Boswelliana: The Commonplace Book of James Boswell, with a Memoir and Annotations

by James Boswell

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Patron.

His Grace the Duke of Argyll, K.T.
His Grace the Duke of Athole.
Right Hon. the Earl of Aberdeen.
Right Hon. the Earl of Airlie.
Sir Robert John Abercrombie, Bart., of Birkenbog.
General Sir John Aitchison, K.C.B., G.C.B.
The University of Aberdeen.
Robert Vans Agnew, Esq., of Sheuchan, M.P.
Lieut.-Colonel W. R. E. Alexander.
Lieut.-Colonel A. Stewart Allan.
John Addis, Esq.
Robert Barclay Allardice, Esq.
George Anderson, Esq.
John Anderson, Esq.
James Anderson, Esq., Q.C.
Peter Anderson, Esq.
Edward Adamson, Esq., M.D.
J. W. Adamson, Esq.
Francis Aberdein, Esq., of Keithock.
Walter Armstrong, Esq.
F. S. Arnott, Esq., C.B.
John Aiton, Esq.
Charles J. Alexander, Esq.
John Anderson, Esq., LL.D., C.E.
John Macaulay Arnaud, Esq.
The Most Hon. the Marquess of Bute.
Right Hon. Lord Borthwick.
Right Hon. Lord Burleigh.
Colonel Balfour of Balfour.
Arthur James Balfour, Esq.
John Balfour, Esq., of Balbirnie.
Robert Brown, Esq., of Underwood Park.
Sir Alexander Bannerman, Bart.
Lieut.-General Walter John Browne, C.B.
The Rev. G. R. Badenoch, LL.D., F.R.H.S.
Joseph Bain, Esq., F.S.A. Scot.
Edward Chisholm Batten, Esq., M.A., F.R.S.E., of Aigas.
Richard Bennet, Esq.
Patrick Buchan, Esq., Ph.D.
John Buchanan, Esq., LL.D.
W. G. Beattie, Esq.
John Blackie, Esq.
Mark Boyd, Esq., of Merton Hall.
John Boyd, Esq., M.D.
Rev. George Weare Braikenridge, F.S.A. Scot.
Richard Rolt Brash, Esq. M.R.I.A.
A. J. Dennistoun Brown, Esq., of Balloch Castle.
Adam Brown, Esq.
John Brown, Esq.
James William Baillie, Esq., of Culter Allers.
Alexander Beattie, Esq., J.P.
Colin Rae Brown, Esq.
Walter Berry, Esq., F.S.A. Scot.
William Blewitt, Esq.
John Buchanan, Esq.
James Brunlees, Esq.
William Cunliffe Brooks, Esq., M.P.
Right Hon. the Earl of Camperdown.
Right Hon. the Earl of Cawdor.
Right Hon. Lord Clinton.
Thomas Leslie Melville Cartwright, Esq.
Major Pemberton Campbell.
Captain Campbell.
James Campbell, Esq.
Rev. Francis Cameron, D.D.
Charles Clark, Esq.
J. Ross Coulthart, Esq., F.S.A. Scot.
George Cruikshank, Esq., Honorary.
Skene Craig, Esq.
Benjamin Bond Cabbell, Esq., F.R.G.S.
Benjamin Bond Cabbell, Esq., jun.
Thomas Constable, Esq.
R. H. Campbell, Esq.
R. Campbell, Esq.
Lieut.-Colonel D. Campbell.
F. R. Campbell, Esq.
David A. Carnegie, Esq.
Colonel Charles Cheape.
William Cook, Esq.
A. Angus Croll, Esq.
J. A. Chalmers, Esq., F.S.A. Scot.
F. de Chaumont, Esq.
Captain A. M’Ra Chisholm.
George Christie, Esq.
Jonathan Henry Christie, Esq.
James Crichton, Esq., Kilbryde Castle.
Frederick William Cosens, Esq.
Thomas Craig Christie, Esq., of Bedley.
George T. Clark, Esq., of Dowlais.
T. Moir Clark, Esq.
John Coutts, Esq.
George R. Cox, Esq.
Colonel John H. Corsar.
Captain George Frederick Russell Colt.
The Chisholm.
Chetham Library, Manchester.
Charles Chalmers, Esq.
Anderson Cooper, Esq.
Right Hon. the Earl of Dalhousie, K.T.
Right Hon. the Earl of Dunmore.
Duncan Davidson, Esq., of Tulloch.
George Stirling Home Drummond, Esq., of Blair Drummond.
General John Drummond, F.R.G.S.
Alexander Duncan, Esq.
W. A. Duncan, Esq.
James W. Davidson, Esq.
John Arthur Dalziel, Esq.
A. G. Dallas, Esq., of Dunain.
Peter Denny, Esq.
Edward Octavius Douglas, Esq., of Killichassie.
James Davidson, Esq., of Ruchell.
Hector Drysdale, Esq.
George H. Dickson, Esq.
William Dickson, Esq., J.P., F.S.A., F.S.A. Scot.
A. H. Dennistoun, Esq.
Right Hon. the Earl of Elgin.
Right Hon. the Lord Elibank.
William Euing, Esq., F.R.S.E., F.S.A. Scot.
Andrew Edgar, Esq., LL.D.
The University of Edinburgh.
John Elphinstone, Esq.
Miss Mary Caroline Edgar.
Logan B. Edgar, Esq.
William Erskine, Esq.
John Alexander Ewen, Esq.
