296 CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF DR. JOHNSON'S WORKS. 1750. "The Rambler," the first Paper of which was published 20th of March this year, and the last 17th of March, 1752, the day on which Mrs. Johnson died.*1 Letter in "The General Advertiser" to excite the attention of the Public to the performance of " Comus," which was next day to be acted at Drury-lane Playhouse for the benefit of Milton's Grand-daughter.* Preface and Postscript to Lauder's Pamphlet, entitled, "An Essay on Milton's Use and Imitation of the Moderns in his Paradise Lost."* 1751. Life of Cheynel, in the Miscellany called "The Student."* Letter for Lauder, addressed to the Rev. Dr. John Douglas, acknowledg- Dedication to the Earl of Middlesex, of Mrs. Charlotte Lennox's "Female 1753. Dedication to John, Earl of Orrery, of Shakspeare Illustrated, by Mrs. Charlotte Lennox.* During this and the following year he wrote and gave to his much-loved friend Dr. Bathurst, the Papers in "The Adventurer," signed T.* 1754. Life of Edward Cave in "The Gentleman's Magazine.' 1755. A Dictionary, with a Grammar and History of the English Language.* An Account of an Attempt to ascertain the Longitude at Sea, by an exact Theory of the Variations of the Magnetical Needle, with a Table of the Variations at the most remarkable Cities in Europe, from the year 1660 to 1860.* This he wrote for Mr. Zachariah Williams, an ingenious ancient Welsh Gentleman, father of Mrs. Ann Williams, whom he for many years kindly lodged in his house. It was published with a Translation into Italian by Signor Baretti. In a Copy of it, which he presented to the Bodleian Library at Oxford, is pasted a character of the late Mr. Zachariah Williams, plainly written by Johnson.+ 1756. An Abridgment of his Dictionary.* Several Essays in "The Universal Visitor," which there is some difficulty 'An Essay on Architecture:" and confident that he wrote "Further Thoughts on Agriculture," and "A Dissertation on the State of Literature and Authors." The Dissertation on the Epitaphs written by Pope he afterwards acknowledged, and added to his "Idler." Life of Sir T. Browne, prefixed to a new edition of his Christian Morals.* IN THE LITERARY MAGAZINE, OR UNIVERSAL REVIEW, Which began in January, 1756, his Original Essays are, The Preliminary Address. + An Introduction to the Political State of Great Britain.+ Remarks on the Militia Bill.+ This is a mistake. The last number of "The Rambler" appeared on the fourteenth of March, three days before Mrs. Johnson died.--MALONE. CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF DR. JOHNSON'S WORKS. 297 Observations on his Britannic Majesty's Treaties with the Empress of Russia and the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel.+ In the same Magazine his Reviews are of the following books: Mrs. Lennox's "Translation of Sully's Memoirs."-"Letter on the Case Mr. Jonas Hanway having written an angry Answer to the Review of his Dedication to the Earl of Rochford of, and Preface to Mr. Payne's Introduction to the Game of Draughts.* Introduction to "The London Chronicle," an evening paper which still subsists with deserved credit.* 1757. Speech on the subject of an Address to the Throne after the Expedition to Rochefort, delivered by one of his friends in some public meeting. It is printed in "The Gentleman's Magazine" for October, 1785.+ The first two paragraphs of the Preface to Sir William Chambers's Designs of Chinese Buildings, &c.* 1758. "The Idler," which began April 5, in this year, and was continued till April 5, 1760.* An Essay on the Bravery of the English Common Soldiers was added to it when published in volumes.* 1759. Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia, a Tale.* Advertisement for the Proprietors of "The Idler" against certain persons For Mrs. Charlotte Lennox's English Version of Brumoy,—“ A Disser- 4 s 298 CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF DR. JOHNSON'S WORKS. Three letters in "The Gazetteer," concerning the best plan for Blackfriars Bridge.* 1760. Address of the Painters to George III. on his Accession to the Throne.+ Dedication of Baretti's Italian and English Dictionary to the Marq. of Abreu, then Envoy-Extraordinary from Spain at the Court of Great Britain. + Review in "The Gentleman's Magazine," of M. Tytler's acute and able Vindication of Mary Queen of Scots.* Introduction to the proceedings of the Committee for Clothing the 1761. Preface to "Rolt's Dictionary of Trade and Commerce."* Corrections and Improvements for Mr. Gwyn, the Architect's Pamphlet, entitled, "Thoughts on the Coronation of George III."* 1762. Dedication to the King, of the Rev. Dr. Kennedy's "Complete System of Astronomical Chronology, unfolding the Scriptures,” 4to. edition.* Preface to the Catalogue of the Artists' Exhibition.