the propofition; and efpecially when we find her relating weakneffes of him, which would be thought difgraceful even in very ordinary men. Mrs. Piozzi alfo speaks of him, as one of the moft zealous and "pious Chriftians our nation ever pro"duced;" and in another place fays of his life, that it was a life of seventy years spent in the uniform practice of moral excellence, and every Chris"tian perfection, fave humility alone. ""'

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66

every

Mr. Tyers obferves, that "when Charles "the Second was informed of the death. " of Cowley, he pronounced, That he had "not left a better man behind him in "England." This gentleman also adds, "It may be affirmed with truth, that this was the case when Dr. Johnson breathed "his laft.". I feel no inclination to con

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4

2 Ibid. p. 18.

3 Ibid. p. 220.

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Johnfon, in the New Annual Register for 1784, p. 23.

trovert

trovert any affertion made by Mr. Tyéfs ; but cafes often occur, in which we cannot agree in opinion with thofe whom we esteem; and I am far from being convinced of the justness of this fentiment respecting Dr. Johnson. The affertion of King Charles II. concerning Cowley was not true; and as we refufe our affent to the royal eulogium pronounced on that poet, we may also be permitted to question the propriety of its application to Dr. Johnson, and this without the leaft defire to do any injustice to his memory. In Johnfon, confidered as a man, and as a writer, there was much that was excellent and laudable, and no inconsiderable portion of what was otherwife. In forming our ideas of his character, we must separate the one from the other, if we would make a just and rational estimate.

THAT the affertion of King Charles respecting CowLEY was not well groundVOL. III.

U

ed,

ed, perhaps a little attention to the cha racters of that age may be fufficient to determine. That eminent poet appears to have been poffeffed of very amiable qualities but at the time of his death the illuftrious ROBERT BOYLE was living, who was as much diftinguished for his piety and virtue, as for his philosophical abilities. In a moral and religious view, the character of Cowley could not be placed in competition with that of Boyle. It likewise be observed, that among

may

other men of eminent virtue of that age, Sir MATTHEW HALE was also yet living.

It was very pardonable in Mr. Tyers, and the other zealous friends of Dr. Johnson, to speak somewhat too highly of his character. The warmth of attachment to the memory of a deceased friend, was a fufficient apology for their conduct. But pofitions must not too haftily be admitted,

which are not fupported by fact, and which are not consistent with a juft regard to the honour of human nature. It feems alfo injurious to the interefts of religion and virtue, to reprefent Dr. Johnfon as a pattern of human excellence. Better mo dels might undoubtedly be pointed out. He had great virtues, but he had also too many ftriking and apparent faults, to be confidered as a proper object of indifcriminate imitation. Highly as he thought of himself, his attachment to the interests of virtue was too fincere to have fuffered him to countenance fuch an opinion. When, in his laft illness, he faid to his furrounding friends, "Don't live fuch a "life as I have done "" he had no idea of being confidered as a man of exemplary piety and virtue. There have been many men, who were more uniformly pious,

Tyers's Biographical Sketch, ut fupra, p. 24.

and more uniformly benevolent, than Dr. Johnson, and who had neither his arrogance, nor his bigotry; and fuch men, in a moral and religious view, were fuperior characters. There were fuch men before the death of this celebrated writer, and there can be no reasonable doubt but that fuch men are yet remaining.

HAVING made these remarks, I think it here proper to obferve, that I am totally devoid of the least inclination to degrade injuriously the character of Dr. Johnson; and that I only wish to fee it equitably and accurately ascertained, in fuch a manner as fhall do juftice to his real excellencies, without injury to the interefts either of virtue or of truth.

In every part of Dr. Johnson's life, he appears to have had a strong sense of the importance of piety and virtue; this was conftantly exhibited in his writings, and

often