Johnson Papers Online
  • Search
  • Browse
  • My YDJ
    • Private Groups
  • Resources
    • User Guide
    • FAQ
    • Genres
    • Additional Resources
  • About
    • Overview & Editorial Board
    • Collections
    • Publishers
    • News & Updates
RegisterLog In
Multi Doc Viewing Close
CancelOk

Login Required

A personal account is required to access tags, annotations, bookmarks, and all of the other features associated with the My YDJ.

Username: (email address)
Password:
Forgot password?
Log In
  • Register for a personal YDJ account
  • Need help? Contact us
Not registered?
Register for your My YDJ account
Login
Cancel

Your subscription has expired.

Click here to renew your subscription

Once your subscription is renewed, you will receive a new activation code that must be entered before you can log in again

Close
Next Document > < Previous DocumentReturnDedication to Memoirs of Maximilian de Bethune,...
You must login to do that
Cancel
You must login to do that
Cancel
You must login to do that
Cancel
You must login to do that
Cancel
Save to my libraryClose
Dedication to Memoirs of Maximilian de Bethune, Duke of Sully
-or-
Cancel Save
Print Close
(Max. 10 Pages at a time)


By checking this box, I agree to all terms and conditions governing print and/or download of material from this archive.
CancelPrint
Export Annotation Close
CancelExport
Annotation Close
Cancel
Export Citation Close
CancelExport
Citation Close
Cancel
Close
CancelOk
Report Close
Please provide the text of your complaint for the selected annotation


CancelReport
/ -1
Johnson Papers Online
Back to Search
Works of Samuel Johnson
Back to Search
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
< Previous document Next document >
© 2023
Dedication to Memoirs of Maximilian de Bethune, Duke of Sully
    • Export Citation
    • Export Annotation

By Johnson, Samuel

Samuel Johnson: Johnson on Demand

Image view
  • Print
  • Save
  • Share
  • Cite
Translation
Translation
/ 6
  • Print
  • Save
  • Share
  • Cite
Dedication to Memoirs of Maximilian de Bethune,
Duke of Sully (1756)
[Editorial Introduction]
Despite a complicated controversy about the authorship of this work (involving, as often, a confusion between preface and dedication), on stylistic grounds Hazen is “quite certain that this Dedication was furnished by Johnson.” He finds support for his view in the testimony of Thomas Tyers, who knew Johnson at the time, and J. W. Croker, the editor of Boswell’s Life of Johnson in 1831.1 More convincingly, a note in Boswell’s hand on the list


Page 207

of Johnson’s “Fugitive Pieces” given him by Thomas Percy indicates that Anna Williams told Boswell that Johnson was the author of the dedication.2
Lennox’s translation of Sully’s Memoirs was published in three volumes quarto on 8 November 1755 (Hazen, p. 110) but dated 1756. The full title is Memoirs of Maximilian de Bethune, Duke of Sully, Prime Minister to Henry the Great. Containing the History of the Life and Reign of that Monarch, and his own Administration under Him. Translated from the French. To which is added, The Tryal of Ravaillac for the Murder of Henry the Great. Lennox translated a French version of the Memoirs by Pierre Mathurin de L’Écluse des Loges (1716–83) in which he took “the [original] work to pieces, and mould[ed] it anew” (Memoirs, I.vii). The principal figure, Henry IV of France (Henry of Navarre), was a coeval of Queen Elizabeth, born in 1553 and assassinated in 1610 by a mad Catholic extremist named François Ravaillac. Johnson reviewed Lennox’s translation in the Literary Magazine, I, no. VI (1756), 281–82.3 We print Johnson’s review below (p. 209).


