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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
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  • 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
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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.
  • Notice of The life of Harriot Stuart
  • Dedication to The Female Quixote
  • Dedication to Memoirs of Maximilian de Bethune, Duke of Sully
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  • 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)
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  • 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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Review of Thomas Blackwell, Memoirs of the Court of Augustus (1753–56)
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Review of Thomas Blackwell, Memoirs of the Court of Augustus (1753–56)1
Memoirs of the Court of Augustus. By Thomas Blackwell, J.U.D.2Principal of Marishal-college in the University of Aberdeen. 2 vols. 4to. Millar. [1753–56]
The first effect which this book has upon the reader is that of disgusting him with the author’s vanity. He endeavours to persuade the world, that here are some new treasures of literature spread before his eyes; that something is discovered, which to this happy day had been concealed in darkness; that by his diligence time has been robbed of some valuable monument, which he was on the point of devouring; and that names and facts doomed to oblivion are now restored to fame.
How must the unlearned reader be surprised, when he shall be told that Mr. Blackwell has neither digged in the ruins of any demolished city; nor found out the way to the library of Fez;3 nor had a single book in his hands, that has


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not been in the possession of every man that was inclined to read it, for years and ages; and that his book relates to a people who above all others have furnished employment to the studious, and amusements to the idle, who have scarcely left behind them a coin or a stone, which has not been examined and explained a thousand times, and whose dress, and food, and houshold stuff it has been the pride of learning to understand.
A man need not fear to incur the imputation of vitious diffidence or affected humility, who should have forborn to promise many novelties, when he perceived such multitudes of writers possessed of the same materials, and intent upon the same purpose. Mr. Blackwell knows well the opinion of Horace, concerning those that open their undertakings with magnificent promises,4 and he knows likewise the dictates of common sense and common honesty, names of greater authority than that of Horace, who direct that no man should promise what he cannot perform.
I do not mean to declare that this volume has nothing new, or that the labours of those who have gone before our author, have made his performance an useless addition to the burden of literature. New works may be constructed with old materials, the disposition of the parts may shew contrivance, the ornaments interspersed may discover elegance.
It is not always without good effect that men of proper qualifications write in succession on the same subject, even when the latter add nothing to the information given to the former, for the same ideas may be delivered more intelligibly or more delightfully by one than by another, or with attractions that may lure minds of a different form. No writer pleases all, and every writer may please some.
But after all, to inherit is not to acquire; to decorate is not to make, and the man who had nothing to do but read the ancient authors, who mention the Roman affairs, and reduce them to common places, ought not to boast himself as a great


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benefactor to the studious world. After a preface of boast, and a letter of flattery, in which he seems to imitate the address of Horace, in his “vile potabis modicis Sabinum”5—he opens his book with telling us, that the “Roman republic, after the horrible proscription, was no more at bleeding6 Rome. The regal power of her consuls, the authority of her senate, and the majesty of her people, were now trampled under foot; these divine laws and hallowed customs, that had been the essence of her constitution—were set at nought, and her best friends were lying exposed in their blood.”7
These were surely very dismal times to those who suffered; but I know not why any one but a schoolboy in his declamation should whine over the commonwealth of Rome, which grew great only by the misery of the rest of mankind. The Romans, like others, as soon as they grew rich grew corrupt, and, in their corruption, sold the lives and freedoms of themselves, and of one another.
About this time Brutus had his patience put to the highest trial: he had been married to Clodia; but whether the family did not please him, or whether he was dissatisfied with the lady’s behaviour, during his absence; he soon entertained thoughts of a separation. This raised a good deal of talk, and the women of the Clodian family inveighed bitterly against Brutus—but he married Portia, who was worthy of such a father as M. Cato, and such a husband as M. Brutus. She had a soul capable of an exalted passion, and found a proper object to raise and give it a sanction; she did not only love, but adored her husband; his worth, his truth, his every shining and heroic quality, made her gaze on him like a god, while the indearing returns of esteem and tenderness she met with, brought her joy, her pride, her every wish to centre in her beloved Brutus.8


