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Johnson Papers Online
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Works of Samuel Johnson
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Table of Contents
  • Audiet Pugnas vitio Parentum / Rara Juventus. Hor: Young men—the few who are left after the crimes of their fathers—will hear of battles. [School and College Latin Exercises]
  • Bonae leges ex malis moribus proveniunt: Good laws spring from bad habits [School and College Latin Exercises]
  • Malos tueri haud tutum: Save a thief from the gallows and he’ll cut your throat [School and College Latin Exercises]
  • Quis enim virtutem amplectitur ipsam Praemia si tollas?: For who embraces virtue herself, if you take away the reward? [School and College Latin Exercises]
  • Adjecere bonae paulo plus artis Athenae: Kind Athens Added a Little More Skill [School and College Latin Exercises]
  • Mea nec Falernae Temperant Vites, neque Formiani Pocula Colles: Neither Falernian vines nor Formian hills mellow my cups [School and College Latin Exercises]
  • Scheme for the Classes of a Grammar School
  • Advertisement for the School at Edial
  • Observations on Common Sense
  • Preface to the 1738 Volume of the Gentleman’s Magazine
  • Letter to the Gentleman's Magazine on Political Journalism
  • Appeal to the Publick
  • To the Reader. [Gentleman’s Magazine]
  • Considerations on the case of Dr T.—s Sermons abridg’d by Mr Cave
  • The Jests of Hierocles
  • Preface to the 1741 Volume of the Gentleman's Magazine
  • Review of An Account of the Conduct of the Dowager Duchess of Marlborough
  • Proposals for Printing, by Subscription, the Two First Volumes of Bibliotheca Harleiana
  • An Account of the Harleian Library
  • Notice in Volume Two of Catalogus Bibliothecae Harleianae
  • Proposals for Printing, by Subscription, the Harleian Miscellany with An Account of this Undertaking
  • Introduction to the Harleian Miscellany: An Essay on the Origin and Importance of Small Tracts and Fugitive Pieces
  • Preface to the 1742 Volume of the Gentleman’s Magazine
  • Dedication for Robert James's Medicinal Dictionary
  • Preface to the 1743 Volume of the Gentleman’s Magazine
  • PROPOSALS For Printing every Fortnight, (Price Sixpence) THE PUBLISHER: CONTAINING MISCELLANIES In PROSE and VERSE. Collected by J. CROKATT, Bookseller.
  • Proposals for Printing Anchitell Grey's Debates
  • Some Remarks on the Progress of Learning Since the Reformation
  • Proposals for Printing by Subscription Hugonis Grotii Adamus Exul
  • Postscript to Lauder’s Essay on Milton’s Use and Imitation of the Moderns
  • A Letter to the Reverend Mr. Douglas
  • Preface to The Preceptor
  • The signification of WORDS how varied
  • Letter Concerning the Benefit Performance of Comus for Milton's Granddaughter
  • Proposals for printing by subscription, Essays in Verse and Prose.
  • Notice of The life of Harriot Stuart
  • Dedication to The Female Quixote
  • Dedication to Memoirs of Maximilian de Bethune, Duke of Sully
  • Dedication to Philander
  • Dedication to The Greek Theatre of Father Brumoy
  • Dedication to Henrietta, 2nd Ed.
