Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 10.djvu/311

 11 S. X. OCT. 17, 1914.1

NOTES AND QUERIES.

305

The following are the Johnsoniana :

To ihe Editor of ' The Bee.' SIR,

The inclosed I many years ago tore out of a magazine, and have always intended sending it to some public -paper. I am certain that it has been written by Dr. Johnson. I need not tell a judge like you that it is excellent. It has escaped all his collectors, and well deserves to be reprinted. I am, yours, &c., A. B.

To Mr. Urban, on his completing the eighteenth

Volume of ' The Gentleman's Magazine.' Arts, to complete what Nature but began, First wrought the human savage into man ; Then gave him empire o'er the peopl'd ball, And bade the conqu'ror be the lord of all. These taught him first to tame the bounding steed, Bend the tough yew, and wing the pointed reed ; With speed and prowess not his own endu'd : The strong he vanquish'd, and the swift pursu'd : He mounts the chariot, and, at ease reclin'd, Sees the gaunt lion lab'ring pant behind ; His missive weapon gives a distant wound, And brings the vulture breathless to the ground : Now, tenfold strength by diathesis supply'd, He cleaves the mountain, and he stems the tide ; This taught, for him, subservient seas to flow, The stars to wander, and the winds to blow.

But while he rises thus from arts to arts, Each step Necessity or Chance imparts ; Till, to entail the blessings of his kind,. Heav'n taught him Letters, and their powers assign'd :

This Art, alone descended from the skies, Arrests Ideas living as they rise ; This, to late times preserved the sage's thought, Reprov'd in secret, and in silence taught.

But Science still retir'd from public view, And, though immortal, yet she liv'd for few : Long, long her venerated page was rare, With labour copy'd, and presery'd with care ; Scarce a whole life, one transcript could produce, The toil of Poverty, for Grandeur's use : Till now, improving on the plan divine, Man bade diffusive truth in Printing shine ; By this, the labour of a thousand years The perfect produce of a month appears. Now Science lurks no longer in the shade, To every eye is every thought displayed.

Ah ! not to Science sacred is the art, Intruding Error proudly claims her part ; Through the same medium Falhood's colours

play,

And Truth's while radiance gives unbroken day The sophist quibbles with an air sedate ; The sat'rist raves, and rhiming females prate ; Here pious Kempis breathes seraphic fire ; Here Wilmot rages with impure desire ; Here Neicton reasons, and Des Cartes dreams ; Here Morgan lies, and Muggleton blasphemes.

How kind the hand, that, blest with friendl

skill.

Divides the mass, selecting good from ill ; But yet repeated dainties cloy the mind, The tastt-ful feast in Novelty we find.

For Twice Nine Years a constant treat to*

frame,

'orever tasteful, as 'tis ne'er the same ; Still with the Wholesome to unite the New, And bid the Elegant adorn the True, ?o teach, to please, to mend a letter'd age, 'his last refinement of the finish'd page ; ^his, Urban, this is thy peculiar praise, fo vain pretender to disputed bays. Still ey'ry Art, and every Muse unite,

l give at once improvement and delight ; Still thrice four thousand shall impatient wait The sterling sense that 's stamp'd with St. John's

Gate,

long live ! the plaudit of the wise to feel, While Envy yells unnoticed at thy heel.

JOHN Mum.

219, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow. [We are inclined to think that ' Mathesis ' treated s if ftaffr] were (j.a6e makes against the attribution of these lines to Johnson.]

NELSON : UNPUBLISHED LETTERS.

WHEN at Ecelefechan with a friend some years ago, I was introduced to a resident in etters of Lord Nelson which had been, addressed to a relative, a surgeon in the Navy. The possessor very kindly allowed me to copy them, and here they are :
 * hat village who, I found, possessed several

Burnham, Norfolk, DEAR SIR June 8 th 1790.

I was very glad to hear you have had so- pleasant a Voyage in all respects. Your own good
 * onduct I am well assur'd will always make you

be respected. I am much oblig'd by your remembrance. Mrs. Nelson will with thanks accept a pair or two of birds if you can spare them. I think the only way of getting them safe to London is by the waggon directed for my Brother at the Navy Office who will devise to- forward them here. As you will see I am amongst the disappointed ones in not getting one of the first ships but I understand I am soon to be employ'd since you sail'd I have been plagu'd by the seizures made whilst in the West Indies a prosecution being now ag' me for five thousand pounds sterling for one Vessel it is very true Government are defending me but the unpleas- antness still falls on me such as being served with notices & things of that kind, and may be arrested perhaps in the end if it should be given against me. I see a person may do their duty too well however a good War will sett all to rights- remember me to M r Brown & believe me

Your most faithful Humble Servant [Endorsed] HORATIO NELSON-

MR. GRAHAM

Surgeon of H.M. Ship

Adventure Portsmouth, p p* 4 d. J. A.

MR. THO* GRAHAM Liverpool.

Bath Feb 1 ? 3* 1798. MY DEAR SIR/

I am just favor'd with your letter of 29" Jan"' and am sorry if your health will permit you