Page images
PDF
EPUB

A free and candid enquiry into his literary character still remains in some measure open. It still remains to consider the nature and tendency of his writings; as ethical how far adapted to common life and domestic

purposes; how far they may be considered as just; and where they exhibit marks of prejudice and misanthropy.* It still remains undecided how far our language is indebted to him for its present elegance, perspicuity, and energy; or to what degree

of refinement he has advanced it. These are topies which have hitherto been neglected, or at least but faintly discussed, though of acknowledged importance. But they would require the hand of a master; and the following observations will be confined to a few strictures on his moral writings, with, perhaps, some occasional remarks on the preceding hints.

Before the appearance of Johnson's Rambler the public was possessed of many diurnal papers.

The Tatler, the
Guardian,

*This enquiry has been in some measure pursued by Dr. Towers, in an ingenious work of his, entitled "An Essay on the life, character, and writings of Dr. Samuel Johnson, 1786.”

Guardian, the Spectator, and, many others, had embraced the arduous project of instructing their countrymen, and laboured to extirpate the vices and immorality then existing. To this effect they thought ridicule the most powerful weapon; and employed it sometimes with dexterity, and sometimes with propriety: every foible was exposed, and every vice abhorred; but descending too much to the minute fopperies of giddy fashion, and prescribing rules for the adjustment of female dress, their writings were sought after rather as a recreation from satiety and listlessness, than as a manual of truth and morality.

This great defect Johnson was aware of; ambitious of distinction, his gigantic mind was upon the wing for every avenue which might lead to it; and it was doubtless a ready suggestion, that a pure body of ethics was still wanting; and, (perhaps, conscious of his own capability) he determined to commence the difficult employment. Having read much, and possessing a retentive memory, he found his mind stored with abundance of mat

ter;

ter; Classical allusions were ready at his command, and a peculiar felicity of combination ; an accurate observer of nature, he readily bared the human breast to his inspection, and detected, with uncommon penetration, the multifarious involutions of human passion. Thus qualified for the attempt, he published his first Rambler, March 20, 1750.

To consider every paper individually, would be a tedious and unprofitable task.. Their ultimate tendency and probable effect is the thing to be discussed, and this requires to be done with as much precision, brevity and perspicuity, as possible. How far I may attain to this, is properly the decision of my readers,

Johnson naturally possessed a misanthropic way of thinking; and this had probably been greatly confirmed by the numerous disappointments of his early life. A slave, likewise, to the most absurd prejudices, which he could never overcome, for he too much indulged them, his

* Was it not an astonishing weakness of mind, or a childish prejudice, which induced the Author to compose and address a short prayer to the Deity, on the commencement of his

Rambler ?

his judgment was often perverted: and he may be suspected of sometimes, endeavouring to give dignity to trifles, of which he was conscious, and of persisting in error rather than retract what he had once advanced. His misanthropy and prejudice are eminently manifest in his Rambler.

The great design of this work was to instruct mankind; to teach the happiness of virtue and religion; to display the horrors of vice and impiety; to inculcate a proper subordination of the passions; and to arm the mind against the vicissitudes of life. A more noble and exalted undertaking could not employ the mind of man. But to produce the proposed effect, much was required, and much, which Johnson never could attain he taught the happiness of virtue, and displayed the miseries of vice with peculiar energy; here his whole soul was employed, and he felt the indignation he expressed; but when he would sup

;

port

Rambler? And how shall we account for the serious concern which he expressed at having put some milk into his tea on a Good Friday, but from the prevalence of obstinate bigotry or foolish prepossessions?

(6)

port us against the contingencies of existence, his mind becomes darkened by intervening clouds of prejudice, and his arguments degenerate into sophistical declamation. Yet, in his own words, "to have attempted much is always laudable even when the enterprise is above the strength that undertakes it; to rest below his aim is incident to every one whose fancy is active, and whose views are comprehensive.”

Life, in its very sunshine, is perhaps sufficiently beset with evil; and we need not Monitors to tell us, at every step, that destruction may be the consequence. This is perpetually awakening the mind to a bitter consciousness of its situation, and barring every access to genuine pleasure, even when pursued with the most unerring virtue. The motive is unquestionably just a desire to guard unthinking youth from the precipices which surround them, and to impress upon their hearts the conviction, that a life of heedless security is a life of guilt and misery. But this end will rarely be attained if thus sought; a perpetual alarm

:

of

« PreviousContinue »