will find a perpetual source of
pleasure and instruction. With due precautions, authors may learn to
grace their style with elegance, harmony, and precision; they may be
taught to think with vigour and perspicuity; and, to crown the whole, by
a diligent attention to these books, all may advance in virtue.

FOOTNOTES
[a] Boswell's Life of Johnson, vol. ii. p. 465, 4to. edit.
[b] This appears in a note to Johnson's Diary, prefixed to the first of
his Prayers. After the alteration of the style, he kept his birthday
on the 18th of September, and it is accordingly marked September
7/18
[c] The impression which this interview left on Johnson's fancy, is
recorded by Mrs. Piozzi in her anecdotes; and Johnson's description
of it is picturesque and poetical. Being asked if he could remember
queen Anne, "he had (he said) a confused, but somehow a sort of
solemn recollection of a lady in diamonds, and a long black hood."
--ED.
[d] The entry of this is remarkable for his early resolution to preserve
through life a fair and upright character. "1732, Junii 15. Undecim
aureos deposui, quo die, quidquid ante matris funus (quod serum sit
precor) de paternis bonis sperare licet, viginti scilicet libras,
accepi. Usque adeo mihi mea fortuna fingenda est. Interea, ne
paupertate vires animi languescant, nec in flagitia egestas abigat,
cavendum."
[e] This, Mr. Bruce, the late traveller, avers to be a downright
falsehood. He says, a deep pool of water reaches to the very foot of
the rock; and, allowing that there was a seat or bench (which there
is not) in the middle of the pool, it is absolutely impossible, by
any exertion of human strength, to have arrived at it. But it may be
asked, can Mr. Bruce say what was the face of the country in the
year 1622, when Lobo saw the magnificent sight which he has
described? Mr. Bruce's pool of water may have been formed since; and
Lobo, perhaps, was content to sit down without a bench.
[f] After comparing this description with that lately given by Mr.
Bruce, the reader will judge, whether Lobo is to lose the honour of
having been at the head of the Nile, near two centuries before any
other European traveller.
[g] See the Gentleman's Magazine for 1736, p. 418.
[h] It is added to the present edition of Dr. Johnson's works; vol. v.
p. 202.
[i] Afterwards earl of Roslin. He died January 3, 1805.

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