  • Proposals for Printing by Subscription The Original Works of Mrs. Charlotte Lennox
  • Letter to the Daily Advertiser concerning James Crokatt
  • Preface to A General Index of the First Twenty Volumes of the Gentleman's Magazine
  • Preface to the 1753 Volume of the Gentleman’s Magazine
  • An Account of an Attempt to Ascertain the Longitude by Sea, by an Exact Theory of the Variation of the Magnetical Needle
  • Dedication and Preface to An Introduction to the Game of Draughts (1756)
  • Dedication to An Introduction to Geometry (1767)
  • Preface to Richard Rolt, A New Dictionary of Trade and Commerce
  • Reflections on the Present State of Literature
  • TO THE PUBLIC
  • Review of John Armstrong, The History of the Island of Minorca (1756)
  • Review of Stephen White, Collateral Bee-Boxes (1756)
  • Review of Thomas Birch, The History of the Royal Society, vols. 1–2 (1756)
  • Review of Arthur Murphy, The Gray’s-Inn Journal, 2 vols. (1756)
  • Review of Joseph Warton, An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Pope (1756)
  • Review of James Hampton, The General History of Polybius (1756)
  • Review of Thomas Blackwell, Memoirs of the Court of Augustus (1753–56)
  • Review of Alexander Russell, The Natural History of Aleppo (1756)
  • Review of Four Letters from Newton to Bentley (1756)
  • Review of William Borlase, Observations on the Islands of Scilly (1756)
  • Review of Archibald Bower, Affidavit (1756); John Douglas, Six Letters and Review of Mr. Bower’s Answer (1757); and John Douglas, Bower and Tillemont Compared (1757)
  • Review of Francis Home, Experiments on Bleaching (1756)
  • Review of Stephen Hales, An Account of a Useful Discovery (1756)
  • Review of Charles Lucas, An Essay on Waters (1756)
  • Review of Robert Keith, A Large New Catalogue of the Bishops (1756)
  • Review of Patrick Browne, The Civil and Natural History of Jamaica (1756)
  • Review of Charles Parkin, An Impartial Account of the Invasion under William Duke of Normandy (1756)
  • Review of A Scheme for Preventing a Further Increase of the National Debt (1756)
  • Review of Conferences and Treaties (1756)
  • Review of Philosophical Transactions (1756)
  • Review of Richard Lovett, The Subtil Medium Prov’d (1756)
  • Review of Benjamin Hoadley and Benjamin Wilson, Observations on a Series of Electrical Experiments (1756)
  • Review of Johann Georg Keyssler, Travels (1756)
  • Review of Elizabeth Harrison, Miscellanies (1756)
  • Review of Jonas Hanway, A Journal of Eight Days Journey (1757)
  • Review of Jonas Hanway, A Journal of Eight Days Journey, Second Edition (1757)
  • Reply to a Letter from Jonas Hanway in the Gazetteer (1757)
  • Review of Samuel Bever, The Cadet (1756)
  • Review of the Test and Con-Test (1756)
  • Review of William Whitehead, Elegies (1757)
  • Review of A Letter to a Gentleman in the Country on the Death of Admiral Byng (1757)
  • Preliminary Discourse in the London Chronicle
  • Advertisement for Francis Barber in the Daily Advertiser
  • "Dedication to John Lindsay, Evangelical History of Our Lord Jesus Christ Harmonized
  • Introduction to the Universal Chronicle (1758)
  • Of the Duty of a Journalist (1758)
  • Advertisement Against Unauthorized Reprints of the Idler (1759)
  • Advertisement for the Public Ledger in the Universal Chronicle (1760)
  • To The Public in the Public Ledger (1760)
  • The Weekly Correspondent Number I [Public Ledger]
  • The Weekly Correspondent Number II [Public Ledger]
  • The Weekly Correspondent Number III [Public Ledger]
  • Preface to J. Elmer, Tables of Weights and Prices
  • From The Italian Library Containing an Account of the Lives and Works of the most valuable authors of Italy (1757)
  • Proposals for Printing by Subscription, Le Poesie di Giuseppe Baretti (1758)
  • Dedication to A Dictionary of the English and Italian Languages (1760)
  • Preface to Easy Phraseology, for the Use of Young Ladies Who Intend to Learn the Colloquial Part of the Italian Language (1775)
  • Advertisement [For The World Displayed]
  • Introduction (1759) [From The World Displayed]
  • Advertisement for Pilgrim's Progress
  • Letter I. [Daily Gazetteer]
  • Letter II. [Daily Gazetteer]
  • Letter III. [Daily Gazetteer]
  • Letter to the Society of Arts (26 February 1760)
  • Letter to the Society of Arts (8 December 1760)
  • Address of the Painter’s, Sculptors, &Architects to George III (1761)
  • Preface to A Catalogue of the Pictures, Sculptures, Models, Drawings, Prints, &c Exhibited by the Society of Artists of Great-Britain at the Great Room in Spring Gardens Charing Cross May the 17th Anno 1762 Being the Third year of their Exhibition (1762)
  • Review of William Tytler, Historical and Critical Enquiry into the Evidence Produced … Against Mary Queen of Scots
  • Contributions to John Kennedy, A Complete System of Astronomical Chronology, Unfolding the Scriptures
  • Proposals and Advertisement [for Anna Williams, Miscellanies in Prose and Verse] (1762)
  • Advertisement [for Anna Williams, Miscellanies in Prose and Verse] (1766)