Page 208

To the High, Puissant, and Most Noble Prince,
Thomas Holles-Pelham,
Duke of Newcastle, Marquis and Earl of Clare,
Viscount Haughton,
and Baron Pelham of Laughton, and Baronet,
One of His Majesty’s privy-council, Lord Lieutenant and custos rotulorum1 for the counties of Middlesex, Westminster, and Nottingham; steward, keeper, and guardian of the forest of Sherwood, and park of Folewood, in the county of Nottingham; one of the governors of the charter-house, knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, First Lord Commissioner of His Majesty’s treasury, Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, LL.D. and F.R.S.2
My Lord,
Authors are often unfortunate in the choice of their patrons: and works are devoted with great solemnity, to the use of those who cannot use them, and the pleasure of those whom they cannot please.
That I have avoided this impropriety, in dedicating to your Grace these Memoirs of the Duke of Sully, a whole nation, whose affairs you have so long and so happily directed, will bear me witness; but then, I can claim no praise from my own discernment; because I only echo the voice of the people, and address myself, where that leads me.
Though my sex and manner of life make me a stranger to public affairs; I yet discover of myself, that the history I have translated, is not only interesting but important: and that the original author of it was not only well versed in all the prime operations of government, but that he saved a nation by bringing method and order into every branch of her revenues, and administering the whole with the most accurate economy.
A book, thus filled with political wisdom, could be fitly offered only to him, who lays out his whole time and attention, in labours of the same tendency; and for the service of a more free, and therefore a nobler people.
That providence may co-operate with your endeavours; and that your Grace may steer not only safely, but triumphantly, though every difficulty of the present conjuncture, are wishes so natural to all true Britons, that they cannot be thought improper even from a woman, and in this manner. She is, with the profoundest respect,
My Lord,
Your Grace’s most obedient,
and most humble servant,
Charlotte Lennox.
London, Sept. 5, 1755.


Page 209

Review of The Memoirs of the Duke of Sully (1756)
The Memoirs of the Duke de Sully, &c. Translated from the French by Mrs. Lennox.
This translation has been already so well received by the public that we can add little to its reputation by the addition of our suffrage in its favour. But as the copies are about to be multiplied by a cheaper edition;1 it is not yet too late to remark, that those memoirs contain an account of that time in which France first began to assume her superiority in Europe; that they exhibit a nation torn with factions, and plundered by tax-gatherers, rescued by a great king and an honest minister. There can be no age or people to which such a history may not be useful and pleasing, but it must more particularly invite the attention of those who like us are now labouring with the same distresses, and whose duty it is to endeavour at the same relief.
But we live in an age where even profit is recommended in vain if it be not associated with pleasure, we therefore should scarcely solicit for this book the notice of the public, unless we could declare that it has the variety of romance with the truth of history; and that the style of the translation is easy, spritely, and elegant, equally remote from the turgid and the mean.
It is difficult from a narrative well connected to detach a specimen. The following incident is selected only because it may be understood alone, and requires little room, not because it is otherwise preferable to other passages.2
The manner in which Fescamp was surprised is so remarkable, that it well deserves a particular recital here. When this fort was taken by Birona from the league, in the garrison that was turned out of it, there was a


Page 210

gentleman, called Bois-rosé, a man of sense and courage, who making an exact observation of the place,b and having concerted his scheme, contrived to get two soldiers, whom he had bound to his interest, to be received into the new garrison which was put into Fescamp,c by the royalists. That side of the fort next the sea, is a perpendicular rock,d six hundred feet high, the bottom of which, for about the heighte of twelve feet, is continually washed by the sea, except four or five days in the year, during the utmost recess of the sea, whenf for the space of three or four hours, it leaves fifteen or twenty fathom of dry sand at the foot of the rock. Bois-rosé, who found it impossible,g by any other way to surprize a garrisonh who guarded with great care a place lately taken, did not doubt of accomplishing his design, if he could enter by that side,i which was thought inaccessible; this he endeavoured by the following contrivance to perform.
He had agreed upon a signal with the two soldiers,j whom he had corrupted, and one of them waited continually upon the top of the rock, where he posted himself during the whole time that it was low water. Bois-rosé taking the opportunity of a very dark night, camek with fifty resolute men, chosen from amongst the soldiers,l in two large boats, to the foot of the rock. He had provided himself with a thick cable, equal in length to the heightm of the rock, and tying knots at equal distances, run short sticks through, to serve to support them as


Page 211

they climbed. The soldier whom he had gained, having waited six months for the signal, no sooner perceived it, than he let down a cord from the top of the precipice, to which those below fastened the cable, by which means it was wound up to the top, and made fast to an opening in the battlement, with a strong crow,3 run through an iron staple,n made for that purpose. Bois-rosé giving the lead to the two serjeants whose courage he was well convinced of, ordered the fifty soldiers to mount the ladder in the same manner, one after another, with their weapons tied round their bodies, himself bringing up the rear, to take away all hope of returning; which indeed soon became impossible, for before they had ascended half-way,o the sea rising more than six feet, carried off their boats, and set their cable a floating. The necessity of withdrawing from a difficult enterprizep is not always a security against fear, when the danger appears almost inevitable. If the mind represents to itself these fifty men, suspended between heaven and earth, in the midst of darkness;q trusting their safety to a machine so insecure, that the least want of caution, the treachery of a mercenary soldier, or the slightest fear, might precipitate4 them into the abyss of the sea, or dash them against the rocks; add to this, the noise of the waves, the heightr of the rock, their wearinesss and exhausted spirits; it will not appear surprizing,t that the boldest amongst them trembled, as in effect,u he who was foremost did. This serjeant telling


