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THE

WORKS

O F

Samuel Johnson, LL.D.

IN FOURTEEN VOLUMES.

VOL. XIV,

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR JOHN STOCKDALE, PICCADILLY; AND
G. G. J. AND J. ROBINSON, PATER-NOSTER-ROW.

M.DCC.LXXXVIII.

PREFACE.

THE performances contained in the prefent Volume, are fuch, as it is prefumed, ought to have made a part of the Edition of Dr. Johnfon's Works lately published. Their authenticity will need no other proof than the internal evidence they exhibit, though were fuch proof required, except in one or two inftances, it might without much difficulty be produced. The merit of the several pieces will hardly be controverted. Why they were omitted is of no importance to enquire.

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The reluctance which Dr. Johnson "always fhewed to giving any information concerning his anonymous works, and his filence to all enquiries on that fubject, have left much to conjecture, and been the caufe of fome mistakes. is incredible, that he should have affumed to himself the works of other writers, and therefore it is more probable, that he tacitly acquiefced to enquiries which he was refolved not to fatisfy and would not contradict. Those who knew him beft are convinced, that he left no directions behind him on the subject of any Edition of his Works,

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Works, or such only as on a strict enquiry would be found to be too haftily admitted.

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That this excellent Writer, in whofe praise too much cannot be faid, fhould have neglected to publish a complete Edition of his works in his life-time, will be a fubject of regret with many, and not without reason; but when it is confidered with what care he wrote, how little he altered, and how little room there is for alteration, it will diminish fome of our concern. was very juftly obferved by a celebrated female writer, that were an angel to give the imprimatur, Dr. Johnson's works were among thofe very few which would not be leffened by a line *. It may be further obferved, that nothing really written by him has been yet brought to light which can in any degree difgrace his memory. Whatever injury his character has sustained, no part of it can with juftice be imputed to his writings.

The publication of Pofthumous Works is liable to many objections: From the inequalities of fome of our beft writers, it has been often found injurious to their reputation, to collect every fcattered fragment of their productions. Still more injurious may it be thought to revive such performances as the more mature judgment of

Piozzi's Anecdotes, p. 182.

an Author may deem proper to confign to oblivion. The first of thefe objections, as has been already obferved, will not apply to the works of Dr. Johnson. He always made it a rule, on no occafion, to relax his attention, and therefore will be found to require no indulgence on account of inaccuracies or negligence. To the other objection, the present Editor hardly conceives it incumbent on him to reply. It no where appears what Dr. Johnson's fentiments were on this fubject, and were they known (though intitled to great deference) it would be still a question how far an Author is to be confidered, as the fole judge of what ought to be fuppreffed of works already in print. Various circumstances may concur to place the fentiments of an Author and his reader at variance with each other. Were the determinations of writers on this subject confidered as final, and without appeal, many excellent pieces which confer honour on the nation, muft in that cafe cease to be printed. It cannot however be denied, but there is some reason to believe, that had Dr. Johnson revifed his own works for publication, the twelfth and thirteenth Volumes, containing those exquifite models of fenatorial eloquence, and probably the first two pieces of the present Volume, would have been excluded. To ask whether the public would

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