The first part of this review closed here. What follows did not appear until seven months after. To which delay the writer alludes with provok
1
From the Gentleman's Magazine, 1742.
2
Literary Magazine, vol. i. p. 41. 1756.
3
The first part of this review closed here. What follows did not appear until seven months after. To which delay the writer alludes with provoking severity.
4
Literary Magazine, vol. i. p, 89. 1756.
This review is justly reckoned one of the finest specimens of criticism in our language, and was read with such eagerness, when published in the Literary Magazine, that the author was induced to reprint it in a small volume by itself; a circumstance which appears to have escaped Mr. Boswell's research.
5
From the Literary Magazine, vol. ii. p. 253.
6
And of such a man, it is to be regretted, that Dr. Johnson was, by whatever motive, induced to speak with acrimony; but, it is probable, that he took up the subject, at first, merely to give play to his fancy. This answer, however, to Mr. Hanway's letter, is, as Mr. Boswell has remarked, the only instance, in the whole course of his life, when he condescended to oppose any thing that was written against him. C.
7
From the Literary Magazine, 1756.
8
In all the papers and criticisms Dr. Johnson wrote for the Literary Magazine, he frequently departs from the customary we of anonymous writers. This, with his inimitable style, soon pointed him out, as the principal person concerned in that publication.
9
The second volume of Dr. Warton's Essay was not published until the year 1782.
10
This Enquiry, published in 1757, was the production of Soame Jenyns, esq. who never forgave the author of the review. It is painful to relate, that, after he had suppressed his resentment during Dr. Johnson's life, he gave it vent, in a petulant and illiberal mock-epitaph, which would not have deserved notice, had it not been admitted into the edition of his works, published by Mr. Cole. When this epitaph first appeared in the newspapers, Mr. Boswell answered it by another upon Mr. Jenyns, equal, at least, in illiberality.
11
New Practice of Physick.
12
From the Literary Magazine, 1756.
13
From the Literary Magazine, 1756.
14
From the Literary Magazine, 1756.—There are other reviews of books by Dr. Johnson, in this magazine, but, in general, very short, and consisting chiefly of a few introductory remarks, and an extract. That on Mrs. Harrison's Miscellanies maybe accounted somewhat interesting, from the notice of Dr. Watts.
15
Written by Mr. Tytler, of Edinburgh.
16
Printed in the Gentleman's Magazine, October, 1760.
17
First printed in the year 1739.
18
See his Remains, 1614, p. 337, "Riming verses, which are called versus leonini, I know not wherefore, (for a lyon's taile doth not answer to the middle parts as these verses doe,) began in the time of Carolus Magnus, and were only in request then, and in many ages following, which delighted in nothing more than in this minstrelsie of meeters."
20
Published first in the Literary Magazine, No. iv. from July 15, to Aug. 15, 1756. This periodical work was published by Richardson, in Paternoster row, but was discontinued about two years after. Dr. Johnson wrote many articles, which have been enumerated by Mr. Boswell, and there are others which I should be inclined to attribute to him, from internal evidence.
21
In the magazine, this article is promised "to be continued;" but the author was, by whatever means, diverted from it, and no continuation appears.
22
This was the introductory article to the Literary Magazine, No. i.
where the new inhabitants could only pass a laborious and necessitous life, in perpetual regret of the deliciousness and plenty of their native country.