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  • 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]
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  • 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]
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  • PROPOSALS For Printing every Fortnight, (Price Sixpence) THE PUBLISHER: CONTAINING MISCELLANIES In PROSE and VERSE. Collected by J. CROKATT, Bookseller.
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  • Some Remarks on the Progress of Learning Since the Reformation
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  • Postscript to Lauder’s Essay on Milton’s Use and Imitation of the Moderns
  • A Letter to the Reverend Mr. Douglas
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  • Letter Concerning the Benefit Performance of Comus for Milton's Granddaughter
  • Proposals for printing by subscription, Essays in Verse and Prose.
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  • Preface to Richard Rolt, A New Dictionary of Trade and Commerce
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  • Petition of Mrs. Mary Dodd to the Queen
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  • 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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© 2023
Letter Concerning the Benefit Performance of Comus for Milton's Granddaughter
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By Johnson, Samuel

Samuel Johnson: Johnson on Demand

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LETTER CONCERNING THE BENEFIT PERFORMANCE OF COMUS FOR MILTON’S GRANDDAUGHTER (1750)
[Editorial Introduction]
Johnson’s postscript to William Lauder’s Essay on Milton’s Use and Imitation of the Moderns, reprinted in the Gentleman’s Magazine, was largely an appeal for a subscription for Milton’s granddaughter, Elizabeth Foster (see p. 146 above). The appeal, made in late 1749 and early 1750, was followed by a letter, written by Johnson, published in the General Advertiser on 4 April 1750. On 5 April, there was a benefit performance of Comus for Elizabeth Foster, with a prologue by Johnson spoken by David Garrick (see Yale, VI.239–41).
The letter was first reprinted and attributed to Johnson, probably by Isaac Reed, in the European Magazine, VII (1785), 11–12. It was reprinted in the same year by William Cooke (Early Biographies, 50, 105) and in 1788 in Works (XIV.123–24). Boswell also printed the letter in Life (I.227–28).1
[Letter Concerning the Benefit Performance]
Sir,
That a certain Degree of reputation is acquired merely by approving the works of genius, and testifying a regard to the memory of the Authors, is a truth too evident to be denied; and therefore to ensure a participation of fame, with a celebrated poet, many who would perhaps have contributed to starve him when alive, have heaped expensive pageants upon his grave.1
It must indeed be confess’d, that this method of becoming known to posterity, with honour, is peculiar to the great, or at least to the wealthy; but an opportunity now offers for almost every individual to secure the praise of paying a just regard to


Page 199

the illustrious dead; united with the pleasure of doing good to the living. To assist industrious indigence struggling with distress, and debilitated by age, is a display of virtue, and an acquisition of happiness and honour.
Whoever, then, would be thought capable of pleasure in reading the works of our incomparable Milton, and not so destitute of gratitude as to refuse to lay out a trifle in a rational and elegant entertainment for the benefit of his living remains, for the exercise of their own virtue, the increase of their reputation, and the pleasing consciousness of doing good, should appear at Drury-Lane Theatre to-morrow, April 5, when Comus will be perform’d for the benefit of Mrs. Elizabeth Foster, grand-daughter to the author, and the only surviving branch of his family.
N.B. There will be a new prologue on the occasion written by the author of Irene, and spoken by Mr. Garrick; and by (particular desire) there will be added to the masque, a dramatic satyr call’d Lethe, in which Mr. Garrick will perform.2


Page 200

Editorial Notes
1 The bibliographical information is in Hazen (p. 78) and Bibliography, I.318.
1 As the editors of Life note (I.227, n. 3), SJ recalls Pope’s Epistle to Arbuthnot: “But still the great have kindness in reserve, / He helped to bury whom he helped to starve” (ll. 247–48).
2 Garrick’s play, first published in 1745 as Lethe, or Esop in the Shades, was republished in 1749 as Lethe. A Dramatick Satire.
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Document Details
Document TitleLetter Concerning the Benefit Performance of Comus for Milton's Granddaughter
AuthorJohnson, Samuel
Creation DateN/A
Publ. DateN/A
Alt. TitleN/A
Contrib. AuthorN/A
ClassificationSubject: Charity; Subject: Milton; Subject: Elizabeth Foster; Subject: Garrick; Genre: Advertisement; Genre: Letter
PrinterN/A
PublisherN/A
Publ. PlaceLondon
VolumeSamuel Johnson: Johnson on Demand
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