+ 1763. Character of Collins in "The Poetical Calendar," published by Fawkes and Woty.* Dedication to the Earl of Shaftesbury of the edition of Roger Ascham's The Life of Ascham, also prefixed to that edition.* Review of "Telemachus," a Masque, by the Rev. George Graham, of Dedication to the Queen, of Mr. "Hoole's Translation of Tasso."* Account of the Detection of the Imposture of the Cock-lane Ghost, published in the Newspapers and "Gentleman's Magazine.' 1764. Part of a Review of Grainger's "Sugar Cane, a Poem," in "The London Chronicle."* Review of Goldsmith's "Traveller, a Poem," in "The Critical Review.”* 1765. The Plays of William Shakspeare, in eight volumes, 8vo., with Notes.* 1766. "The Fountains, a Fairy Tale," in Mrs. Williams's Miscellanies.* 1767. Dedication to the King, of Mr. Adams's "Treatise on the Globes." 1769. Character of the Rev. Mr. Zach. Mudge, in "The London Chronicle.' 1770. The False Alarm.* 1771. Thoughts on the late Transactions respecting Falkland's Islands.* 1772. Defence of a Schoolmaster; dictated to me for the House of Lords," Argument in support of the Law of Vicious Intromission; dictated to me for the Court of Session in Scotland.* 1773. Preface to Macbean's "Dictionary of Ancient Geography." Argument in Favour of the Rights of Lay Patrons; dictated to me for the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.* 1774. The Patriot.* 1775. A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland.* Proposals for publishing the Works of Mrs. Charlotte Lennox, in three volumes quarto.* Preface to Baretti's Easy Lessons in Italian and English.+ Taxation no Tyranny; an answer to the Resolutions and Address of the Argument on the Case of Dr. Memis; dictated to me for the Court of CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF DR. JOHNSON'S WORKS. 299 Argument to prove that the Corporation of Stirling was corrupt; dictated to me for the House of Lords.* 1776. Argument in Support of the Right of immediate and personal Reprehension from the Pulpit; dictated to me.* Proposals for publishing an Analysis of the Scotch Celtic Language, by the Reverend William Shaw.* 1777. Dedication to the King of the Posthumous Works of Dr. Pearce, Bishop of Rochester.* Additions to the Life and Character of that Prelate; prefixed to those Various Papers and Letters in Favour of the Reverend Dr. Dodd. 1780. Advertisement for his friend Mr. Thrale to the Worthy Electors of the Borough of Southwark.* The first Paragraph of Mr. Thomas Davies's Life of Garrick.* 1781. Prefaces, Biographical and Critical, to the Works of the most eminent English Poets; afterwards published with the Title of the Lives of the English Poets.* Argument on the Importance of the Registration of Deeds; dictated to me for an Election Committee of the House of Commons.* On the Distinction between Tory and Whig; dictated to me.* On Vicarious Punishments, and the great Propitiation for the Sins of the 66 Argument in favour of Joseph Knight, an African Negro, who claimed 1782. The greatest part, if not the whole, of a Reply, by the Reverend Mr. Shaw, to a person at Edinburgh, of the name of Clarke, refuting his arguments for the authenticity of the Poems published by Mr. James Macpherson as Translations from Ossian.+ 1784. List of the Authors of the Universal History, deposited in the British Museum, and printed in "The Gentleman's Magazine" for December, this year.* VARIOUS YEARS. Letters to Mrs. Thrale.* Prayers and Meditations, which he delivered to the Rev. Mr. Strahan, enjoining him to publish them.* Sermons, left for publication by John Taylor, LL.D. Prebendary of Westminster, and given to the World by the Rev. Samuel Hayes, A.M.+1 1 To this List of the Writings of Dr. Johnson, Mr. Alexander Chalmers, with considerable probability, suggests to me that we may add the following: IN THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. 1747. Lauder's Proposals for printing " The Adamus Exul" of Grotius, vol. xx. p. 404. 300 CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF DR. JOHNSON'S WORKS. Such was the number and variety of the prose works of this extraordinary man, which I have been able to discover, and am at liberty to mention; but we ought to keep in mind, that there must undoubtedly have been many more which are yet concealed; and we may add to the account the numerous Letters which he wrote, of which a considerable art are yet unpublished. It is hoped that those persons in whose possession they are will favour the world with them. JAMES BOSWELL. 1750. Address to the Public, concerning Miss Williams's Miscellanies, vol. xx. p. 428. 1753. Preface. 1756. Notice of Mr. Edward Cave's death, inserted in the last page of the Index. IN THE LITERARY MAGAZINE. Observations on the foregoing Letter;" i.e., A Letter on the American Colonies, vol. i. p. 66.—MALONE.. HECA THE END. |