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THE LAST DAYS AND RELIGIOUS CHARACTER OF DR. JOHNSON.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. As S a sequel to the papers inserted in the January and August Numbers of your volume for 1831, respecting the religious friends and character of Dr. Johnson, I beg leave to report such additional accounts of his last days, as have been lately published, by the Right Honourable John Wilson Croker, in his variorum edition of Boswell.

The first of these is a diary of Johnson's last illness, by Mr. Hoole, the translator of Tasso; from the 20th of November to the 13th of December inclusive, 1784. A few extracts from this were made in the original work of Boswell; and the whole of the journal, which was afterwards printed in the European Magazine for September, 1799, is now copied into the general appendix to Mr. Croker's digest. It is a highly impressive document; and remarkable for that detail of incident and conversation which brings us, perhaps, even into closer contact with its subject than the most circumstantial statements of Boswell himself. At the same time, it does not appear to communicate more satisfactory notices of Dr. Johnson's religious character, than had previously been given. His manner and talk are described as having been very serious; but there is no direct indication of a mind fully irradiated by the pure light of the Gospel..

CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 361.

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The second document is a journal, now for the first time published, by the late Right Honourable William Windham, from the 7th to the 13th of December. Like Mr. Hoole's diary, it is, although much shorter, full of interest; and it derives much of its impressiveness from the circumstance of its containing a description of the final interview between two such men as Johnson and Windham. The dying moralist gave his friend a New Testament; and 'then," says the narrator, " proceeded to observe that I was entering upon a life which would lead me deeply into all the business of the world: that he did not condemn civil employment; but that it was a state of great danger, and that he had therefore one piece of advice earnestly to impress upon me; that I would set apart every seventh day for the care of my soul; that one day, the seventh, should be employed in repenting what was amiss in the six preceding, and fortifying my virtue for the six to come; that such a portion of time was surely little enough for the meditation of eternity *." If this advice be correctly reported, it will, I assume however excellent in its degree-justify an opinion already given on the obscurity of Dr. Johnson's religious principles. But the whole of Mr. Windham's report is unsatisfactory; and with regard to himself, it may be observed, that if men are to be

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Vol. v. p. 326.

estimated by their public conduct, the future statesman would seem to have forgotten the dangers pointed out by his dying friend.

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But although the diaries of Hoole and Windham are, properly, the only additions made to the previous accounts of Johnson's death, there are other portions of Mr. Croker's work which demand notice and examination; and particularly, as connected with what has already appeared in the pages of the Christian Observer. At p. 323, Mr. Croker subjoins the following note:-"The son of Mr. La Trobe has published, in the Christian Observer for January, 1828, in order,' as he says, the tradition may not be lost,' a corroboration of some remarks which appeared in that work for the October and November preceding, (namely, a re-print of a paper in the Rev. S. C. Wilks's Christian Essays,') on the last days of Dr. Johnson. Mr. La Trobe's statement tends, as far as it goes, to confirm the opinion already, it is hoped, universally entertained, that Johnson's death was truly Christian. But Mr. La Trobe had little to tell; and of that little, unfortunately the prominent facts are indisputably erroneous. Mr. La Trobe states, that Dr. Johnson had, during his last illness, sent every day to know when his father, who was then out of town, would come back. The moment he arrived he went to the Doctor's house, but found him speechless, though sensible. Mr. La Trobe addressed to him some religious exhortation; which Johnson shewed, by pressing his hand and other signs, that he understood and was thankful for. He expired the next morning, and Mr. La Trobe always regretted not having been able to attend Dr. Johnson sooner, according to his wish.' The reader will see that the inference suggested by this statement is, that Dr. Johnson wished for the spiritual assistance of Mr. La Trobe, in addition (or it might even be inferred, in preference) to that of his near and dear friends,

Mr. Hoole and Dr. Strahan, clergymen of the Established Church. Now, the facts of the case essentially contradict Mr. La Trobe's account, and any inference which might be deducible from it. Dr. Johnson, as it will be seen in the diaries of Sir J. Hawkins and Mr. Windham, was not speechless the day before his death, nor did he die next morning (which seems mentioned as the reason why Mr. La Trobe's visit was not repeated), but in the evening. And, which is quite conclusive, it appears from Mr. Hoole's diary, that Mr. La Trobe's visit to Dr. Johnson's residence (and his son, admits there was but one) took place about eleven o'clock on the forenoon of the 10th, three days before Dr. Johnson's death; that Mr. La Trobe did not even see him; and that it was in the course of that very day that Mr. Hoole read prayers to him, and a small congregation of friends. So little can anecdotes at second hand be trusted."

