essay; and, though no more was intended, Garrick, we are told, remembered it with uneasiness. He was also hurt that his Lichfield friend did not think so highly of his dramatic art as the rest of the world. The fact was, Johnson could not see the passions as they rose and chased one another in the varied features of that expressive face ; and by his own manner of reciting verses, which was wonderfully impressive ', he plainly shewed that he thought there was too much of artificial tone and measured cadence in the declamation of the theatre. The present writer well remembers being in conversation with Dr. Johnson near the side of the scenes during the tragedy of King Lear : when Garrick came off the stage, he said, ' You two talk so loud you destroy all my feelings.' ' Prithee,' replied Johnson, ' do not talk of feelings, Punch has no feelings V This seems to have been his settled opinion ; admirable as Garrick's imitation of nature always was, Johnson thought it no better than mere mimickry. Yet it is certain that he esteemed and loved Garrick ; that he dwelt with pleasure on his praise ; and used to declare, that he deserved his great success, because on all applications for charity he gave more than was asked V After
1 Ante, p. 347. Adam Smith wrote of players:
2 Life, iv. 7, 243 ; v. 38. Post, in ' It seems absurd at first sight that Reynolds's Dialogues. we should despise their persons, and
Johnson in two notes on A Mid- yet reward their talents with the
summer Night's Dream, Act i. sc. 4, most profuse liberality,' Wealth of
ridicules the players. ' Bottom, who Nations, Bk. i. ch. 10. See also ib.,
is generally acknowledged the prin- Bk. ii. ch. 3.
cipal actor, declares his inclination This was written, though not pub-
to be for a tyrant, for a part of fury, lished, before he joined the Literary
tumult and noise, such as every young Club, where he met Garrick, who
man pants to perform when he first pronounced his conversation flabby.
steps upon the stage. The same Life, iv 24, n. 2. In Gil Bias, Bk.
Bottom, who seems bred in a tiring- iii. chs. II and 12, is shown why an
room, has another histrionical pas- author so often despises actors,
sion. He is for engrossing every 3 Murphy (Life of Garrick, p. 378)
part, and would exclude his inferiors says : ' Dr. Johnson often said that,
from all possibility of distinction. . . . when he saw a worthy family in
Here Bottom again discovers a true distress, it was his custom to collect
genius for the Stage by his solicitude charity among such of his friends as
for propriety of dress, and his deli- he knew to be affluent ; and on those
beration which beard to chuse among occasions he received from Garrick
many beards all unnatural.' more than from any other person,
Garrick's
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