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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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© 2023
Preface to A General Index of the First Twenty Volumes of the Gentleman's Magazine
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By Johnson, Samuel

Samuel Johnson: Johnson on Demand

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PREFACE TO A GENERAL INDEX OF THE FIRST TWENTY VOLUMES OF THE GENTLEMAN’S MAGAZINE (1753)
[Editorial Introduction]
In a note in the life of the scholar Louis Morin (1741), Johnson reacts to the enthusiastic wonder of a previous biographer concerning Morin’s ability as an indexer: “Are not indexes daily written by men who neither receive nor expect very loud applauses for their labours?” (Yale, XIX.200n). Johnson knew Grubstreet hacks, such as George Psalmanazar, who made a living indexing when they could not find better work. Perhaps he even knew Edward Kimber (1719–69), the novelist and translator, who prepared an index for the first twenty volumes of the Gentleman’s Magazine. Despite the fact that Edward’s father Isaac was the compiler of the London Magazine, the Gentleman’s Magazine’s principal rival, the index was published by Edward Cave in 1753. (Edward Kimber took over for his father when he died in 1755 and indexed the London Magazine a few years later.)1 Whether or not he knew Kimber, Johnson was well prepared to write this preface since he had been the de facto editor of the Gentleman’s Magazine for several of the years covered in the index, 1738–45.2 L. F. Powell brought this work into the Johnsonian canon and pointed out that a revised version appeared in Samuel Ayscough’s General Index to Fifty-Six Volumes of the Gentleman’s Magazine from its commencement in the year 1731 to the end of 1786 (1789; rpt., 1818).3 The changes in the revision, of course, are not Johnson’s, and our text comes directly from the rare 1753 Index, with thanks to Gerald Goldberg for lending us his copy.


Page 223

The Preface
The utility of a general index, to so mixt a work as the Gentleman’s Magazine, when by the indulgence of the publick it has increased to above twenty volumes, is too evident to be questioned; and we therefore hope that we are now making some return to our friends, however unequal, for the favours which we have received; for not to be able to find what we know to be in our possession, is a more vexatious circumstance than the mere want of what we have neglected to procure.
But this index will not only assist the forgetful and direct the inquisitive; it will enable those who read for higher purposes than mere amusement, to class many subjects which our extensive plan has included, and to bring together much useful knowledge in theology, morality, politics, commerce, mathematicks and philosophy.
By this index our historical chronicle may be reduced to the most regular, as it has recorded the most authentic account of all the publick events that have happened during the reign of his present majesty; of these events the chain will be unbroken, and the chronology perfect; nor is there any period in which publick events have been more numerous or more important. For since the commencement of our volumes two wars by which almost all the known world was in some degree affected, have been begun and concluded.1 The views, the powers, and the interest of every state in Europe have been necessarily discovered, by the part which they appear to have taken in the quarrel, the changes which they have suffered in the contest, and the obligations they have incurred by treaty. With respect to our own country, the deep and extensive designs of a statesman, as able perhaps as any that ever existed, and the opposition that was inflexibly maintained against him, have produced such a series of argumentation as has comprized all political science, and ascertained the right of the crown and the privileges of the people, so as for ever to prevent their being confounded in the cause


Page 224

either of tyranny or of faction.2 This period will be render’d still more remarkable in English history by a rebellion, which was not less contemptible in its beginning than threatening in its progress and consequences; but which, through the favour of providence, was crushed at once, when our enemies abroad had the highest expectations from it, and has contributed to our greater security.3
By the list of names, which in this work are alphabetically digested, all the changes which have been produced in every family, that is not too obscure to raise curiosity, may be traced either by marriages, births, deaths, or promotion, with ease and perspicuity. The general index to the books, is a complete catalogue of the books and pamphlets that have been publish’d during the last twenty years, and this will be thought of yet greater utility by the literati, when they are informed that by turning to the volume in which any book is registered they will be able to find the original price, and the name of the person for whom it was printed, for when this is not known, the booksellers themselves frequently find it difficult to execute the orders of their correspondents.
But this index, tho’ it was principally intended for those who have compleat setts of the magazine, may yet be of great advantage to others. The larger figures shew the volume, and correspond with the last figures in the date of the year.4 As this will be easily remember’d, the time of any remarkable event of whatever kind may be nearly ascertained: for the event being found in the index, the year will be known by the number of the vol. referred to, and as every month contains about 50 pages, by noting the number of the page, the month may also be guess’d with a good degree of accuracy; it will


Page 225

therefore be as useful a common-place book5 for these purposes as any extant. As to the work itself it is an index, and to the perfection of an index little more is necessary than can be produced by diligence and labour; we may therefore affirm without the imputation of vanity, that we know of but one way by which it can be improved, the communication of such errors as shall be found upon inspection, by those to whom it owes its existence; a favour which we earnestly request, and shall study to deserve.
The Miscellaneous Correspondence, consisting of pieces sent for the magazine, an index to it is annexed at the desire of some contributors.6


Page 226

Editorial Notes
1 See ODNB, Bibliography, I.399, and A Ledger of Charles Ackers, Printer of The London Magazine, ed. D. F. McKenzie and J. C. Ross (1968), pp. 14–15.
2 Life, I.532, cited by L. F. Powell, “An Addition to the Canon of Johnson’s Writings,” Essays and Studies by Members of the English Association, XXVIII (1942), collected by R. W. Chapman (1943), 38–41: 38, n. 2.
3 Ibid. Powell reprints the preface, noting its differences from the revision.
1 The War with Spain, begun in 1739, and the larger War of the Austrian Succession, 1740–48, concluded by the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle.
2 SJ refers to Robert Walpole (1676–1745) and the GM’s recording of the debates in Parliament, many of which SJ contributed; see Yale, XI–XIII, passim.
3 The insurrection by Charles Edward, the Young Pretender (1720–88), grandson of James II, encouraged the French to consider an invasion, but the rebellion was “crushed” at Culloden in April 1746.
4 [SJ’s note] Thus Figure I. refers to the magazines of 1731. Figure 2 of 1732, and so on to 1740, which corresponds to Vol. 10. and 20 to the year 1750.
5 Common-place book: “A book in which things to be remembered are ranged under general heads” (Dictionary).
6 The advertisement for the volume in the GM for July 1753 is clearer on this point. It reads in full: “Just published, Price 4 s. bound in Calf. A General Index to the first twenty volumes of the Gentleman’s Magazine, in five parts. To which is added, an index to the first volume of the Miscellaneous Correspondence. Printed for E. Cave, at St John’s Gate” (GM, XXIII.347).
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Document Details
Document TitlePreface to A General Index of the First Twenty Volumes of the Gentleman's Magazine
AuthorJohnson, Samuel
Creation Date1753
Publ. DateN/A
Alt. TitleN/A
Contrib. AuthorKimber, Edward
ClassificationSubject: Index; Subject: Periodical; Subject: History; Subject: Politics; Subject: Chronicle; Genre: Preface; Genre: Magazine
PrinterN/A
PublisherEdward Cave
Publ. PlaceLondon
VolumeSamuel Johnson: Johnson on Demand
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PREFACE TO A GENERAL I...
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