ing one of them, would have conveyed it into the bed, which Frank and a young man that sat up with him seeing, they seized his hand, and entreated him not to do a rash action: he said he would not; but drawing his hand under the bed-clothes, they saw his arm move. Upon this they turned down the clothes, and saw a great effusion of blood, which soon stopped; that soon after, he got at a pair of scissors that lay in a drawer by him, and plunged them deep in the calf of each leg; that immediately they sent for Mr. Cruikshanks and the apothecary, and they, or one of them, dressed the wounds; that he then fell into that dozing which carried him off; that it was conjectured he lost eight or ten ounces of blood; and that this effusion brought on the dozing, though his pulse continued firm till three o'clock. "That this act was not done to hasten 1 his end, but to discharge the water that he conceived to be in him, I have not the least doubt. A dropsy was his disease; he looked upon himself as a bloated carcass; and, to attain the power of easy respiration, would have undergone any degree of temporary pain. He dreaded neither punctures nor incisions, and, indeed, defied the trochar and the lancet; he had often reproached his physicians and surgeon with cowardice and when Mr. Cruikshanks scarified his leg, he cried out, Deeper, deeper; I will abide the consequence: you are afraid of your reputation, but that is nothing to me.' To those about him he said, 'You all pretend to love me, but you do not love me so well as I myself do.' spection of any one. It is true, that natural firmness of spirit, or the confidence of hope, may buoy up the mind to the last; but however heroic an undaunted death may appear, it is not what we should pray for. As Johnson lived the life of the righteous, his end was that of a Christian; he strictly fulfilled the injunction of the apostle, to work out his salvation with fear and trembling; and though his doubts and scruples were certainly very distressing to himself, they give his friends a pious hope, that he, who added to almost all the virtues of christianity, that religious humility which its great teacher inculcated, will, in the fulness of time, receive the reward promised to a patient continuance in well doing."] Of his last moments, my brother 3 Thomas David has furnished me with the following particulars: The Doctor, from the time that he was certain his death was near, appeared to be perfectly resigned, was seldom or never fretful or out of temper, and often said to his faithful servant, who gave me this account, Attend, Francis, to the salvation of your soul, which is the object of greatest importance:" he also explained to him passages in the scripture, and seemed to have pleasure in talking upon religious subjects. "On Monday, the 13th of December, the day on which he died, a Miss Morris, daughter to a particular friend of his, called, and said to Francis, that she begged to be permitted to see the Doctor, that she might earnestly request him to give her his blessing. Francis went into the room, followed by the young lady, and delivered the message. The Doctor turned himself in the bed, and said, God bless you, my dear!' These were the last words he spoke. His difficulty of breathing increased till about seven o'clock in the evening, when Mr. Barber and Mrs. Desmoulins, who were sitting in the room, observing that the noise he made in breathing had ceased, went to the bed, and found he was dead." "I have been thus minute in recording the particulars of his last moments, because I wished to attract attention to the conduct of this great man, under the most trying circumstances human nature is subject to. Many persons have appeared possessed of more serenity of mind in this awful scene; some have remained unmoved at the disso lution of the vital union; and it may be deemed a discouragement from the severe practice of religion, that Dr. Johnson, whose whole life was a preparation for his death, and a conflict with natural infirmity, was disturbed with terror at the prospect of the grave 2. Let not this relax the circum-religious contemplations and devotional exercises, [The clumsy solemnity with which Hawkins thinks it necessary to defend Dr. Johnson from the suspicion of endeavouring to shorten his life by an act manifestly, avowedly, and even passionately meant to prolong it, is certainly very offensive; but it hardly, the Editor thinks, justifies Mr. Boswell's suspicions (ante, p. 433. n.) that there was some malevolence at the bottom of the defence.-ED.] 2 [Hawkins seems to confound two different periods. At the first appearance of danger, Dr. Johnson exhibited great, and perhaps gloomy anx ED. [The following letter, written with an agitated hand, from the very chamber of death, by the amiable Mr. Langton, iety, which, however, under the gradual effect of gave way to more comfortable hopes suggested by a lively faith in the propitiatory merits of his Redeemer. In this tranquillizing disposition the last days of his life seem to have been passed, and in this christian confidence it is believed that he died.