  • Dedication to Jerusalem Delivered (1763)
  • Dedication to The Works of Metastasio (1767)
  • Dedication to Cyrus: A Tragedy (1768)
  • Review of Oliver Goldsmith, The Traveller
  • Dedication for Thomas Percy, Reliques of Ancient English Poetry
  • 23 Sept. 1765 [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • 1–4 Oct. 1765. [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • 20 Nov. 1765. [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • 19 Dec. 1765. [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • 24 December 1765 [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • 3 March 1768 [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • 8 March 1768 [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • 14 March 1768 [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • 23 March 1768 [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • 23 March 1768 [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • 13 March 1769 [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • 1 October 1774 [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • 4 October 1774 [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • 13 October 1774 [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • 4 September 1780 [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • 4 September 1780 [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • 5 Sept. 1780 [Political Writing for Henry Thrale]
  • Dedication for George Adams, A Treatise Describing and Explaining the Construction and Use of New Celestial and Terrestrial Globes
  • Dedication to John Gwynn, London and Westminster Improved
  • Preface to Alexander MacBean, A Dictionary of Ancient Geography
  • Meditation on a Pudding
  • Hereford Infirmary Appeal
  • Dedication for A General History of Music (1776)
  • From A General History of Music, Vol. II (1782)
  • Dedication to An Account of the Musical Performance . . . in Commemoration of Handel (1785)
  • Advertisement for the Spectator
  • Dedication to Zachary Pearce, A Commentary, with Notes, on the Four Evangelists and the Acts of the Apostles
  • Letter of 16 May 1777
  • The Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common Council Assembled, Friday 6 June 1777
  • Letter to Lord Bathurst, the Lord Chancellor, 8 June 1777
  • Letter to William Murray, First Earl of Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice, Wednesday, 11 June 1777
  • Petition of Mrs. Mary Dodd to the Queen
  • Dodd’s Letter to the King, Sunday, 22 June 1777
  • Petition of William Dodd to the King, Monday, 23 June 1777
  • Dodd’s Last Solemn Declaration, Wednesday, 25 June 1777
  • Johnson’s Observations on the Propriety of Pardoning William Dodd, Wednesday, 25 June 1777
  • Introduction and Conclusion to Occasional Papers (1777)
  • Proposal for Printing William Shaw, An Analysis of the Scotch Celtic Language
  • Dedication to Sir Joshua Reynolds, Seven Discourses
  • Preface to Thomas Maurice, Oedipus Tyrannus
  • The Case of Collier v. Flint
  • Translation of Sallust, De Bello Catilinario
  • General Rules of the Essex Head Club
  • On the Character and Duty of an Academick
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Bonae leges ex malis moribus proveniunt: Good laws spring from bad habits [School and College Latin Exercises]
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By Johnson, Samuel

Samuel Johnson: Johnson on Demand

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Bonae leges ex malis moribus proveniunt
Good laws spring from bad habits [School and College Latin Exercises]
This exercise, written on both sides, was also handed down in the Congreve family (Bodleian MS Eng. lett. c.275, f. 29; Handlist I, no. 4). The manuscripts of this and the two following exercises are very similar. Each is written on both sides of a sheet of paper measuring around sixteen by twelve centimeters; the headings—the assigned topics—are in Johnson’s hand, and are separated from the text by a decorative line of short, curved dashes stretching across the page;1 the signatures at the end, a somewhat florid “Sam: Johnson,’’ are similar, and conclude with a Z-shaped flourish of the pen. Presumably all three come from around the same period at Lichfield Grammar School. The source of the theme is Macrobius, Saturnalia 3.17.10, where it is billed as an old saying.2 Johnson began reading Macrobius early in life. On the evening of his arrival at Pembroke College, 31 October 1728, according to Dr. Adams, Johnson “behaved modestly, and sat silent, till upon something which occurred in the course of conversation, he suddenly struck in and quoted Macrobius; and thus he gave the first impression of that more extensive reading in which he had indulged himself” (Life, I.59).3 In his library at the time of his death was Arnold Haldren’s edition of Macrobius’s works (1521; see Greene, p. 80). This particular sentence in Macrobius, however, was well known. It even appeared in Sententiae pueriles Anglo-Latinae . . . Sentences for Children, English and Latin, compiled by Leonard Culman (1723; p. 33).


