Читать книгу The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. - James Boswell - Страница 98

‘[London,] March 25, 1755.’

Dr. Adams told me, that this scheme of a Bibliothèque was a serious one: for upon his visiting him one day, he found his parlour floor covered with parcels of foreign and English literary journals, and he told Dr. Adams he meant to undertake a Review. ‘How, Sir, (said Dr. Adams,) can you think of doing it alone? All branches of knowledge must be considered in it. Do you know Mathematicks? Do you know Natural History?’ Johnson answered, ‘Why, Sir, I must do as well as I can. My chief purpose is to give my countrymen a view of what is doing in literature upon the continent; and I shall have, in a good measure, the choice of my subject, for I shall select such books as I best understand.’ Dr. Adams suggested, that as Dr. Maty had just then finished his Bibliothèque Britannique[837], which was a well-executed work, giving foreigners an account of British publications, he might, with great advantage, assume him as an assistant. ‘He, (said Johnson) the little black dog! I’d throw him into the Thames[838].’ The scheme, however, was dropped.

[Page 285: Dr. Birch’s letter. Ætat 46.]

In one of his little memorandum-books I find the following hints for his intended Review or Literary Journal:

‘The Annals of Literature, foreign as welt as domestick. Imitate Le Clerk—Bayle—Barbeyrac. Infelicity of Journals in England. Works of the learned. We cannot take in all. Sometimes copy from foreign Journalists. Always tell.’

‘To DR. BIRCH.

‘March 29, 1755.