Lovecraft, H P - A Reminiscence Of Dr Samuel Johnson

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A Reminiscence of Dr. Samuel Johnson

by H. P. Lovecraft

Written 1917

The Privilege of Reminiscence, however rambling or tiresome, is one generally allow'd to

the very aged; indeed, 'tis frequently by means of such Recollections that the obscure

occurrences of History, and the lesser Anecdotes of the Great, are transmitted to

Posterity.

Tho' many of my readers have at times observ'd and remark'd a Sort of antique Flow in

my Stile of Writing, it hath pleased me to pass amongst the Members of this Generation

as a young Man, giving out the Fiction that I was born in 1890, in America. I am now,

however, resolv'd to unburthen myself of a Secret which I have hitherto kept thro' Dread

of Incredulity; and to impart to the Publick a true knowledge of my long years, in order to

gratifie their taste for authentick Information of an Age with whose famous Personages I

was on familiar Terms. Be it then known that I was born on the family Estate in

Devonshire, of the 10th day of August, 1690 (or in the new Gregorian Stile of

Reckoning, the 20th of August), being therefore now in my 228th year. Coming early to

London, I saw as a Child many of the celebrated Men of King William's Reign, including

the lamented Mr. Dryden, who sat much at the Tables of Will's Coffee-House. With Mr.

Addison and Dr. Swift I later became very well acquainted, and was an even more

familiar Friend to Mr. Pope, whom I knew and respected till the Day of his Death. But

since it is of my more recent Associate, the late Dr. Johnson, that I am at this time desir'd

to write; I will pass over my Youth for the present.

I had first Knowledge of the Doctor in May of the year 1738, tho' I did not at that Time

meet him. Mr. Pope had just compleated his Epilogue to his Satires (the Piece beginning:

"Not twice a Twelvemonth you appear in Print."), and had arrang'd for its Publication. On

the very Day it appear'd, there was also publish'd a Satire in Imitation of Juvenal, intitul'd

"London", by the then unknown Johnson; and this so struck the Town, that many

Gentlemen of Taste declared, it was the Work of a greater Poet than Mr. Pope.

Notwithstanding what some Detractors have said of Mr. Pope's petty jealousy, he gave

the Verses of his new Rival no small Praise; and having learnt thro' Mr. Richardson who

the Poet was, told me, 'that Mr. Johnson wou'd soon be deterré'.

I had no personal Acquaintance with the Doctor till 1763, when I was presented to him at

the Mitre Tavern by Mr. James Boswell, a young Scotchman of excellent Family and

great Learning, but small Wit, whose metrical Effusions I had sometimes revis'd.

Dr. Johnson, as I beheld him, was a full, pursy Man, very ill drest, and of slovenly

Aspect. I recall him to have worn a bushy Bob-Wig, untyed and without Powder, and

much too small for his Head. His cloaths were of rusty brown, much wrinkled, and with

more than one Button missing. His Face, too full to be handsom, was likewise marred by

the Effects of some scrofulous Disorder; and his Head was continually rolling about in a

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Lovecraft, H P - A Reminiscence Of Dr Samuel Johnson

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