DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70031#0144
JOHNSON. [ENGLAND.
nals of the day, Dodsley, and a number of other book-
sellers, agreed to defray the expences of this great
undertaking. Johnson, thus encouraged, hired a house,
employed several amanuenses, and during nine years
devoted himself to this stupendous work with indefa-
tigable zeal and activity. At the end of that period
he published this pride of English literature, and the
best model for every national dictionary.
But the attention of Johnson was not solely occu-
pied by this engagement, important as it was. In the
interim he had written his tragedy of Irene; which,
for a long time, was rejected by the managers, and at
length performed under the auspices of Garrick. This
play, though written in that bold and manly style
which distinguished all his works, and embellished by
the graces of poetry, had only nine representations,
and never obtained the success it deserved.
Johnson then renounced the stage, and undertook
a periodical publication, in the manner of the Specta-
tor, under the name of the Rambler. He was the
sole author of the various papers, with very few ex-
ceptions ; and in these he displayed the most profound
knowledge of mankind, mingled with most judicious
criticisms upon the best established works of his
countrymen. The publication of the Rambler in-
duced Dr. Hawkesworth to engage in a similar mis-
cellany. Johnson essentially contributed to its suc-
cess, by furnishing several articles under the signature
T, which are justly admired for their elegance of style,
their strength of thought, and soundness of criti-
cism.
As Johnson wrote for money, he successively pub-
lished a great variety of works, among which we may
nals of the day, Dodsley, and a number of other book-
sellers, agreed to defray the expences of this great
undertaking. Johnson, thus encouraged, hired a house,
employed several amanuenses, and during nine years
devoted himself to this stupendous work with indefa-
tigable zeal and activity. At the end of that period
he published this pride of English literature, and the
best model for every national dictionary.
But the attention of Johnson was not solely occu-
pied by this engagement, important as it was. In the
interim he had written his tragedy of Irene; which,
for a long time, was rejected by the managers, and at
length performed under the auspices of Garrick. This
play, though written in that bold and manly style
which distinguished all his works, and embellished by
the graces of poetry, had only nine representations,
and never obtained the success it deserved.
Johnson then renounced the stage, and undertook
a periodical publication, in the manner of the Specta-
tor, under the name of the Rambler. He was the
sole author of the various papers, with very few ex-
ceptions ; and in these he displayed the most profound
knowledge of mankind, mingled with most judicious
criticisms upon the best established works of his
countrymen. The publication of the Rambler in-
duced Dr. Hawkesworth to engage in a similar mis-
cellany. Johnson essentially contributed to its suc-
cess, by furnishing several articles under the signature
T, which are justly admired for their elegance of style,
their strength of thought, and soundness of criti-
cism.
As Johnson wrote for money, he successively pub-
lished a great variety of works, among which we may