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 Johnson was used to say, He is the Raphael of Essay Writers. How he differed so widely from such elegant models is a problem not to be solved, unless it be true that he took an early tincture from the writers of the last century, particularly Sir Thomas Browne '. Hence the peculiarities of his style, new combinations, sentences of an unusual structure, and words derived from the learned languages. His own account of the matter is, * When common words were less pleasing to the ear, or less distinct in their signification, I have familiarized the terms of philosophy, by applying them to popular ideas V But he forgot the observation of Dryden : If too many foreign words are poured in upon us, it looks as if they were designed, not to assist the natives^ but to conquer them 3. There is, it must be admitted, a swell of language, o/ten out of all proportion to the sentiment 4 ; but there is, in general, a fullness of mind, and the thought seems to expand \yith the sound of the words. Determined to discard colloquial barbarisms and licentious idioms, he forgot the elegant simplicity that distinguishes the writings of Addison. He had what Locke calls a round-about view of his subject 5 ; and, though he was never tainted, like many modern wits, with the ambition of shining in paradox 6, he may be fairly called an ORIGINAL THINKER. His reading was extensive. He treasured in his mind whatever was worthy of notice, but he added to it from his own meditation. He collected, qua reconderet, atictaque promeret 1. Addison was not so profound a thinker. He was born to write, converse, and live with ease 8 -, and he found an early patron in Lord Somers 9. He depended, however, more

1 Life, i. 221. tion.' Locke, quoted in Johnson's

2 Ib. i. 218 ; Rambler, No. 208. Dictionary.

3 Dryden's Works, ed. 1808, xiv. 6 Life, iii. 376, n. I. 223. 7 Tacitus, Annals, i. 69.

4 Francis Horner, speaking of 8 Pope, Prol Sat., 1. 196. Johnson's style in the Rambler, 9 ' King William had no regard to says : _ The rhythm dictates what elegance or literature ; his study was is said.' Horner's Memoirs, ii. 454- only war ; yet by a choice of minis-

5 ' Those sincerely follow reason, ters whose disposition was very dif- but for want of having large, sound, ferent from his own he procured roundabout sense, have not a full without intention a very liberal pa- view of all that relates to the ques- tronage to poetry. Addison was

H h 2 upon

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