A LETTER FROM DAVID GARRICK TO JAMES BOSWELL

CONCERNING DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON

  Adelphi

                                                                                   March 8^th 1775

Dear Sir

Too much business, a severe attack of the Stone, & my Brother’s dangerous Situation have prevented me from acknowledging your very obliging & friendly letter Sooner. Our learned Friend’s Account of You, & Yours,* has occasion’d much Speculation, & had very near been productive of Mischief—You have heard I am Sure of Letters & Messages (very rough ones indeed) that have pass’d between the Dr & Mr McPherson—but Nine days have done with their business, as they do with all other Wonderful Matters, almost annihhilated it—our friend has this day produc’d another political pamphlet call’d, Taxation no Tyranny, a very Strong attack upon the Americans & Patriots—it is said to be well & masterly done—I shall devour it the Moment I have finish’d this letter. How the dispute about Fingal will end, I cannot Yet Say; I hope not with bloody Crowns, as seem’d likely at first—an Acquaintance of the Doctor’s & formerly an Antagonist of MacPherson, (Mr Whitaker by name) by Some Strange literary Fatality, is bringing forth, in a two Shilling pamphlet , proofs of the Authenticity of Fingal!--! It has likewise been whisper’d to me, that he will be pert with our Friend—He, you know, is too great a Philosopher, in the best sense of the word, to regard, The Whips & Scorns of Time—He Superiour to the little frail Sensibilities of inferiour beings, like Antaeus, rebounds, & encreases in vigour from these attacks! And when he has blown up the billows—He

Smiles on the tumult , & enjoys the Storm!

Have his Hebrides lost him any Friends at Edinburgh?—Fame says—Yes.—

  Becket is a fool --& We plague him much about his Erse-knowledge & Learning

  Your theatrical Matters are very ill manag’d—the Stage would have been a very comfortable business in Scotland for any Sensible, good Actor, with good Management, but Your Directors are too great Rakes, and too fine Gentleman, to serve themselves, or please their audiences.

   Pray Let us See You Soon, & bring your Spirits, good humour & unaffected Mirth along with You. I am Dr Sr

                                                                                                                   Most sincerely, Yours

                                                                                                                                       D Garrick

I write in great haste & not in Spirits, but in great pain –the Gout has fix’d upon my right thumb, & the post-man can’t stay another Moment! Adieu. 

*Johnson’s A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland

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