Page 212

the next man,v that he could mount no higher, and that his heart failed him, Bois-rosé, to whom this discourse passed from mouth to mouth, and who perceived the truth of it,w by their advancing no higher, crept over the bodies of those that were before him, advising each to keep firm, and got up to the foremost, whose spirits he at first endeavoured to animate; but finding that gentleness would not prevail, he obliged him to mount by pricking him in the back with his poinard;x andy doubtless, if he had not obeyed him, he would have precipitated him into the sea. At length, with incredible labour and fatigue, the whole troop got to the top of the rock, a little before the break of day, and was introduced by the two soldiers into the castle, where they began to slaughter without mercy the centinels and the whole guard; sleep delivered them up an easy prey to the enemy, who killed all that resisted, and possessed themselves of the fort.
Editorial Notes
1 Hazen, pp. 110–13; Tyers, in Early Biographies, p. 89.
2 Correspondence, p. 5 and n. 26.
3 See Donald D. Eddy, Samuel Johnson, Book Reviewer in the Literary Magazine: or, Universal Review 1756–58 (1979), pp. 56–58.
1 Master of the Rolls (i.e., the titles in chancery), a judicial appointment.
2 Fellow of the Royal Society. When this dedication was written, Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle, was virtually prime minister and had just signed a treaty with Russia to bolster the defenses of Britain against an attack by Frederick the Great, whose life SJ wrote in 1756 (see Yale, XIX.376–422). He resigned his ministry in 1756 but returned to power the next year and leagued together with William Pitt throughout the conduct of the Seven Years’ War (see the entry by Reed Browning in ODNB and Isles, “The Lennox Collection,” XIX.58–60n).
1 The second edition (1757) was five volumes in octavo (Bibliography, I.699–700).
2 SJ quotes from volume I, pp. 266–68. In the textual notes, we record his deviations from Lennox’s text.
a Byron Lennox
b of the place he left, Lennox
c Fescamp^ Lennox
d next the sea^ is a perpendicular rock^ Lennox
e heighth Lennox
f when, Lennox
g impossible^ Lennox
h garrison, Lennox
i side^ Lennox
j soldiers^ Lennox
k came, Lennox
l sailors, Lennox
m heighth Lennox
3 Crow: “A piece of iron used as a lever; as the Latins called a hook corvus” (Dictionary).
n with a strong crow^ run through an iron staple^ Lennox
o half way, Lennox
p enterprise Lennox
q darkness, Lennox
4 To precipitate: “To throw headlong” (Dictionary).
r heighth Lennox
s weariness, Lennox
t surprising^ Lennox
u effect^ Lennox
v man^ Lennox
w it^ Lennox
x poignard; Lennox
y and, Lennox
Transcription
/ 0
  • Print
  • Save
  • Share
  • Cite
           
Document Details
Document TitleDedication to Memoirs of Maximilian de Bethune, Duke of Sully
AuthorJohnson, Samuel
Creation DateN/A
Publ. DateN/A
Alt. TitleN/A
Contrib. AuthorLennox, Charlotte
ClassificationSubject: Novel; Subject: Thomas Holles-Pelham; Subject: Woman authors; Subject: Women; Genre: Dedication
PrinterN/A
PublisherAndrew Millar and Robert & James Dodsley
Publ. PlaceLondon
VolumeSamuel Johnson: Johnson on Demand
Tags
Annotations
Bookmarks
Dedication to Memoirs ...
Copy this link: Hide
[Editorial Introduction]
Copy this link: Hide
To the High, Puissant,...
Copy this link: Hide
Review of The Memoirs ...
Copy this link: Hide
Editorial Notes
Copy this link: Hide

  • Yale
  • Terms & Conditions
    |
  • Privacy Policy & Data Protection
    |
  • Contact
    |
  • Accesssibility
    |
  • (C) 2014 Yale University