attended. I answered I had been sliding in Christ Church meadow. And this I said with as much no7iclialaiice as I am now talking to you. I had no notion that I was wrong, or irreverent to my tutor." But he afterward declared it to be " stark insensibility." *

Yet he seems to have entertained a positive

* All this needs to be guarded. It was characteristic of Dr. Johnson to overstate his defects, whether literary or moral. Dr. Adams, Master of the College where Johnson was entered, assured Mr. Boswell that he attended his tutor's lectures, and other lectures of the College, " very regularly."

love and respect for this tutor, "not for his Hterature, but for his worth." "Whenever," said he, " a young man becomes Jordan's pupil he becomes his son."

Mr. Jordan having noticed one or two specimens of his pupil's poetical powers, requested him to translate Pope's Messiah into Latin verse as a Christmas exercise. He performed it with uncommon rapidity, and in so masterly a manner that he obtained great applause from it, which ever after kept him high in the estimation of his college, and, indeed, of all the University." *

About a year after entering college Johnson began to be afflicted more deeply than before with a certain " morbid melancholy," which seems to have been constitutional with him. He not unfrequently felt himself " overwhelmed with a horrible hypochondria, with perpetual irritation, fretfulness, and impatience ; and with

* This translation, it is said, was shown to Pope himself, who, having read it, returned it with this splendid encomium, " The writer of this poem will leave it a question for posterity whether his or mine be the original."

a dejection, gloom, and despair which made existence misery. From this dismal malady he never afterward was perfectly relieved; and all his labors, and all his enjoyments, were but temporary interruptions of its baleful influence." *

Johnson at first endeavored to overcome this terrible disorder by forcible exertions. He took long walks, and tried other expedients ; but all in vain. It is pleasant to reflect that amid all his suffering from this source his intellect remained always unclouded and vigorous. "Though he suffered severely from it, he was not, therefore, degraded. The powers of his great mind might be troubled, and their full

* Let the young reader note this carefully, and receive instruction. Here is a man of transcendent abilities, towering head and shoulders above ordinary mortals, yet carrying with him a life-long affliction of such a character that, so far as worldly happiness is concerned, he might gladly have exchanged his wonderful powers for relief from such an incubus. So the great Apostle received subUme revelations, but the "thorn in the flesh" must accompany them; and the great Dispenser sets one thing over against another, to the end that "man may find nothing after hira."

exercise suspended, at times ; but the mind itself was ever entire." Further on the same writer adds, "Amidst the oppression and distraction of a disease which very few have felt in its full extent, but many have experienced in a lighter degree, Johnson, in his writings and in his conversation, never failed to display all the varieties of intellectual excellence."

Johnson's youthful mind was early directed to religion. His mother was a religious woman, and was interested for the spiritual welfare of her son. Yet it does not appear that all her efforts for this object were of the most judicious character. As he grew up into youth, he, like thousands of other young people, acquired the habit of neglecting public worship ; became, as he says, " a sort of lax talker against religion, for I did not much think against it ; and this lasted till I went to Oxford, where it would not be suffered."

After entering college, however, he began to give more serious attention to religious things. A perusal of Law's " Serious Call to a

Holy Life"* seems to have first led his mind to earnest meditation upon reUgion, and from this time it became the predominant object of his thoughts.

Some additional notices of Johnson's college life are furnished us by Boswell and other writers. It appears that his particular courses of reading while at the University cannot be satisfactorily traced. He seems to have had but a slight taste for mathematics or the physical sciences, while his pecuniary circumstances were such as seemed to exclude him from the learned professions. Hence his modes of reading and study were more or less irregular, and his habits desultory. At the same time, from

* A book well adapted to induce thoughtfulness and seriousness, and to impress the mind with the vanity of this world and the infinite superiority of eternal things. But it fails to present to the mquirer Christ, mercy, pardon, renewal, salvation, and the rejoicing of hope. " Law " is good, but we need Gospel also. Johnson read the "Serious Call," and his life-long rehgion was much seriousness and little hope. His contemporaries, the Wesleys, read the same book, and in the same University, and with the same effect until, hke ApoUos, they were taught the way of the Lord more perfectly ; and then they were lifted aloft in the glorious liberty of the sons of God.