On this statement,-which, so far as it relates to facts, will, I trust, attract the notice of your accused correspondent, Mr. La Trobe himself, and, if necessary, draw from him an explanation,-I would observe, myself, that Dr. Johnson, when approaching the shadows of death, did most probably prefer the spiritual assistance of the elder Mr. La Trobe. And this opinion is founded on the belief, that Dr. Strahan and the Rev. Mr. Hoole (son of the journalist) were much inferior, as religious advisers, to the eminent Moravian thus forced into a kind of rivalry with them. Of Dr. Strahan, I, indeed, know nothing, except from his preface and advertisement to Johnson's Prayers and Meditations; which, in a spiritual sense, are cold and gloomy as the winter's mist. Of Mr. Hoole, nothing is said in his father's diary which discovers any religious vitality. He appears to have attended, chiefly as a mechanical reader of prayers. On the other hand, Mr. La Trobe is well remembered by many as a

man of eminent piety; of sentiments essentially coincident with the doctrinal Articles of the Established Church; and, altogether, such a wise and excellent counsellor, as was wanted at the death-bed of Dr. Johnson. If Mr. La Trobe really did not see his dying friend, I, for one, must deeply regret that the latter had not such efficient assistance. But I had always understood, and long before the statement of the present Mr. La Trobe appeared in your pages, that his father had seen Johnson, and had also expressed himself favourable as to the final state of his mind*.

There was another minister of the United Brethren who was acquainted with Dr. Johnson; and this was Mr. Hutton, who, from the value

The writer has pleasure in recording the following reminiscence of the late Mr. La Trobe, penned during a voyage by his son to the Moravian settlements at the Cape of Good Hope :-"At home or abroad, by sea or land, wherever I am, I can never forget the mournful event of this day (the 29th of November), when our family and church were bereft of that excellent man, my father, in the year 1786. Though now nearly thirty years are gone by, yet, when the return of this day brings his death to my recollection, I feel some recurrence of the pangs which then seized my heart. But I remember that once in his last illness, calling me to his bedside, he expressed himself to the following effect, in consequence of the lamentations of a friend who had just left the room. There is nothing, my dear son, that grieves me more than to hear such complaints; not because, far from flattering me, they only remind me the more forcibly of my defects, but because they evince a deplorable want of knowledge of, and confidence in, the dealings of God with his church and servants. He wants none of us; but if he is pleased to use us, surely he knows best when to put down one tool and take up another. And will he suffer any part of his work to stand still for want of instruments to work with? No! he will find such as are suited to hand, and to the times and circumstances when they are to be employed.' This is, indeed, true; but yet I believe that the concurrent testimony of all who knew my late father will permit me to say, that, taking his character in a general sense, and viewing him as a man and as a Christian, we shall not soon look upon his like again." Journal of a Visit to South Africa, in 1815.

fixed upon his society by the consort of George the Third, was called the Queen's Mr. Hutton. Her majesty frequently admitted him into her circle; or rather, I believe, consulted him in private, He was generally known to the excellent Christians of his day, and, it seems, to numbers also without; for Mrs. Piozzi somewhere calls him " dear, good, every body's Mr. Hutton." There is a mezzotinto engraving of this gentleman, who, in conjunction with Mr. La Trobe-since both of them were intimate with Johnson before his last days-doubtless contributed to regulate and correct his opinions. I do not, I trust, bring forward these names as pitting them against the two clergymen before mentioned, or as panegyrizing the peculiarities of Moravianism; but as defending the memory of the just from what will be generally regarded to be a slur upon their religious competency. Let it be at least conceded that Hutton and La Trobe were quite as faithful monitors as Strahan and Hoole.

There is another circumstance bearing upon this discussion, which deserves inquiry. In Mr. Hoole's diary, under date of November 23, it is said, that Johnson" spoke of his design to invite a Mrs. Hall to be with him, and to offer her Mrs. Williams's room*." This lady, who had been long known to Dr. Johnson, was the sister of the Rev. John Wesley, and of similar sentiments with him. My own impression is, that whatever might be Johnson's respect for the clerical friends then attendant upon him, he secretly panted for more spiritual instruction than they afforded. He much regarded Wesley himself; and Mr. Croker has published the following original letter to this eminent person, furnished in manuscript by the Rev. Dr. Harwood of Lichfield :—" 6th Feb, 1776. Sir, When I received your Commentary on the Bible,' I durst not at first

Vol. v. p. 465.

flatter myself that I was to keep it, having so little claim to so valuable a present; and, when Mrs. Hall informed me of your kindness, was hindered from time to time from returning you those thanks which I now entreat you to accept. I have thanks likewise to return you, for the addition of your important suffrage to my argument on the American question. To have gained such a mind as yours may justly confirm me in my own opinion. What effect my paper has upon the public I know not; but I have no reason to be discouraged. The lecturer was surely in the right, who, though he saw his audience slinking away, refused to quit the chair while Plato staid.

