Letters of James Boswell to the Rev. W. J. TempleIn the archive room in the basement of the library. |
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account of Corsica acquaintance Adieu admirable agreeable amiable amusement ANDREW ERSKINE appear Auchinleck believe best compliments Boswell's character comfort confess correspondence Corsican Court of Session daughter David David Hume deal dear friend dear Temple DEAR TEMPLE,-I dearest friend dined Edinburgh edition elegant father favour feel following letter fond gentleman give Gray happy hear Holyrood House honour hope Hume hypochondria imagine Inner Temple JAMES BOSWELL Johnson kind lady live London Lord Lisburne Lord Lonsdale magnum opus Malone Mamhead manner married mind Miss Blair never night occasion opinion Paoli perhaps Perreau pleased pleasure Pray present pretty Princess published received Rudd Samuel Johnson Scotland sensible sincerely Sir Joshua Sir Joshua Reynolds soon spirits strange talk tell Temple's thought tion told uneasy week wife wish woman worthy write written wrote yesterday young
Popular passages
Page 245 - Where then shall hope and fear their objects find ? Must dull suspense corrupt the stagnant mind ? Must helpless man, in ignorance sedate, Roll darkling down the torrent of his fate...
Page 172 - We walked in the evening in Greenwich park. He asked me, I suppose, by way of trying my disposition, " Is not this very fine?" Having no exquisite relish of the beauties of nature, and being more delighted with " the busy hum of men," I answered " Yes, sir ; but not equal to Fleet-street." JOHNSON. "You are right, sir.
Page 35 - As the vessel put out to sea, I kept my eyes upon him for a considerable time, while he remained rolling his majestic frame in his usual manner ; and at last I perceived him walk back into the town, and he disappeared.
Page 25 - Johnson told me, that he went up thither without mentioning it to his servant, when he wanted to study, secure from interruption ; for he would not allow his servant to say he was not at home when he really was. ' A servant's strict regard for truth, (said he) must be weakened by such a practice.
Page 35 - Nay, Sir, it is more likely you should forget me, than that I should forget you." As the vessel put out to sea, I kept my eyes upon him for a considerable time, while he remained rolling his...
Page 26 - Truth, Sir, is a cow which will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull.
Page 141 - He was equally acquainted with the elegant and profound parts of science, and that not superficially, but thoroughly. He knew every branch of history, both natural and civil ; had read all the original iibtorians of England, France, and Italy; and was a great antiquarian.
Page 17 - Why no, Sir; this is not just reasoning. You may abuse a tragedy, though you cannot write one. You may scold a carpenter who has made you a bad table, though you cannot make a table. It is not your trade to make tables.
Page 107 - , in his rude versification, has very judiciously pointed out that degree of intelligence which is to be desired in a female companion : ' Give me, next good, an understanding wife, By Nature wise, not learned by much art ; Some knowledge on her side will all my life More scope of conversation impart ; Besides, her inborne virtue fortifie ; They are most firmly good, who best know why.
Page 195 - Buckden," he writes to a friend, "and had a very good journey. An agreeable young widow nursed me and supported my lame foot on her knee. Am I not fortunate in having something about me that interests most people at first sight in my favour?