-ED.] 3 4 [See ante, p. 236.—ED.] [She was the sister of a lady of the same name who appeared on the stage at Covent-garden as Juliet, in 1768, and died next year. She was a relation of Mr. Corbyn Morris, commissioner of the customs.--European Magazine, Sept. 1799, p. 158.—Ed.] cause,' said he, he is fullest on the proptiatory sacrifice.'" and obviously interrupted by his feelings, | will not unaptly close the story of so long a friendship. The letter is not addressed, but Mr. Langton's family believe it was intend-lowing very agreeable account was commued for Mr. Boswell. MS. MY DEAR SIR,-After many conflicting hopes and fears respecting the event of this heavy return of illness which has assailed our honoured friend, Dr. Johnson, since his arrival from Lichfield, about four days ago the appearances grew more and more awful, and this afternoon at eight o'clock, when I arrived at his house to see how he should be going on, I was acquainted at the door, that about three quarters of an hour before, he had breathed his last. I am now writing in the room where his venerable remains exhibit a spectacle, the interesting solemnity of which, difficult as it would be in any sort to find terms to express, so to you, my dear sir, whose own sensations will paint it so strongly, it would be of all men the most superfluous to attempt to- -.] About two days after his death, the folnicated to Mr. Malone, in a letter by the Honourable John Byng, to whom I am much obliged for granting me permission to introduce it in my work. "DEAR SIR,-Since I saw you, I have had a long conversation with Cawston 2, who sat up with Dr. Johnson, from nine o'clock on Sunday evening, till ten o'clock on Monday morning. And, from what I can gather from him, it should seem, that Dr. Johnson was perfectly composed, steady in hope, and resigned to death. At the interval of each hour, they assisted him to sit up in his bed, and move his legs, which were in much pain; when he regularly addressed himself to fervent prayer; and though, sometimes, his voice failed him, his sense never did, during that time. The only sustenance he received was cider and water. He said his mind was prepared, and the time to his dissolution seemed long. At six in the morning, he inquired the hour, and, on being informed, said, that all went on regularly, and he felt he had but a few hours to live. The Reverend Mr. Strahan, who was the son of his friend, and had been always one of his great favourites, had, during his last illness, the satisfaction of contributing to soothe and comfort him. That gentle- "At ten o'clock in the morning, he partman's house at Islington, of which he is vi- ed from Cawston, saying, ' You should not car, afforded Johnson, occasionally and detain_Mr. Windham's servant:-I thank easily, an agreeable change of place and you; bear my remembrance to your masfresh air; and he attended also upon him inter.' Cawston says, that no man could town in the discharge of the sacred offices appear more collected, more devout, or less of his profession. terrified at the thoughts of the approaching minute. Mr. Strahan has given me the agreeable assurance, that after being in much agitation, Johnson became quite composed, and continued so till his death. Dr. Brocklesby, who will not be suspected of fanaticism, obliged me with the following accounts: "For some time before his death, all his fears were calmed and absorbed by the prevalence of his faith, and his trust in the merits and propitiation of Jesus Christ.. "This account, which is so much more agreeable than, and somewhat different from, yours, has given us the satisfaction of thinking that that great man died as he lived, full of resignation, strengthened in faith, and joyful in hope 3." After making one will, which, as Sir some distance of time he advised with me what "He talked often to me about the neces-books he should read in defence of the christian sity of faith in the sacrifice of Jesus, as necessary beyond all good works whatever for the salvation of mankind. religion. I recommended Clarke's Evidences of Natural and Revealed Religion,' as the best of the kind; and I find in what is called his Prayers "He pressed me to study Dr. Clarke and Meditations,' that he was frequently employand to read his sermons. I asked him why ed in the latter part of his time in reading Clarke's he pressed Dr. Clarke, an Arian1. Be- Sermons."-BOSWELL. The change of his sentiments with regard to Dr. Clarke is thus mentioned to me in a letter from the late Dr. Adams, master of Pembroke college, Oxford.-"'The Doctor's prejudices were the strongest, and certainly in another sense the weakest, that ever possessed a sensible man. You know his extreme zeal for orthodoxy. But did you ever hear what he told me himself? that he had made it a rule not to admit Dr. Clarke's name in his Dictionary. This, however, wore off. 2 Servant to the Right Honourable William Windham.-BOSWELL. 