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I am, Reverend Sir,

your most humble servant, SAM. JOHNSON*." This is one of the most complimentary letters to be found in the whole Johnsonian collection; and other strong evidence of its writer's admiration of the founder of Methodism might be adduced from his various biographers. It is surely very credible that Mrs. Hall was about to be domesticated in Johnson's family for the sake of her spiritual discernment and character: he was, at least, aware of the strength of her intellect, and was able to estimate the value of its combination with religion. He always loved a mind which could meet his own; and, oppressed though he was by ecclesiastical prejudice, frequently went out of bounds in search of Christian instruction. And here, with far greater pleasure in delivering the cheering statement, than I have found in examining all foregoing euthanasias, I will subjoin a much more satisfactory account than had previously been published of the last days of Dr. Johnson. The following circumstances, says a writer in the Wesleyan Methodist Magazinet for 1829 (p. 744),

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were communicated by Colonel Pownall to Mr. Storey* of Colchester. "In the near approach of death, Dr. Johnson expressed great dissatisfaction with himself and with the state of his heart; and, in reply to one of his friends, who, in order to comfort him, had referred to his writings in defence of virtue and religion, he said, 'Admitting for a moment that all you say is true, yet how can I tell whether I have done enough?' He therefore refused to be comforted by the ordinary topics of consolation which were proposed to him; and, in consequence, desired to see some clergyman, and described the views and character of the person he wished to consult. A Mr. Winstanley was mentioned, as exactly answering to his wishes; and the Doctor desired a note to be written in his name earnestly requesting his attendance as a minister.

Mr. Winstanley, who was in a most debilitated state of nerves, was overpowered at receiving the note, and was appalled at the thought of

Arminian Magazine, was begun by Mr. Wesley in 1778, and is now continued conducted with ability, and with good under the title in the text. It is generally temper towards all who "love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." In the volume for 1829 is an acute and dispassionate analysis of Forster's untimely book on tian reader must be grateful. Mohammedanism, for which every Chris

* The names of Storey and Winstanley in this extract must be mistakes. The the Rev. William Marsh, as incumbent of Rev. Robert Storey was predecessor of St. Peter's, Colchester. Of Mr. Winstanley I have only a faint remembrance that his name appears in some minor religious biographies as a man of great piety and popularity in his day. As there is in the Wesleyan statement the formal copy of a letter written to Dr. Johnson, it must be presumed that the original, or a duplicate communicator of the paper signs himself taken at the time, is accessible. The M. G. H. Why was this report so long delayed; and is there any representative of Colonel Pownall, or of Mr. Storey, who can authenticate what is asserted? It is not, I hope, too late to ascertain its validity by the exhibition of the writer's real name, or by such references as may remove every suspicion of error.

encountering the learning and talents of the Doctor, being wholly unaware of the meekness with which his heart was prepared to receive the words of salvation. In his perplexity he consulted with his friend Colonel Pownall, who urged him without delay to follow what appeared such a remarkable call of Providence. For a time his nervous apprehensions seemed to give way, but they soon returned: and, abandoning all thoughts of a personal interview, he determined on writing the following letter:

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"Dear Sir, I beg to acknowledge the honour of your note. am sorry that the state of my health prevents a compliance with your request: my nerves are in so shattered a state I feel as if I should be quite confounded in your presence; and, instead of promoting, should only injure the cause in which you seek my aid: therefore permit me to write what I should wish to say were I present. I can conceive what must be the subject of your inquiries: your views of yourself may be changed with your condition; and that, in the near approach of death, what you considered mere peccadillos, have risen into mountains of guilt, while your best actions have in your esteem dwindled into nothing. Whatever side you look at you only see positive transgression, or defective obedience; and hence, in self-despair, you may be inquiring' What shall I do to be saved?' I say to you in the language of the Baptist, Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world!'-When Sir John Hawkins, who read this letter to Dr. Johnson, came to this passage, the Doctor interrupted him, anxiously asking, 'Does he say so?' It was read again to him; upon which he said, 'This is just the man I want to see; write to him again.' A second note was sent, and a second answer was returned. Even this repeated solicitation could not prevail. In the second letter, Mr. Winstanley enlarged on the subject of the first;

and this communication, together with some conversations with the late Mr. Latrobe (who afterwards visited the Doctor), were evidently blessed by God in bringing this great man to a complete renunciation of self, and a simple reliance on Jesus as his Saviour; thus also communicating to him that peace which he could not find elsewhere, and which, when the world was fading from his view, filled the aching void, and dissipated the gloom even of the valley of the shadow of death. It is thus God puts honour upon the doctrine of faith in a crucified Redeemer." Assuming this account to be correct, the reader will now judge how far Johnson was satisfied with such advisers as Strahan and Hoole. The mention of Mr. La Trobe's name in this paper is also very observable.

To Mr. Croker it is now justly due to say, that after all his own industrious investigation of the circumstances of Dr. Johnson's death, he refers to the reprint of Mr. Wilks's Essay, in your work, in the following candid manner :-"The quantity of evidence now brought together as to the state of Dr. Johnson's mind with regard to religion in general, and his own salvation in particular, dispenses the editor from making any observations on the subject; but those who may wish to see a commentary on the facts may turn to the remarks in the Christian Observer for October and November, 1827 *."-You will allow me, sir, I hope, to express the gratification I have derived from Mr, Croker's liberal appeal to your work. I am confident that I am only repeating your own sentiments when I add, that all my anxiety is to gather solid proof that Dr. Johnson died well, by whatever instruments God was pleased to impart to his soul the peace which passeth all understanding.

⚫ Vol. v. p. 346.

J.L.

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