James D. Edgar, Esq., M.P., Canada.
Jonathan Edgar, Esq.
Right Hon. the Earl of Fife.
Sir William G. N. T. Fairfax, Bart.
Robert Francis Fairlie, Esq.
A. Falconer, Esq.
Thomas Falconer, Esq.
James R. Ferguson, Esq.
Sir William Forbes, Bart., of Craigievar.
Peter Forbes, Esq.
David Forsyth, Esq.
J. W. Fleming, Esq., F.R.C.S.
Robert Ferguson, Esq.
Robert O. Farquharson, Esq., F.S.A., of Haughton.
Francis Garden Fraser, Esq., of Findrack.
F. Mackenzie Fraser, Esq.
William Fraser, Esq., Edinburgh.
John Fowler, Esq., of Braemore.
William Nathaniel Fraser, Esq., of Tornaveen.
James Fletcher, Esq.
William Fraser, Esq., London.
Peter S. Fraser, Esq.
Right Hon. the Earl of Glasgow.
Lieut.-General Sir J. Hope Grant, G.C.B.
University of Glasgow.
William Galbraith, Esq.
Thomas L. Galbraith, Esq.
H. J. Galbraith, Esq.
J. Graham Girvan, Esq.
Lieut.-Colonel G. Gardyne.
Samuel Gordon, Esq.
J. Chisholm Gooden, Esq.
Peter Graham, Esq.
James Graham, Esq.
W. Cosmo Gordon, Esq., of Fyvie.
Alexander Gordon, Esq.
George J. R. Gordon, Esq., yr., of Ellon.
John Gordon, Esq.
James Guthrie, Esq.
Captain Alexander Graeme, R.N.
E. W. Garland, Esq.
Arbuthnot C. Guthrie, Esq., of Duart.
Colonel C. J. Guthrie, of Scots Calder.
C. Seaton James Guthrie, Esq., Jun., of Scots Calder.
John Gray, Esq., Q.C.
Thomas Gray, Esq.
The Most Hon. the Marquis of Huntly.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Hopetoun.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Home.
Right Hon. Lord Herries.
Right Hon. Lord Houghton, F.S.A.
Rev. J. O. Haldane.
Peter Hall, Esq.
Archibald Hume, Esq.
Robert Hay, Esq., of Nunraw.
James Henderson, Esq.
Archibald Hamilton, Esq., of South Barrow.
H. W. Hope, Esq., of Luffness.
Major John Fergusson Home, of Bassendean.
William Crichton Hepburn, Esq.
Alexander Howe, Esq., W.S.
Charles Edward Hamilton, Esq.
Henry Huggins, Esq.
William H. Hill, Esq.
Charles A. Howall, Esq.
John Hannan, Esq.
The Rev. J. Brodie Innes, of Milton Brodie.
Richard Johnson, Esq.
James Auldjo Jamieson, Esq., W.S.
Andrew Jamieson, Esq.
Colonel W. Ross King, of Tertowie, F.R.G.S., F.S.A. Scot.
Rev. William A. Keith, M.A.
Thomas Kennedy, Esq.
George R. Kinloch, Esq.
John Roger Kinninmont, Esq.
George Middleton Kiell, Esq.
Frederick Baker Kirby, Esq.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Lauderdale.
Alexander Laing, Esq., F.S.A. Scot.
J. W. Larking, Esq.
James Forbes Leith, Esq., of Whitehaugh.
John Lambert, Esq.
Rev. James Legge, D.D., LL.D.
William Leask, Esq.
J. Lenox, Esq.
James Lawrie, Esq.
Alexander Leslie, Esq.
James W. Laidlay, Esq., F.R.S.E., F.R.S. Scot.
James Lawrence, Esq.
David Laing, Esq., LL.D., F.S.A. Scot., Honorary.
William Lidderdale, Esq.
Hugh G. Lumsden, Esq., of Clova.
Right Hon. the Earl of Mar.
Right Hon. the Earl of Minto.
Right Hon. the Earl of Moray.
Keith Stewart Mackenzie, Esq., of Seaforth.
William Alexander Mackinnon, Esq., C.B.
P. Mackinnon, Esq.
The Mackintosh.
Donald MacIntyre, Esq.
Alexander Mackintosh, Esq.
Angus Mackintosh, Esq., of Holme.
Captain Colin Mackenzie.
William Menelaus, Esq.
William MacCash, Esq.
A. M’Culloch, Esq.
Charles Fraser Mackintosh, Esq., of Drummond, M.P.
Donald MacInnes, Esq.
Alexander MacInnes, Esq.
Hugh A. Mackay, Esq.
R. B. E. Macleod, Esq., of Cadboll.
T. Comyn Macgregor, Esq., of Brediland.
Hugh Edmonstoune Montgomerie, Esq., F.S.A.
John D. Macdonald, Esq., M.D., F.R.S.
J. S. Muschet, Esq., M.D., of Birkhill.
Sir James Ranald Martin, C.B., F.R.S.
W. H. Macfarlane, Esq.
George Macfarlane, Esq.
F. W. Malcolm, Esq.
John Malcolm, Esq.
I. McBurney, LL.D., F.S.A. Scot., F.E.I.S.
William Thomas Morrison, Esq.
John Whitefoord Mackenzie, W.S.
Colonel Macdonald Macdonald, of St. Martins.
Sir Robert Menzies, Bart., of Castle Menzies.
Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, Bart.