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When the reader has been awakened by this rapturous preparation, he hears the whole story of Portia in the same luxuriant stile, till she breathed out her last, a little before the “bloody proscription,” and “Brutus complained heavily of his friends at Rome, as not having paid due attention to this lady9 in the declining state of her health.”1
He is a great lover of modern terms. His senators and their wives are “gentlemen” and “ladies.” In this review of Brutus’s army, who “was under the command of galant men, not braver officers, than true patriots,” he tells us
that Sextus the questor was paymaster, secretary at war, and commissary general, and that the sacred discipline of the Romans required the closest connection, like that of father and son, to subsist between the general of an army and his questor. Cicero was general of the cavalry, and the next general officer was Flavius, master of the artillery, the elder Lentulus was admiral, and the younger rode in the band of volunteers; under these the tribunes, with many others too tedious to name.2
Lentulus, however, was but a subordinate officer; for we are informed afterwards, that the Romans had made Sextus Pompeius “lord high admiral, in all the seas of their dominions.”3
Among other affectations of this writer is a furious and unnecessary zeal for liberty, or rather for one form of government as preferable to another. This indeed might be suffered, because political institution is a subject in which men have always differed, and if they continue to obey their lawful governors, and attempt not to make innovations for the sake of their favourite schemes, they may differ for ever without any just reproach from one another. But who can bear the hardy champion, who ventures nothing? Who in full security undertakes the defence of the assassination of Caesar, and declares


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his resolution to “speak plain”? Yet let not just sentiments be overlooked: He has justly observed, that the greater part of mankind will be naturally prejudiced against Brutus, for all feel the benefits of private friendship; but few can discern the advantages of a well constituted government.4
(To be continued.)5
Memoirs of the court of Augustus. Continued from p. 41.
We know not whether some apology may not be necessary for the distance between the first account of this book and its continuation. The truth is that this work not being forced upon our attention by much public applause or censure, was sometimes neglected, and sometimes forgotten, nor would it, perhaps, have been now resumed, but that we might avoid to disappoint our readers by an abrupt desertion of any subject.
It is not our design to criticise the facts of this history but the style; not the veracity, but the address of the writer; for, an account of the ancient Romans as it cannot nearly interest any present reader, and must be drawn from writings that have been long known, can owe its value only to the language in which it is delivered, and the reflections with which is it accompanied. Dr. Blackwell, however, seems to have heated his imagination so as to be much affected with every event, and to believe that he can affect others. Enthusiasm is indeed sufficiently contagious, but I never found any of his readers much enamoured of the “glorious Pompey, the patriot approv’d,” or much incensed against the “lawless Cæsar,”6 whom this author probably stabs every day and night in his sleeping or waking dreams.
He is come too late into the world with his fury for freedom, with his Brutus and Cassius. We have all on this side


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of the Tweed7 long since settled our opinions;a his zeal for Roman liberty and declamations against the violators of the republican constitution, only stand now in the reader’s way, who wishes to proceed in the narrative without the interruption of epithets and exclamations. It is not easy to forbear laughter at a man so bold in fighting shadows, so busy in a dispute two thousand years past, and so zealous for the honour of a people who while they were poor robbed mankind, and as soon as they became rich robbed one another. Of these robberies our author seems tob have no very quick sense, except when they are committed by Cæsar’s party, for every act is sanctified by the name of a patriot.
If this author’s skill in ancient literature were less generally acknowledged,8 one might sometimes suspect that he had too frequently consulted the French writers. He tells us that Archelaus the Rhodian made a speech to Cassius, and “in so saying” dropt some tears, and that Cassius after the reduction of Rhodes was “covered with glory”9—— Deiotarus was a keen and happy spirit.1—— The ingrate Castor kept his court.2
His great delight is to shew his universal acquaintance with terms of art,3 with words that every other polite writer has avoided and despised. When Pompey conquered the pirates he destroyed fifteen hundred ships of the line.4—— The Xanthian parapets were tore down.5—— Brutus suspecting


