Boswell's Correspondence with the Honourable Andrew Erskine: And His Journal of a Tour to Corsica (reprinted from the Original Editions) |
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Page vi
... believe in their Arthurs and their Tells . The Corsicans are , indeed , from time to time found in one or other of the great tracks of European history . As Boswell says , their island had belonged to the Phoenicians , the Etruscans ...
... believe in their Arthurs and their Tells . The Corsicans are , indeed , from time to time found in one or other of the great tracks of European history . As Boswell says , their island had belonged to the Phoenicians , the Etruscans ...
Page xii
... believe , who have , or think they have , a very small share of vanity . Such may speak of their literary fame in a decorous state of diffi- dence . But I confess that I am so formed by na- ture and by habit , that to restrain the ...
... believe , who have , or think they have , a very small share of vanity . Such may speak of their literary fame in a decorous state of diffi- dence . But I confess that I am so formed by na- ture and by habit , that to restrain the ...
Page 3
... believe , in his book . " Dr. Johnson used to laugh at a passage in Carte's ' Life of the Duke of Ormond , ' where he gravely observed that he was always in full dress when he went to Court ; too many being in the practice of going ...
... believe , in his book . " Dr. Johnson used to laugh at a passage in Carte's ' Life of the Duke of Ormond , ' where he gravely observed that he was always in full dress when he went to Court ; too many being in the practice of going ...
Page 9
... So good night , and believe me , Yours , JAMES BOSWELL * The rest of Boswell's verses - more than a hundred in number -the reader will thank me for omitting . - ED . LETTER IV . Auchinleck , Oct. 10 , 1761 . LETTER III . 9.
... So good night , and believe me , Yours , JAMES BOSWELL * The rest of Boswell's verses - more than a hundred in number -the reader will thank me for omitting . - ED . LETTER IV . Auchinleck , Oct. 10 , 1761 . LETTER III . 9.
Page 13
... believe we great geniuses are all a little subject to the sorcery of that whimsical demon the spleen , which indeed we cannot complain of , considering what power of enchantment we ourselves possess , by the sweet magic of our flowing ...
... believe we great geniuses are all a little subject to the sorcery of that whimsical demon the spleen , which indeed we cannot complain of , considering what power of enchantment we ourselves possess , by the sweet magic of our flowing ...
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Common terms and phrases
Account of Corsica acquaintance admirable affectionate friend agreeable Ajaccio ancient ANDREW ERSKINE appear Auchinleck Bastia believe bien Boswell's Britain called Captain Andrew character Corsicans Corte criticism curious David Hume Dear Boswell death Donaldson Edinburgh English entertained epistle excellent fame father France French genius Genoa Genoese gentleman give guards hangman happy heart honour hope Horace Walpole humour imagine JAMES BOSWELL Jew's harp Johnson Journal King Lady Leghorn letter liberty live London Lord manner Marboeuf Marischal married mind Morpeth nation nature Nebbio never New-Tarbat noble obliged observed Pascal Paoli passion pleased pleasure poems poet praise present publick published received Republic of Genoa Romans Rome Rousseau Samuel Johnson Scotland sent servant shew Signor Buttafoco spirit talk tell thing thought told tour town visited Voltaire volume wish write wrote
Popular passages
Page 27 - I HAVE observed, that a reader seldom peruses a book with pleasure, till he knows whether the writer of it be a black or a fair man, of a mild or choleric disposition, married or a bachelor, with other particulars of the like nature, that conduce very much to the right understanding of an author.
Page 183 - I translated it into Italian for them, and never did I see men so delighted with a song as the Corsicans were with the Hearts of Oak. 'Cuore di quercia,
Page 71 - Passion, which are always the same, the first writers took possession of the most striking objects for description, and the most probable occurrences for fiction, and left nothing to those that followed them, but transcription of the same events, and new combinations of the same images.
Page 195 - Why, sir, if the fellow does not think as he speaks, he is lying : and I see not what honour he can propose to himself from having the character of a liar. But if he does really think that there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, sir, when he leaves our houses let us count our spoons.
Page 63 - Johnson, for sport perhaps, or from the spirit of contradiction, eagerly maintained that Derrick had merit as a writer. Mr. Morgann argued with him directly, in vain. At length he had recourse to this device. " Pray, sir (said he), whether do you reckon Derrick or Smart the best poet ?" Johnson at once felt himself roused; and answered, " Sir, there is no settling the point of precedency between a louse and a flea.
Page 182 - Behaviour had gained so far on the Emperor and his Court, and indeed upon the Army and People in general, that I began to conceive Hopes of getting my Liberty in a short Time. I took all possible Methods to cultivate this favourable Disposition.
Page 191 - ... occurrences. Thus Sallust, the great master of nature, has not forgot, in his account of Catiline, to remark that his walk was now quick, and again slow, as an indication of a mind revolving something with violent commotion.
Page 190 - I had often enough formed the idea of a man continually such as I could conceive in my best moments. But this idea appeared like the ideas we are taught in the schools to form of things which may exist, but do not ; of seas of milk, and ships of amber. But I saw my highest idea realised in Paoli. It was impossible for me, speculate as I pleased, to have a little opinion of human nature in him.
Page 171 - Hi mores, haec duri immota Catonis Secta fuit: servare modum, finemque tenere, Naturamque sequi, patriaeque impendere vitam; Nee sibi, sed toti genitum se credere mundo.
Page 106 - Near this place is interred Theodore, King of Corsica, Who died in this parish Dec. 11, 1756, Immediately after leaving the King's Bench Prison, By the benefit of the Act of Insolvency, In consequence of which he registered His Kingdom of Corsica For the use of his Creditors.