Johnson had no music in him, he should choose the cheapest manner of interment." And for this reason there was no organ heard, or burial service sung; for which he suffers the Dean and Chapter to be abused in all the newspapers, and joins in their abuse when the subject is mentioned in conversation.' Burney mentions a report that Hawkins had been slandering Johnson. Recreations and Studies of a Country Clergyman of the XVIII Century, p. 129. Dr. Charles Burney, jun., had written the day after the funeral:--'The executor, Sir John Hawkins, did not manage things well, for there was no anthem or choir service performed--no lesson--but merely what is read over every old woman that is buried by the parish. Dr. Taylor read the service but so-so.' Johnstone's Parr, i. 535.
[1273] Pope's Essay on Man, iv. 390. See ante, iii. 6, and iv. 122.
[1274] On the subject of Johnson I may adopt the words of Sir John Harrington, concerning his venerable Tutor and Diocesan, Dr. John Still, Bishop of Bath and Wells; 'who hath given me some helps, more hopes, all encouragements in my best studies: to whom I never came but I grew more religious; from whom I never went, but I parted better instructed. Of him therefore, my acquaintance, my friend, my instructor, if I speak much, it were not to be marvelled; if I speak frankly, it is not to be blamed; and though I speak partially, it were to be pardoned.' Nugoe Antiquoe, vol. i. p. 136. There is one circumstance in Sir John's character of Bishop Still, which is peculiarly applicable to Johnson: 'He became so famous a disputer, that the learnedest were even afraid to dispute with him; and he finding his own strength, could not stick to warn them in their arguments to take heed to their answers, like a perfect fencer that will tell aforehand in which button he will give the venew, or like a cunning chess-player that will appoint aforehand with which pawn and in what place he will give the mate.' Ibid. BOSWELL.
[1275] The late Right Hon. William Gerard Hamilton. MALONE.
[1276] 'His death,' writes Hannah More (Memoirs, i. 394), 'makes a kind of era in literature.' 'One who had long known him said of him:--'In general you may tell what the man to whom you are speaking will say next. This you can never do of Johnson.' Johnson's Works (1787), xi. 211.
[1277] Beside the Dedications to him by Dr. Goldsmith [ante, ii. 216], the Reverend Dr. Francklin [ante, iv. 34], and the Reverend Mr. Wilson [ante, iv. 162], which I have mentioned according to their dates, there was one by a lady, of a versification of Aningait and Ajut, and one by the ingenious Mr. Walker [ante, iv. 206], of his Rhetorical Grammar. I have introduced into this work several compliments paid to him in the writings of his contemporaries; but the number of them is so great, that we may fairly say that there was almost a general tribute.
Let me not be forgetful of the honour done to him by Colonel Myddleton, of Gwaynynog, near Denbigh; who, on the banks of a rivulet in his park, where Johnson delighted to stand and repeat verses, erected an urn with the following inscription:
'This spot was often dignified by the presence of SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D. Whose moral writings, exactly conformable to the precepts of Christianity, Gave ardour to Virtue and confidence to Truth [H-1].'
As no inconsiderable circumstance of his fame, we must reckon the extraordinary zeal of the artists to extend and perpetuate his image. I can enumerate a bust by Mr. Nollekens, and the many casts which are made from it; several pictures by Sir Joshua Reynolds, from one of which, in the possession of the Duke of Dorset, Mr. Humphry executed a beautiful miniature in enamel; one by Mrs. Frances Reynolds, Sir Joshua's sister; one by Mr. Zoffani; and one by Mr. Opie [H-2]; and the following engravings of his portrait: 1. One by Cooke, from Sir Joshua, for the Proprietors' edition of his folio Dictionary.--2. One from ditto, by ditto, for their quarto edition.--3. One from Opie, by Heath, for Harrison's edition of his Dictionary.--4. One from Nollekens' bust of him, by Bartolozzi, for Fielding's quarto edition of his Dictionary.--5. One small, from Harding, by Trotter, for his Beauties.--6. One small, from Sir Joshua, by Trotter, for his Lives of the Poets.--7. One small, from Sir Joshua, by Hall, for The Rambler.--8. One small, from an original drawing, in the possession of Mr. John Simco, etched by Trotter, for another edition of his Lives of the Poets.--9. One small, no painter's name, etched by Taylor, for his Johnsoniana.--10. One folio whole-length, with his oak-stick, as described in Boswell's Tour, drawn and etched by Trotter.--11. One large mezzotinto, from Sir Joshua, by Doughty [H-3].--l2. One large Roman head, from Sir Joshua, by Marchi.--13. One octavo, holding a book to his eye, from Sir Joshua, by Hall, for his Works.--14. One small, from a drawing from the life, and engraved by Trotter, for his Life published by Kearsley.--15. One large, from Opie, by Mr.