3 [The quantity of evidence now brought together as to the state of Dr. Johnson's mind with regard to religion in general, and his own salvation in particular, dispenses the Editor from making any observations on the subject; but those who may wish to see a commentary on the facts, may turn to the remarks in the Christian Observer for October and November, 1827. At-ED.] John Hawkins informs us, extended no further than the promised annuity 1, Johnson's final disposition of his property was established by a will and codicil, of which copies are subjoined. "In the name of God. Amen. I, Samuel Johnson, being in full possession of my faculties, but fearing this night may put an end to my life, do ordain this my last will and testament. I bequeath to God a soul polluted by many sins, but I hope purified by Jesus Christ. I leave seven hundred and fifty pounds in the hands of Bennet Langton, Esq.; three hundred pounds in the hands of Mr. Barclay and Mr. Perkins, brewers; one hundred and fifty pounds in the hands of Dr. Percy, bishop of Dromore2; one thousand pounds, three per cent. annuities in the publick funds; and one hundred pounds now lying by me in ready money all these before-mentioned sums and property I leave, I say, to Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir John Hawkins, and Dr. William Scott, of Doctor's Commons, in trust, for the following uses:-That is to say, to pay to the representatives of the late William Innys, bookseller, in St. Paul's Churchyard, the sum of two hundred pounds; to Mrs. White, my female servant, one hundred pounds stock in the three per cent. annuities aforesaid. The rest of the aforesaid sums of money and property, together with my books, plate, and household furniture, I leave to the before-mentioned Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir John Hawkins, and Dr. William Scott, also in trust, to be applied, after paying my debts, to the use of Francis Barber, my man-servant, a negro, in such manner as they shall judge most fit and available to his benefit. And I appoint the aforesaid Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir John Hawkins, and Dr. William Scott, sole executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills and testaments whatever. In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name, and affix my seal, this eighth day of December, 1784. "SAM. JOHNSON, (L. S.) "Signed, sealed, published, declared, "GEORGE STRAHAN. "By way of codicil to my last will and testament, I, Samuel Johnson, give, devise, and bequeath, my messuage or tenement situate at Lichfield, in the county of Stafford, with the appurtenances in the tenure and occupation of Mrs. Bond, of Lichfield, aforesaid, or of Mr. Hinchman, her undertenant, to my executors, in trust, to sell and dispose of the same; and the money arising from such sale I give and bequeath as follows, viz. to Thomas and Benjamin, the sons of Fisher Johnson, late of Leicester, and Whiting, daughter of Thomas Johnson, late of Coventry, and the granddaughter of the said Thomas Johnson, one full and equal fourth part each; but in case there shall be more grand-daughters than one of the said Thomas Johnson, living at the time of my decease, I give and bequeath the part or share of that one to and equally between such grand-daughters. I give and bequeath to the Rev. Mr. Rogers, of Berkley, near Froom, in the county of Somerset, the sum of one hundred pounds, requesting him to apply the same towards the maintenance of Elizabeth Herne, a lunatiek. I also give and bequeath to my god-children, the son and daughter of Mauritius Lowe, painter, each of them one hundred pounds of my stock in the three per cent. consolidated annuities, to be applied and disposed of by and at the discretion of my executors, in the education or settlement in the world of them my said legatees. Also I give and bequeath to Sir John Hawkins, one of my executors, the Annales Ecclesiastici of Baronius, and Holinshead's and Stowe's Chronicles, and also an octavo Common Prayer-Book. To Bennet Langton, Esq. I give and bequeath my Polyglot Bible. To Sir Joshua Reynolds, my great French Dictionary, by Martiniere, and my own copy of my folio English Dictionary, of the last revision. To Dr. William Scott, one of my executors, the Dic tionnaire de Commerce, and Lectius's edition of the Greek Poets 3. To Mr. Windham, Poetæ Græci Heroici per Henricum Stephanum. To the Rev. Mr. Strahan, vicar of Islington, in Middlesex, Mill's Greek Testament, Beza's Greek Testament, by Stephens, all my Latin Bibles, and my Greek Bible, by Wechelius. To Dr. Heberden, Dr. Brocklesby, Dr. Butter, and Mr. Cruikshanks, the surgeon who attended me, Mr. Holder, my apothecary, Gerard Hamilton, Esq. Mrs. Gardiner, of Snowhill, Mrs. Frances Reynolds, Mr. Hoole, and the Reverend Mr. Hoole, his son, each a book at their election, to keep as a token of remembrance. I also give and bequeath to Mr. John Desmoulins, two hundred 3 [Poeta Greci Veteres carminis historici Scrip tores qui extant omnes. Gr. Lat. curâ et recen sione Jac, Lectii. fol. 1606.