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that his troops were plundering commanded the trumpets to sound their colours.6—— Most people understood the act of attainder passed by the senate.7—— The Numidian troopers were unlikely in their appearance.8—— The Numidians beat up one quarter after another.9—— Salvidienus resolved to pass his men over in boats of leather, and he gave orders for equipping a sufficient number of that sort of small craft1—— Pompey had light agile frigates, and fought in a strait where the current and caverns occasion swirls and a roll2—— A sharp out-look was kept by the admiral3—— It is a run of about fifty Roman miles4—— Brutus broke Lipella in the sight of the army5—— Mark Antony garbled the senate6—— He was a brave man well qualified for a commodore.7
In his choice of phrases he frequently uses words with great solemnity, which every other mouth and pen has appropriated to jocularity and levity! The Rhodians gave up the contest and in poor plight fled back to Rhodes.8—— Boys and girls were easily kidnapped9—— Deiotarus was a mighty believer of augury.1—— Deiotarus destroyed his ungracious progeny.2—— The regularity of the Romans was their mortal aversion3—— They desired the consuls to curb such hainous doings4—— He had such a shrewd invention that no side of a question came amiss to him5—— Brutus found his mistress a coquettish creature.6——
He sometimes with most unlucky dexterity mixes the grand


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and the burlesque together, “the violations of faith, Sirs,” says Cassius, “lies at the door of the Rhodians by reiterated acts of perfidy.”7—— The iron grate fell down, crushed those under it to death, and catched the rest as in a trap8—— When the Xanthians heard the military shout and saw the flame mount they concluded there would be no mercy. It was now about sun-set and they had been at hot work since noon.9
He has often words or phrases with which our language has hitherto had no knowledge.—— One was a heart friend to the republic.1 A deed was expeded.2 The Numidians begun to reel and were in hazard of falling into confusion3—— The tutor embraced his pupil close in his arms4—— Four hundred women were taxed who have no doubt been the wives of the best Roman citizens.5—— Men not born to action are inconsequential in government6—— collectitious troops.7—— The foot by their violent attack began the fatal break in the Pharsaliac field.8 He and his brother with a politic common to other countries had taken opposite sides.9
His epithets are of the gaudy or hyperbolical kind. The glorious news—— Eager hopes and dismal fears—— Bleeding Rome—— divine laws and hallowed customs—— Merciless war—— intense anxiety.1
Sometimes the reader is suddenly ravished with a sonorous


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sentence, of which when the noise is past the meaning does not long remain. When Brutus set his legions to fill a moat, instead of heavy dragging and slow toil, they set about it with huzzas and racing, as if they had been striving at the Olympic games. They hurled impetuous down the huge trees and stones and with shouts forced them into the water, so that the work expected to continue half the campaign was with rapid toil completed in a few days.2 Brutus’s soldiers fell to the gate with resistless fury, it gave way at last with hideous crash3—— This great and good man, doing his duty to his country, received a mortal wound, and glorious fell in the cause of Rome; may his memory be ever dear to all lovers of liberty, learning and humanity!4—— This promise ought ever to embalm his memory5—— The queen of nations was torn by no foreign invader.6 Rome fell a sacrifice to her own sons, and was ravaged by her unnatural offspring, all the great men of the state, all the good, all the holy were openly murdered by the wickedest and worst.7—— Little islands cover the harbour of Brindisi, and form the narrow outlet from the numerous creeks that compose its capacious port.8—— At the appearance of Brutus and Cassius a shout of joy rent the heavens from the surrounding multitudes.9——
Such are the flowers which may be gathered by every hand in every part of this garden of eloquence. But having thus freely mentioned our author’s faults, it remains that we acknowledge his merit, and confess that this book is the work of a man of letters, that it is full of events displayed with accuracy and related with vivacity, and though it is sufficiently defective to crush the vanity of its author, it is sufficiently entertaining to invite readers.


