“His saltern accumulem donis, et fungar inani
  Munere.”—­

The author of these memoirs has been anxious to give the features of the man, and the true character of the author.  He has not suffered the hand of partiality to colour his excellencies with too much warmth; nor has he endeavoured to throw his singularities too much into the shade.  Dr. Johnson’s failings may well be forgiven, for the sake of his virtues.  His defects were spots in the sun.  His piety, his kind affections, and the goodness of his heart, present an example worthy of imitation.  His works still remain a monument of genius and of learning.  Had he written nothing but what is contained in this edition, the quantity shows a life spent in study and meditation.  If to this be added, the labour of his Dictionary, and other various productions, it may be fairly allowed, as he used to say of himself, that he has written his share.  In the volumes here presented to the public the reader 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