Synopsis
Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1853. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. 1776 -- 1777. Sir Joshua Reynold's Dinners.--Goldsmith's Epitaph.-- The Round Robin.--Employment of Time. -- Blairs Sermons. -- Easter Day. -- Prayer. -- Sir Alexander Dick. -- Shaw's Erse Grammar. -- Johnson engages to write " The Lives of the English Poets." --Edward Ditty--Correspondence.--Charles O'Connor. -- Dr. Zachary Pearce's Posthumous Works. -- Prologue to Hugh Kelly's " Word to the Wise." How very false is the notion that has gone round the world of the rough, and passionate, and harsh manners of this great and good man! That he had occasional sallies of heat of temper, and that he was sometimes, perhaps, too "easily provoked" by absurdity and folly, and sometimes too desirous ci' triumph in colloquial contest, must be allowed. The quickness both of his perception and sensibility disposed him to sudden explosions of satire; to which his extraordinary readiness of wit was a strong and almost irresistible incitement. To adopt one of the finest images in Mr. Home's "Douglas," ---- " On each glance of thought Decision followed, as the thunderbolt Pursues the flash!" I admit that the beadle within him was often so eager JETA*. 67. SIR JOSHUA ETNOLDS 203 to apply the lasn, that the judge had not time to consider the case with sufficient deliberation. That he was occasionally remarkable for violence of temper may be granted; but let us ascertain the degree, and not let it be supposed that he was in a perpetual rage, and never without a club in his hand to knock down every one who approached him. On the contrary, the truth is, that by much the greatest part of his time he was civil, obliging, nay, polite in the true sense of the word; so much so, that many gentlemen who were long acquainted with him never received, or even heard a strong expression from him. Letter 2...
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About the Author
Scottish lawyer and essayist, known for his two-volume biography A Life of Samuel Johnson.
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