[85] Annual Register 1779, Part II. p. 148. I abridge his words, but give their full meaning. [86] Life of Waller. [87] Life of Rowe. [88] Life of Milton. [89] Life of Swift. [90] Preface to Shakespeare. [91] Ibid. [92] Preface to Shakespeare. [93] 'He has scenes of _undoubted_ and _perpetual_ excellence.' Ibid. Is there not some inconsistency in these various assertions. [94] See in the same style his observations on Prior, Akenside, and others. [95] _Quere._ Did ever Shakespeare, or any other man, compose a single page, or even a single line, on any subject, without either straining his faculties, or at least soliciting his invention. It is very possible that the Doctor did not suspect the full extent of his expression. [96] Vide Dictionary. [97] Life of Pope. [98] Ibid. [99] Pope's life. [100] Eloisa, Letter 83. [101] Pope's life. [102] Preface to Shakespeare. [103] Pope's life. [104] Ibid. [105] Rambler, No. 36. [106] Ibid. [107] Thomson's life. [108] The author has no intention here to disseminate political opinions--His only meaning is to prove, that _somebody_ has neither principle, nor consistency, nor shame. [109] Life of Shenstone. [110] Gentleman's Magazine. [111] Vide life of Milton. [112] Life of Smith. [113] Tour, p. 8, 12mo edit. [114] The Crucifix--Gulliver's Travels. [115] 'And read their history in a nation's eyes.' GRAY'S ELEGY. [116] On this subject nothing liberal could be expected from Dr Johnson, who, in spite of his murmurs about Excise, and his actual benevolence in private life, has always been the firm advocate of oppression. His project of hiring the Cherokees to massacre the North Americans (vide supra p. 32) may serve to inform us what he himself would have done, had he been seated in the saddle of authority. But what shall be said for some Scottish historians who have adopted the same ideas? One of them tells us, that Beaton had prepared a list of three hundred and sixty of the leaders of the Protestant party, whose lives and fortunes were to be sacrificed to the rapacity and the pride of this ambitious prelate. Yet he pronounces the killing of such a dangerous monster to be a most execrable deed. He dwells with studied exultation on the execution of Charles I. but if our King really deserved his fate, Was not Beaton by many degrees more criminal? An author can hardly spend his time worse, than in writing to flatter the prejudices, and to corrupt the common sense of the world. [117] Preface to Shakespeare. [118] _Quere._ What is _unquenchable_ curiosity? and how can a play excite curiosity which cannot be satisfied by its conclusion? [119] Preface to Shakespeare. [120] Ibid. [121] Weekly Mirror, No. 12. [122] Monthly Review, on Dr Graham's Pindaricks. [123] Dr Johnson's life of Pope. [124] Vide Terence and the Careless Husband. [125] Vide Dr Johnson's life of Shenstone. [126] Vide Preface to Dr Johnson's octavo Dictionary, 4th edition. [127] Vide Measure for measure.