-ED.] used in the will of Dr. Sanderson, bishop of Lincoln, who was piety itself. His legacy of two hundred pounds to the representatives of Mr. Innys, bookseller, in St. Paul's Churchyard, proceeded from a very worthy motive. He told Sir John Hawkins that his father having become a bankrupt, Mr. Innys had assisted him with money or credit to continue his business. "This," said he, grateful to his descendants." The amount of his property proved to be considerably more than he had supposed it to be. Sir John Hawkins estimates the bequest to Francis Barber at a sum little short of fifteen hundred pounds, including an annuity of seventy pounds to be paid to him by Mr. Langton, in consideration of seven hundred and fifty pounds, which Johnson had lent to that gentleman. Sir John seems not a little angry at this bequest, and mutters “a caveat against ostentatious bounty and favour to negroes." But surely, when a man has money entirely of his own acquisition, especially when he has no near relations, he may, without blame, dispose of it as he pleases, and with great propriety to a faithful servant. Mr. Barber, by the recom pounds consolidated three per cent. annuities; and to Mr. Sastres, the Italian master, the sum of five pounds, to be laid out in books of piety for his own use. And whereas the said Bennet Langton hath agreed, in consideration of the sum of seven hundred and fifty pounds, mentioned in my will to be in his hands, to grant and secure an annuity of seventy pounds payable during the life of me and my servant, Francis Bar-" I consider as an obligation on me to be ber, and the life of the survivor of us, to Mr. George Stubbs, in trust for us; my mind and will is, that in ease of my decease before the said agreement shall be perfected the said sum of seven hundred and fifty pounds, and the bond for securing the said sum, shall go to the said Francis Barber; and I hereby give and bequeath to him the same, in lieu of the bequest in his fayour, contained in my said will. And I hereby empower my executors to deduct and retain all expenses that shall or may be incurred in the execution of my said will, or of this codicil thereto, out of such estate and effects as I shall die possessed of. All the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate and effects I give and bequeath to my said executors, in trust for the said Francis Barber, his executors, and administrators.mendation of his master, retired to LichWitness my hand and seal, this ninth day of December, 1784. field, where he might pass the rest of his days in comfort 2. It has been objected "SAM. JOHNSON, (L. S.) that Johnson has omitted many of his best Signed, sealed, published, declared, and friends, when leaving books to several as delivered, by the said Samuel Johnson, as, tokens of his last remembrance. The and for a codicil to his last will and testa- names of Dr. Adams, Dr. Taylor, Dr. Burment, in the presence of us, who, in hisney, Mr. Hector, Mr. Murphy, the authour presence, and at his request, and also in the presence of each other, have hereto subscribed our names as witnesses. "JOHN COPLEY. of this work, and others who were intimate with him, are not to be found in his will. This may be accounted for by considering, that as he was very near his dissolution at the time, he probably mentioned such as happened to occur to him; and that he may have recollected, that he had formerly Upon these testamentary deeds it is pro- shown others such proofs of his regard, per to make a few observations. His ex- that it was not necessary to crowd his will press declaration with his dying breath as a with their names. Mrs. Lucy Porter was Christian, as it had been often practised in much displeased that nothing was left to such solemn writings, was of real conse-her; but besides what I have now stated, quence from this great man; for the conviction of a mind equally acute and strong might well overbalance the doubts of others who were his contemporaries. The expression polluted may, to some, convey an impression of more than ordinary contamination; but that is not warranted by its genuine meaning, as appears from The Rambler," No. 421. The same word is she should have considered that she had left nothing to Johnson by her will, which was No. 82," where Johnson added to Sir Joshua Reynolds's paper the words," and pollute his canvas with deformity."-ED.] 2 Francis Barber, Dr. Johnson's principal legatee, died in the infirmary at Stafford, after undergoing a painful operation, February 13, 1801.MALONE. [In the Gentleman's Magazine for 1793, p. 619, there are some anecdotes of Barber, in which it is said that he was then forty-eight years old. Mr. Chalmers thinks that he was about fifty-six when he died; but as he entered Johnson's service in 1752, and could scarcely have been then under twelve or fourteen years of age, it is probable that he was somewhat older. See ante, vol. i. p. 250.-ED.] I trust I shall not be accused of affectation, when I declare, that I find myself unaable to express all that I felt upon the loss of such a "guide, philosopher, and friend"." I shall, therefore, not say one word of my own, but adopt those of an eminent friend 4, which he uttered with an abrupt felicity, superiour to all studied compositions:-" He has made a chasm, which not only nothing can fill up, but which nothing has a tendency to fill up.