Sales catalogue 628: Maggs Bros

Date:
1936
Reference:
WA/HMM/CM/Sal/13/165
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue 628: Maggs Bros. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/116 page 15
    DILLY’S APOLOGY FOR ‘‘ PIRATING ’’? FROM BOSWELL’S JOHNSON. 282 BOSWELL (JAMES, 1740-1795). The famous Biographer of Dr. Johnson. AVERY PINE ANDeEXTREMELY INTERESTING AUTO: GRAPH MANUSCRIPT IN THE HAND OF JAMES BOSWELL, WRITTEN BY HIM: POR: CHARLES ‘DILLY, BEING THE LATTER’S APOLOGY FOR HAVING PIRATED FROM BOBWEELS Litt OF JOHNSON.” I page, 4to. (SEE ILLUSTRATION, FRONTISPIECE). £175: An extremely important manuscript entirely in the hand of James Boswell, believed to have been written in the shop of Charles Dilly, the publisher. It is Dilly’s apology for insertion in the Public Press for having pirated from Boswell’s ‘‘ Life of Johnson.’’ It deals with the celebrated letter written by Dr. Johnson to Lord Chesterfield, concerning the latter’s contributions to ‘‘ The World ’’ regarding Johnson’s Dictionary; and also referring to Johnson’s private conversation with George III, an incident which gratified his monarchal enthusiasm and which he loved to relate with all its circumstances when requested by his. friends. The manuscript reads: ‘“ From our desire to furnish interesting entertainment to our readers we. inserted Dr. Johnson’s Conversation with his Majesty and his celebrated letter to the Earl of Chesterfield, which we extracted from Mr. Boswell’s Life of Dr. Johnson. We had not the smallest apprehension that we were invading Literary Property which we hold sacred. But it seems those two valuable articles were entered in Stationers’ Hall as separate Publications which was advertised in some- of the Newspapers; but the Advertisements escaped us. We are very sorry for the mistake. But Mr. Boswell is too candid to take any advantage and upon our assuring him of the fact has declared he will not prosecute.’’ In February, 1767, there happened one of the most remarkable incidents in Johnson’s life. This was his being honoured by a private conversation with his Majesty in the library of the Queen’s house. Johnson frequently visited the library, and the King being informed of these visits, desired to be told when Dr. Johnson came there. 283 BOSWELL (JAMES). AUTOGRAPH LETIEE SIGNED 1O MR, NICHOLS, THE. PRINTER. I page, 4to. Great Queen Street. N.D. | £65 A very fine letter concerning a statement made by Sir John Hawkins in his ‘‘ Life of Dr. Johnson ”’ that he possessed six folio volumes of Dr. Johnson’s Adversaria. ‘“T send you a frank for Mrs. Green ; you will please to observe that Sir John Hawkins in Dr. Johnson’s Life near the beginning (for I have it not by me at present) admits possession of his Adversaria extending to six folio volumes. ‘“T beg you may send a note to him to deliver that part which he has. kept back.’’
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