Robert W. Mylne, Esq., F.R.S., F.G.S., F.S.A. Scot.
Rev W. O. Macfarlane, M.A. Oxon.
Sir William Maxwell, Bart., of Monreith.
F. Maxwell, Esq., of Gribton.
J. Milne, Esq.
James Cornwall Miller, Esq.
Captain C. Munro, of Foulis.
Alexander B. M’Gregor, Esq.
L. Mackinnon, Esq.
John M’Rae, Esq.
David W. Murray, Esq.
James D. Marwick, Esq.
John M’Ewan, Esq.
David P. M’Euen, Esq.
Peter Handyside M’Kerlie, Esq.
Robert Mure M’Kerrell, Esq.
D. Macneil, Esq.
J. B. Murdoch, Esq.
J. W. M’Cardie, Esq., of Newpark, F.R.H.S.
James Maclaren, Esq.
William M’Combie, Esq., of Easterskene.
John C. M’Naughton, Esq., of Kilellan.
George M’Corquodale, Esq.
Colin James Mackenzie, Esq.
Graeme R. Mercer, Esq., of Gorthy.
Right Hon. Lord Napier and Ettrick.
The Hon. Lord Neaves.
W. J. Newman, Esq.
James Neish, Esq., of Laws.
Hugh Neilson, Esq.
Donald Ogilvie, Esq., of Clova.
Thomas L. Kington Oliphant, Esq., of Gask, F.S.A.
Sir J. P. Orde, Bart., of Kilmory.
Dr. William O’Donnovan.
James G. Orchar, Esq.
Colonel J. Oliphant.
R. W. Cochran Patrick, Esq., of Ladyland.
Sir J. Noël Paton, R.A.
James Park, Esq.
Hugh Penfold, Esq.
Cornelius Paine, Esq.
W. S. Purves, Esq.
Alexander Pringle, Esq., of Yair.
His Grace the Duke of Richmond.
Right Hon. the Earl of Rosebery.
Right Hon. the Earl of Rosslyn.
John Rae, Esq., LL.D., F.S.A.
Lieut.-Colonel John Ramsay, of Barra.
William Rider, Esq.
Patrick Rankin, Esq., jun.
Rev. Charles Rogers, LL.D., F.R.H.S., F.S.A. Scot., Secretary, Grampian Lodge, Forest Hill, S.E.
E. William Robertson, Esq., of Chilcote.
Edward J. Reed, Esq., C.B., M.P.
James Robb, Esq.
Andrew Ramsay, Esq., LL.D., F.R.S.
Rev. David Ogilvy Ramsay.
Major Rose, of Kilravock.
George W. H. Ross, Esq.
James Ross, Esq.
Robert Hamilton Ramsay, Esq., M.D.
The Hon. Edward S. Russell.
George Russell, Esq.
William Reid, Esq., W.S., F.S.A. Scot.
R. Milne Redhead, Esq., F.L.S., F.R.G.S.
Right Hon. the Earl of Seafield.
Right Hon. the Earl of Strathmore.
Right Hon. the Earl of Stair.
Right Hon. Lord Saltoun.
Right Hon. Sir John Stuart, F.S.A. Scot.
The Hon. Sir Charles Farquhar Shand.
George Edwin Swithinbank, LL.D., F.S.A. Scot.
William H. Smith, Esq.
Alexander Smith, Esq.
Captain Robert Steuart, of Westwood.
David Semple, Esq., F.S.A. Scot.
Thomas Stratton, Esq., M.D.
Charles A. Stewart, Esq., of Achnacone.
James Stillie, Esq.
T. W. Swinburne, Esq.
Alexander B. Stewart, Esq.
Thomas Sopwith, Esq., F.R.S., F.R.H.S.
Charles Stewart, Esq., R.N., F.S.A. Scot.
A. Campbell Swinton, Esq., F.S.A. Scot., of Kimmerghame.
Charles Shaw, Esq.
Sion College, London.
Robert R. Stodart, Esq.
C. J. Stewart, Esq.
George Stewart, Esq.
William Stewart, Esq.
H. King Spark, Esq.
John Shand, Esq., W.S.
James Frederick Spurr, Esq.
The Right Hon. Lord Talbot de Malahide.
Sir Walter Calverly Trevelyan, Bart., F.S.A., F.G.S., F.S.A. Scot.
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.
Alexander Tod, Esq., F.S.A. Scot.
Charles Tennant, Esq.
Gilbert Rainey Tennent, Esq.
Robert Tennant, Esq.
W. J. Taylor, Esq., of Glenbarry.
Thomas Aubrey Turner, Esq.
John Turnbull, Esq.
John Tweed, Esq.
Andrew Usher, Esq.
Right Hon. Lord Wharncliffe.
Sir Albert William Woods, F.S.A.
Rev. John G. Wright, LL.D.
George Ferguson Wilson, Esq., F.R.S.
William Thorburn Wilson, F.S.A. Scot.
Archibald Weir, Esq., M.D.
Thomas A. Wise, Esq., M.D., F.S.A. Scot., F.R.H.S.
J. P. Wise, Esq., Rostellan Castle.
Miss Catherine Mary Watson.
Fountaine Walker, Esq., of Foyers.
J. A. Woods, Esq.
James Wingate, Esq.
Edward Wilson, Esq.
Charles H. H. Wilson, Esq., of Dalnair.
Mrs. W. Wilson.
Andrew Wark, Esq.
Rev. W. H. Wylie.
Allan A. Maconochie Welwood, Esq., of Meadowbank.
T. W. Spencer Waugh, Esq.
Randolph Gordon Erskine Wemyss, Esq., of Wemyss and Torrie.
Mrs. Wilkie.
Evan C. Sutherland Walker, Esq., of Skibo.