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Editorial Notes
1 Eddy, no. 7; LM, I.41–42, 239–40. SJ describes volume II of this three-volume work (1753, 1756, 1763).
2 Juris Utriusque Doctor (Doctor of Both Laws—Civil and Canon).
3 The library at Fez was said to have 32,000 volumes, including classical texts unknown in Europe (le Sieur Le Gallois, Traités des Plus Belles Bibliothèques de l’Europe [1680], p. 146).
4 See Horace on pompous introductions (Ars Poetica, ll. 14–24).
5 Odes, I.20.1 (You will drink ordinary cheap wine).
6 SJ’s italics.
7 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.1–2.
8 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.3–4; a combination of quotation and paraphrase; Blackwell italicizes “exalted passion”; the other italics are SJ’s.
9 SJ’s italics; Blackwell says, “his Lady.”
1 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.8; the last clause is a quotation in Memoirs.
2 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.15–16; a combination of paraphrase and quotation; except for the official titles, the italics are SJ’s.
3 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.22; Blackwell says, “our Dominion.”
4 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.183; a combination of paraphrase and quotation; “the advantages of a well constituted government” is SJ’s substitution for “the Value of Liberty and of the public Spirit which it alone can inspire.”
5 The review continues in the fifth number of LM, 15 August–15 September 1756 (I.239–40).
6 Caesar is “lawless” (Blackwell, Memoirs, e.g., II.18), but Pompey is “the great” (e.g., II.32). Brutus is “the patriot” (e.g., II.8).
7 The River Tweed is the historic boundary between England and Scotland. Blackwell was from Aberdeen, Scotland.
a opinions; emend.] opinions,
b to emend.] too
8 Blackwell was author of the celebrated Enquiry into the Life and Writings of Homer (1735).
9 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.21, 25; SJ evidently considers these phrases and this usage of the word spirit Gallic. In Dictionary, he so brands spirit (sense 13), but not the others.
1 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.32.
2 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.29.
3 Terms of art: technical terms; cant. Cf. SJ’s Life of Dryden: “It is a general rule in poetry, that all appropriated terms of art should be sunk in general expressions, because poetry is to speak an universal language” (Yale, XXI.458).
4 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.30.
5 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.31.
6 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.42.
7 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.51.
8 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.72. SJ does not record this sense of unlikely (“un-seemly,” OED, sense 3b) in Dictionary.
9 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.73.
1 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.98.
2 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.99.
3 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.99.
4 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.103.
5 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.112.
6 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.119; to garble means “To sift; to part; to separate the good from the bad” (Dictionary; cf. OED, 2b).
7 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.133.
8 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.23.
9 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.7.
1 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.25. Of mighty in Dictionary, SJ says, “Not to be used but in very low language.”
2 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.29.
3 Ibid. See Dictionary, s.v. mortal: “Extreme; violent. A low word” (sense 6).
4 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.81.
5 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.88.
6 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.114. Coquettish is not in Dictionary.
7 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.21.
8 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.40.
9 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.42.
1 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.33. Heart-friend (as it appears in Blackwell) is not in Dictionary or OED.
2 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.29. Expede is not in Dictionary; OED defines it as “To send out, issue officially (a document)” (sense 3) and sees it as a form of expedite. Most examples are from Scottish writers.
3 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.73.
4 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.82.
5 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.87. The number of women is “fourteen hundred.”
6 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.96. Inconsequential is not in Dictionary, except as a definition of incoherent. OED gives 1782 as the first usage in Blackwell’s sense.
7 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.99. Dictionary includes collectitious (“gathered up”) without illustration. OED has no illustrations except from other dictionaries.
8 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.119. Dictionary does not include break in this sense, but OED does (sense 7a).
9 Blackwell, Memoirs, II. 120. Dictionary does not include politick as a noun, but OED does (see sense B3).
1 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.29, 123, 1, 2, 7, and 7, respectively.
2 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.30–31.
3 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.42.
4 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.75.
5 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.77.
6 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.78.
7 Ibid.
8 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.101.
9 Blackwell, Memoirs, II.125.
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Document Details
Document TitleReview of Thomas Blackwell, Memoirs of the Court of Augustus (1753–56)
AuthorJohnson, Samuel
Creation Date1756
Publ. DateN/A
Alt. TitleN/A
Contrib. AuthorJohnson, Samuel
ClassificationSubject: Augustus; Subject: Rome; Subject: Empire; Subject: Imperialism; Subject: Government; Subject: Caesar; Subject: Brutus; Genre: Book Review
PrinterN/A
PublisherJ. Richardson
Publ. PlaceLondon
VolumeSamuel Johnson: Johnson on Demand
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