Dr. John Armstrong, littérateur, and associate of Smollett, Thomson, Wilkes, and other celebrities / Lewis M. Knapp.
- Knapp, Lewis M. (Lewis Mansfield)
- Date:
- [1944?]
Licence: In copyright
Credit: Dr. John Armstrong, littérateur, and associate of Smollett, Thomson, Wilkes, and other celebrities / Lewis M. Knapp. Source: Wellcome Collection.
11/40 page 1029
![There is only one Gentleman more to be of the party, and it is one I assure my¬ self you will like at the first interview, perhaps we may be joined by L-Ken- mure46 who is so much of a Gentleman that one forgets he is a Lord. The Ren- devous [sic] is to be at the British Coffee house Charing Cross between twelve and one. For god’s sake come if you can, and if you incline to take Ranelagh in your way home I’m your man for that too. Dear Sir Your most faithful humble Serv*. John Armstrong.46 Thursday Night. This dinner at the old Swan tavern, not far from Smollett’s home in Chelsea, suggests other associations between Smollett, Dr. William Magie, and their friend Lord Kenmure. On such convivial occasions there was surely some discussion of Arm¬ strong’s current publications. His poem Of Benevolence: An Epistle to Eumenes appeared in folio in 1751, printed for Millar. This is a short piece of 153 lines written in prosy couplets. It displays a strong humani¬ tarian impulse consistently characteristic of its author. In his Miscel¬ lanies (i, 113) Armstrong wrote: “This little piece was addressed to a worthy Gentleman, as an expression of gratitude for his kind endeavors to do the Author a great piece of service.” Who the gentleman (Eumenes) was remains a mystery. In his poem Armstrong declares that he has no serious literary ambitions: Not oft I sing: the happier for the town, So stun’d already they’re quite stupid grown With monthly, daily—charming things I own. Happy for them, I seldom court the Nine; Another art, a serious art is mine. Of nauseous verses offer’d once a week, You cannot say I did it, if you’re sick. ’Twas ne’er my pride to shine by flashy fits Among the daily, weekly, monthly wits. Content if some few friends indulge my name, So slightly am I stung with love of fame, I would not scrawl one hundred idle lines— Not for the praise of all the Magazines.47 To please a few select souls above the vulgar mob and to be a man of benevolence and honor is better than to be merely successful as a poet— such is Armstrong’s central theme, presented, I believe, in all sincerity. 45 L-Kenmure was probably the Hon. John Gordon of Kenmure (1713-69). But for the forfeiture of the title in 1715 he would have been a lord. 46 B.M. Add. MS. 30, 875, f. 13. 47 Of Benevolence, 11. 3-15.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30632018_0011.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
