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 iii
... thoughts which swelled the breast Of generous Boswell ; when with nobler aim And views beyond the narrow beaten track By trivial fancy trod , he turned his course From polished Gallia's soft delicious vales , From the grey reliques of ...
... thoughts which swelled the breast Of generous Boswell ; when with nobler aim And views beyond the narrow beaten track By trivial fancy trod , he turned his course From polished Gallia's soft delicious vales , From the grey reliques of ...
Page xiii
... thought that at the very same time the two most famous writers that Ayr- shire can boast , men whose homes were but a few miles apart , were at the same time drinking them- selves to death . Burns outlived Boswell little more than a ...
... thought that at the very same time the two most famous writers that Ayr- shire can boast , men whose homes were but a few miles apart , were at the same time drinking them- selves to death . Burns outlived Boswell little more than a ...
Page 3
... thoughts on composing for you . ” " He was , " adds Dr. Rogers , " of a tall , portly form , and to the last wore gaiters and a flapped vest . By this last description Dr. Rogers's readers may be pleasantly reminded of an anecdote that ...
... thoughts on composing for you . ” " He was , " adds Dr. Rogers , " of a tall , portly form , and to the last wore gaiters and a flapped vest . By this last description Dr. Rogers's readers may be pleasantly reminded of an anecdote that ...
Page 7
... thought a genius , or a wit . The reluctance with which you always repeat your Cub , † and the gravity of counte- nance which you always assume upon that occasion , are convincing proofs of this assertion . You hate flattery , too , but ...
... thought a genius , or a wit . The reluctance with which you always repeat your Cub , † and the gravity of counte- nance which you always assume upon that occasion , are convincing proofs of this assertion . You hate flattery , too , but ...
Page 10
... thought , indeed , that my firing so great a gun , would have produced a speedy and a suitable echo , and I had no doubt of at least being paid the interest of a sum so very large . I now give you fair warning , that if something is not ...
... thought , indeed , that my firing so great a gun , would have produced a speedy and a suitable echo , and I had no doubt of at least being paid the interest of a sum so very large . I now give you fair warning , that if something is not ...
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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.