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PREFACE.

James Boswell had not, by publishing his great work, the Life of Dr. Samuel Johnson, completed his literary plans. He preserved the letters he received from notable persons, and retained copies of his own. For many years he kept a journal, in which he recorded not merely his conversations with Dr. Johnson, but the diurnal occurrences of his own life. Respecting his journal, in a letter to his friend Mr. Temple, dated 22nd May, 1789, he writes:—“You have often told me that I was the most thinking man you ever knew; it is certainly so as to my own life. I am continually conscious, continually looking back or looking forward, and wondering how I shall feel in situations which I anticipate in fancy. My journal will afford materials for a very curious narrative. I assure you I do not now live with a view to have surprising incidents, though I own I am desirous that my life should tell.” Boswell evidently intended to adapt the contents of his journal to an autobiography; his early death precluded the intention.

Besides a journal, Boswell kept in a portfolio a quantity of loose quarto sheets, inscribed on each page Boswelliana. In certain of these sheets the pages are denoted by numerals in the ordinary fashion; another portion is numbered by the folios; while a further portion consists of loose leaves and letterbacks. The greater part of the entries are made so carefully as to justify the belief that the author intended to embody the whole in a volume of literary anecdotes.

At Boswell’s death his portfolio was sold along with the books contained in his house in London. It came into the possession of John Hugh Smyth Pigott, Esq., of Brockley Hall, Somersetshire, an indefatigable book collector. On Mr. Pigott’s death in 1861 the volume, bound in russia, was sold along with the stores of the Brockley library. Purchased by Mr. Thomas Kerslake, bookseller in Bristol, it was afterwards sold by him to Lord Houghton. By his lordship it was lately handed to the Grampian Club, with a view to publication.