-Johnson is dead.-Let us go to the next best: there is nobody; no man can be said to put you in mind of Johnson." made during his lifetime, as appeared at her | seph Banks, Mr. Windham, Mr. Langton, decease. His enumerating several persons Sir Charles Bunbury, and Mr. Colman, bore. in one group, and leaving them each a his pall. His school-fellow, Dr. Taylor, book at their election," might possibly have performed the mournful office of reading the given occasion to a curious question as to burial service. the order of choice, had they not luckily fixed on different books. His library, though by no means handsome in its appearance, was sold by Mr. Christie for two hundred and forty-seven pounds, nine shillings: many people being desirous to have a book which had belonged to Johnson. In many of them he had written little notes: sometimes tender memorials of his departed wife; as "This was dear Tetty's book: " sometimes occasional remarks of different sorts. Mr. Lysons, of Clifford's-inn, has favoured me with the two following: "In Holy Rules and Helps to Devotion, by Bryan Duppa, Lord Bishop of Winton, Preces quidam videtur diligenter tractasse; spero non inauditus.' In The Rosicrucian infallible Axiomata, by John Heydon, Gent.,' prefixed to which are some verses addressed to the authour, signed Ambr. Waters, A. M. Coll. Ex. Oxon. 'These Latin verses were written to Hobbes by Bathurst, upon his Treatise on Human Nature, and have no relation to the book. An odd fraud.'" As Johnson had abundant homage paid to him during his life 5, so no writer in this buried with all possible funeral rites, and honours. In all processions and solemnities something will be forgotten or omitted. Here no disrespect was intended. The executors did not think themselves justified in doing more than they did; for only a little cathedral service, accompanied with lights and music, would have raised the price of interIn this matter fees ran high; they could ment. not be excused; and the expenses were to be A few days before his death, he had ask-paid from the property of the deceased. His funeral expenses amounted to more than two huned Sir John Hawkins, as one of his execudred pounds. Future monumental charges may tors, where he should be buried; and on be- be defrayed by the generosity of subscription."ing answered," Doubtless, in Westminster- Gentleman's Magazine, 1785, p. 911, probably Abbey," seemed to feel a satisfaction, very by Mr. Tyers. ED.] natural to a poet; and indeed in my opinion very natural to every man of any imagination, who has no family sepulchre in which he can be laid with his fathers. Accordingly, upon Monday, December 20, his remains, [enclosed in a leaden coffin,] were deposited in that noble and renowned edifice, [in the south transept, near the foot of Shakspeare's monument, and close to the coffin of his friend Garrick; and over his grave was placed a large blue flag-stone, with this inscription: Hawk. p. 564. "SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D. M. DCC. LXXXIV. His funeral was attended by a respectable number of his friends, particularly such of the members of The Literary Club as were in town; and was also honoured with the presence of several of the Reverend Chapter of Westminster 2. Mr. Burke, Sir Jo 99_66 3 On the subject of Johnson I may adopt the words of Sir John Harrington concerning his venerable tutor and diocesan, Dr. John Still, Bishop of Bath and Wells: "who hath given me some helps, more hopes, all encouragements in my best. studies: to whom I never came but I grew more religious; from whom I never went, but I parted better instructed. Of him, therefore, my acquaintance, my friend, my instructer, if I speak much, it were not to be marvelled; if I speak frankly, it is not to be blamed; and though I speak partially, it were to be pardoned. Nuga Antiquæ, vol. i. p. 136. There is one circumstance in Sir John's character of Bishop Still, which is peculiarly applicable to Johnson: "He became so famous a disputer, that the learnedest were even afraid to dispute with him; and he, finding his own strength, could not stick to warn them in their arguments to take heed to their answers, like a perfect fencer that will tell aforehand in which button he will give the venew, or like a cunning chess-player that will appoint aforehand with which pawn and in what place he will give the mate. Ibid. BoswELL. 4 The late Right Honourable William Gerard Hamilton, who had been intimately acquainted with Dr. Johnson near thirty years. He died in London, July 16, 1796, in his sixty-eighth year [Mr. Windham bought Markland's Statius, and wrote in the first page," Fuit e libris clarissimi Samuelis Johnson.” It now, by the favour of Mr. Jesse, who bought it at Mr. Wind--MALONE. ham's sale, belongs to the Editor.-ED.] 2 ["It must be told, that a dissatisfaction was expressed in the public papers that he was not 5 Beside the Dedications to him by Dr. Goldsmith, the Reverend Dr. Franklin, and the Reverend Mr. Wilson, which I have mentioned ac |