The Life of Samuel Johnson

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX. 1750--1751. Johnson begins" The Rambler."--His Prayer on commencing the Undertaking.--Obligations to Correspondents.--Adversaria.--Success of the Rambler.--Collected into Volumes.--" Beauties" of the Rambler.--Writes a Prologue, to be spoken by Garrick, for the Benefit of Milton's Grand-daughter.--" Life of Cheynel."--Lander's Forgery against Milton,--Mrs. Anna Williams. In 1750 Johnson came forth in the character for which he was eminently qualified, a majestic teacher of moral and religious wisdom. The vehicle which he chose was that of a periodical paper, which he knew had been, upon former occasions, employed with great success. The Tatler, Spectator, and Guardian, were the last of the kind published in England, which had stood the test of a long trial; and such an interval had now elapsed since their publication, as made him justly think that, to many of his readers, this form of instruction would, ir some degree, have the advantage of novelty. A feu days before the first of his Essays came out, there started another competitor for fame in the same form, under the title of "The Tatler Revived," which, I believe, was "born but to die." son was, I think, not very happy in the choice of his title,--" The Rambler;" which certainly is not suited to a series of grave and moral discourses; which the Italians have literally, but ludicrously, translated by // Vayabondo; and which has been lately assumed as the denomination of a vehicle of licentious tales, "The Rambler's Magazine." He gave Sir Joshua Reynolds the following account of its getting this name: "What must be done, Sir, will be done. When I was to begin publishing that paper, I was at a loss how to name it. I sat down at night upon my bedside, and resolved that I would not go to sleep t...