attack on the constitution, and have rescinded the resolution from their journals.

The political career of Johnson received no check from the numerous aspersions on his character which the opposite party took care to disseminate. The year succeeding the publication of his False Alarm, he printed Thoughts on the late Transactions respecting Falkland's Islands, 8vo; the materials of which were furnished by the ministry, and were intended as a defence of the line which they pursued in their dispute with the Court of Spain concerning the right of dominion over those barren tracks. This ranks among the most splendid of the compositions of Johnson, and, though perhaps erroneous in a political light, will be read with great pleasure by every friend to humanity, as containing one of the most eloquent. dissuasives from offensive war. It comprises, likewise, a severe and well-merited character and writings of Junius.

attack on the

The temporary celebrity which our moralist had now acquired as a politician, induced his friend Mr. Strahan to wish for his introduction in the House of Commons. Well acquainted with his predilection for government, and justly entertaining a high idea of his oratorial powers, he concluded that as a member of parliament he might be of essential service to administration. He

accordingly proposed the plan to one of the Secretaries of State; but, from some cause not hitherto discovered, the application proved ineffectual.

On the return of a general election in 1774, in which his friend Mr. Thrale had the unpleasant prospect of a warm contest, Johnson again came forward in the arena, and published a short pamphlet under the title of The Patriot; addressed to the Electors of Great Britain, 8vo. To define what a Patriot is; to expose the characters of the opposition who arrogated to themselves the appellation of Patriots; indirectly to defend the outrage of the Commons with regard to the Middlesex election; and to repel the claims of America, are the objects of this address, which includes much sophistry in argument, much asperity of language, and much sarcastic contempt of his adversaries.

The production, however, which displays, in the broadest light, the arbitrary principles, and party zeal of Johnson, was published in 1775, and entitled Taxation no Tyranny, an Answer to the Resolutions and Address of the American Congress, Svo. In this intemperate performance will be found the most violent and unmerited abuse of the Americans, who, he contended, though pos sessing a legislature of their own, ought to be taxed by a British Parliament, in which they had neither peers nor representatives; and in default

of consent to this reasonable proposition, he recommends the employment of force, "such a force as may take away, not only the power, but the hope of resistance.'

With regard to this virulent philippic, even his enthusiastic friend Mr. Boswell speaks in a tone of decided reprehension; "the extreme violence," he says, "which it breathed, appeared to me so unsuitable to the mildness of a christian philosopher, and so directly opposite to the principles of peace which he had so beautifully recommended in his pamphlet respecting Falkland's Islands, that I was sorry to see him appear in so unfavourable a light. Besides, I could not perceive in it that ability of argument, or that felicity of expression, for which he was, upon other occasions, so eminent. Positive assertion, sarcastical severity, and extravagant ridicule, which he himself reprobated as a test of truth, were united in this rhapsody."+

For these high-toned ministerial pamphlets he was severely censured by many respectable literary characters, nor was his situation as a pensioner spared in the controversy. It does not appear, however, that in writing these pamphlets, notwithstanding the last was undertaken at the ex

* Murphy's edition of Johnson, vol. 8, p. 201.

+ Life of Johnson, vol. 2. p. 321.

press desire of the ministry, he was delivering any other than his own real sentiments; and it is highly probable that, if he had never received a farthing from government, and had voluntarily engaged in the contest, he would have expressed himself with the same vehemence and partiality. As early as 1769, speaking of the Americans to Dr. John Campbell, he exclaimed, “Sir, they are a race of convicts, and ought to be thankful for any thing we allow them short of hanging."*

For rancour and abuse, for want of candour and of justice, however, there can be no apology, and it must be greatly regretted by every good and wise man, that Johnson, whose pen had been productive of so much moral excellence, should ever be induced to dip it in party politics.†

By the publication, in 1775, of his Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland, Johnson became entitled to the appellation of a TOURIST. This excursion he undertook, in company with Mr. Boswell, in the autumn of 1773; it had long been an object of contemplation with him, and he had for many years delighted to talk over the intended route; his father, indeed, when he was

Life of Johnson, vol. 2, p. 321.

Johnson published these Tracts in one volume 8vo; in 1775, under the title of Political Tracts, by the author of the Rambler.

very young, had put Martin's Voyage to St. Kilda into his hands; with which he was so highly pleased, that it is probable the wish of visiting these remote islands then commenced.

He reached Scotland on the 18th of August, and left it, on his return to London, the 22d of November. He went by the way of Berwick upon Tweed to Edinburgh; where having passed a few days, he prosecuted his route to the Hebrides, through St. Andrews, Aberdeen, Inverness, and Fort Augustus. He then visited the isles of Sky, Rasay, Col, Mull, Inchkenneth, and Icolmkill, and, regaining the continent, travelled through Argyleshire, by Inverary, and thence by Lochlomond, Dumbarton, Glasgow, &c. to the northern metropolis, where he again spent some time before he finally quitted it for England.

The conversation which took place between Johnson and the literati of Scotland, and the various adventures which occurred during this singular peregrination, have been recorded with characteristic, fidelity by Mr. Boswell, in his "Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides;" a work abundantly stored with amusement, and which Mr. Courtenay has delineated in the following just, though encomiastic lines: speaking of Johnson, he says,