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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T. de La Rue & Company, 1879 - Corsica (France : Region) - 242 pages

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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.

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