ance with our much lamented friend, in consequence of "JAMES BOSWELL." To the third edition, published in August 1786, "Animated by the very favourable reception which "To the animadversions in the periodical journals (1) ["A Defence of Mr. Boswell's Journal, in a Letter to and has added to the favour by communicating his "It would be an idle waste of time to take any par- ticular notice of the futile remarks, to many of which, a petty national resentment, unworthy of my country- men, has probably given rise; remarks, which have been industriously circulated in the public prints by shallow or envious cavillers, who have endeavoured to persuade the world that Dr. Johnson's character has been lessened by recording such various instances of his lively wit and acute judgment, on every topic that was presented to his mind. In the opinion of every person of taste and knowledge that I have conversed with, it has been greatly heightened; and I will venture to pre- dict, that this specimen of the colloquial talents and extemporaneous effusions of my illustrious fellow-tra- veller will become still more valuable, when, by the lapse of time, he shall have become an ancient; when all those who can now bear testimony to the transcendent powers of his mind shall have passed away, and no other memorial of this great and good man shall remain but the following Journal,' the other anecdotes and letters preserved by his friends, and those incomparable This "Journal," in some respects the most in- teresting part of Boswell's whole record, was first ix Johnson sets out on his Visit to the Hebrides. - Sketch of his Scott. Sir William Forbes. - Practice of the Law. Emigration. Rev. Mr. Carr.- Chief Baron Orde. - Dr. Beattie and Mr. Hume.. Dr. Robertson. Mr. Burke. Composition of Parliament. Influence of Peers. Andrews. Literature and Patronage. - Doctrines of the Trinity and the Atonement. Johnson - - Sir Adolphus Oughton. - Lowth and War- burton. Dinner at Sir Eyre Coote's. - The Stage. Mrs. Cibber. Mrs. Clive.-Mrs. Pritchard. - Inverness. -Macbeth's Castle. - Mr. Thrale's Brewery. "Pere- Isle of Sky. - Armidale. - Sir Alexander Mac- donald. Parish Church of Slate. - Ode on Sky. Mackenzie. - Burke's Wit, Knowledge, and Eloquence.- |