Page 5

Leges, quaecunquea omnibus seculis per terrarum orbem latae sunt, iisdem criminibus, quibus supplicia decernunt, debent originem. Dum, Saturno regnante, omnes justum ul- trò coluerunt, nullae leges erant, nulli Judi- ces. Quando vero impietas humanum genus invasit necesse erat, ut quisque se alieni regno adjungeret, et forma gubernandi institueretur. Hoc fonte omnia jura deri- vantur; Hinc Regale imperium deducitur. Olim enim Mortales ne nimis contagiob sceleris emanaret, sese cuidam virtute insigni summiserunt, qui civium libidines pra- vas coerceret. Nisi crimina perpatrata1 essent nemo contra illa leges sanciret. Si vitia inter populum regnant, Si Rex cum solium ascendit gentem multis flagitiis quae nulla statuta inhibuerunt immersosc,2 repe- rit, novis consultis restinguenda sunt. hi unius seculi mores corrupti,d forsan ad sequentis innocentiam multum condu- cant. Nihil fere est quod cum malis ef- fectibus non bonos etiam trahit; Scelus quo nihil certius aut citius, nisi cohibeatur, reipublicae exitium inducit, legum uti- lissimarum parens est. Romani olim nullam legem in parricidium tulerunt quippe qui putârunt neminem adeò esse improbum, ut paterno sanguine manus imbueret, quo crimine a quodam patrato poenam gravissimame excogitârunt.


Page 6

Whatever laws have been made throughout the earth in all ages owe their origin to the very crimes for which they decree punishments. When, in the reign of Saturn, everyone voluntarily practiced what is right, there were no laws, no judges. But when impiety invaded the human race, it was necessary for each one to place himself under the rule of another, and for a form of government to be instituted. From this source all laws are derived; from this is drawn the authority of a king. For in the past, lest too much contagion of wickedness should spread abroad, men submitted themselves to someone of eminent virtue, who would curb the evil desires of the people. If crimes had not been perpetrated, no one would have made laws against them. If vices reign among a people, if a king, on ascending the throne, finds a society steeped in many vices which no statutes have restrained, they have to be put down by new decrees. This corrupt behavior of one age perhaps conduces greatly to the innocence of the next. There is almost nothing which, along with bad effects, does not also bring good ones; a crime which, if not restrained, will most surely and rapidly bring about the downfall of a nation is the parent of most useful laws. In early times the Romans made no law against parricide, since they thought indeed that no one would be so wicked as to dip his hands in a father’s blood, and for this crime, when committed by someone, they devised the heaviest of punishments.3
Editorial Notes
1 These dashes appear in the next two exercises, and in Handlist I, nos. 3, 6, 8, and 10, all believed to date from 1725–26.
2 vetus verbum est: leges bonae ex malis moribus procreantur. “There’s an old saying: bad habits produce good laws” (ed. and trans. Robert A. Kaster, 3 vols. [2011], II.124–25).
3 In his MS, Boswell wrote, “Macrobius. They wondered that a schoolboy should know Macrobius,” but the clause was accidentally excluded (Manuscript Life, I.38 and n. 8).
a [alq[cunque]] <quaecunque>
b [infectio] <contagio>
1 A misspelling of perpetrata.
c [invasos] <immersos>
2 Neither immersos nor invasos, which SJ wrote first, agrees grammatically with gentem, as one would expect.
d [depravati] <corrupti>
e [vix] poenam [sat gravem poterant] <gravissimam>
3 Cf. Rambler 148: “It was for a long time imagined by the Romans, that no son could be the murderer of his father, and they had therefore no punishment appropriated to parricide” (Yale, IV.23). From c. 50 BCE, parricide was distinguished from other forms of manslaughter and assigned a terrible capital punishment. The convict was put inside a bag with various animals and thrown into the water. Parricidium was a key legal term in much earlier Roman times, but its precise meaning is disputed (Brill’s New Pauly, s.v. Parricidium).
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Document Details
Document TitleBonae leges ex malis moribus proveniunt: Good laws spring from bad habits [School and College Latin Exercises]
AuthorJohnson, Samuel
Creation DateN/A
Publ. DateN/A
Alt. TitleN/A
Contrib. AuthorBrack, O. M.; DeMaria, Jr., Robert
ClassificationSubject: Latin exercises; Subject: Themes; Subject: Macrobius; Subject: Law; Subject: Legal; Subject: Crime; Subject: Justice; Subject: Rome; Genre: Exercises
PrinterN/A
PublisherYale University Press
Publ. PlaceNew Haven
VolumeSamuel Johnson: Johnson on Demand
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