“I would not believe that Johnson wrote otherwise, though Johnson himself should affirm it.
“Again, in the last number of the Rambler, Johnson says, or is made to say, ‘I have endeavoured to refine our language to grammatical purity.’ How tame, dull, flat, lifeless, insipid, prosaic, &c. is this, compared to what the Knight has substituted—‘grammar and purity!’ A fine instance of the figure, Hen dia duoin, like Virgil’s pateris et auro, or like—; but I will not overpower you with my learning,” &c.
The whole of this is admirable, and expressed in a style of the purest humour.
Much of this same quality is also conspicuous in Porson’s character of Gibbon, as it is given in his Preface to the Letters to Travis; which character, notwithstanding its great severity, induced Gibbon to solicit an interview with Porson. This accordingly took place, by the intervention of honest Peter Elmsley, and was once repeated, but no acquaintance or further communication ensued. Porson was not of a disposition to pay court even to the most eminent characters; and Gibbon then stood on the highest pinnacle of literary fame, and probably did not take the necessary steps to secure Porson’s further correspondence.
With respect to the other branches of Porson’s family, some errors have found their way into the public prints. His younger brother’s name was Thomas. He is mentioned first, because he received the same benefit, with respect to education, under Mr. Hewitt and Mr. Summers, as his elder brother, the Professor. His talents were thought by no means to be inferior; he was certainly an excellent scholar, or possessed the faculty of becoming such. No efforts were, however, made in his favour to obtain for him similar advantages. He became assistant to the Rev. Mr. Hepworth, a very respectable clergyman, and amiable man, who kept a school first at Wymondham, in Norfolk, and afterwards was master of the free grammar school at Northwalsham. Thomas Porson, on leaving Mr. Hepworth, opened a school at Fakenham, which is likewise in Norfolk. Here he married, and died young. The second brother, Henry Porson, was not a scholar, but an admirable accountant. Mrs. Hawes has already been mentioned.—She has five children. The eldest son was for a time a member of Benet College, Cambridge; but he also had his scruples on the subject of subscription to the articles of the Church of England, and declined entering into orders. Though not disinclined to literary pursuits, he thought, and thought justly, that literature as a profession, was but an indifferent speculation; he resolved, therefore, to enter into more active life.—He is now at Buenos Ayres.
Now, then, alas! the moment is come, when we are to take a final leave of our illustrious friend.—Whatever were his errors, his failings, and his infirmities, he was, as far as talent, learning, and intellectual distinction is concerned, a great man. His loss will ever be deplored by those who intimately knew him; and the tenderest regret will, as long as life shall endure, be everlastingly excited, when memory brings to the view of him who writes this narrative, the instructive, interesting, and pleasing hours spent in his society.
Hunc unum Plurimi consentiunt
Doctorum doctissimum fuisse
Ricardum Porsonum.
ΕΑΝ ΔΕ ΤΙ ΦΑΙΝΗΤΑΙ ΥΜΕΝ
ΠΡΟΣΘΕΙΝΑΙ Η ΑΦΕΛΑΙ
ΕΥΧΑΡΙΣΤΩΜΕΣ
ΕΡΡΩΣΤΕ.