A COLLECTION OF EPITAPHS AND MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS, HISTORICAL, BIOGRAPHICAL, LITERARY, AND MISCELLANEOUS. TO WHICH IS PREFIXED, AN ESSAY ON EPITAPHS. BY DR . JOHNSON .
TWO VOLUMES.
London : Lackington , Allen & Co., 1806.
Size 4 by 6.5"
272 and 288 pages plus Advertisement
Text in English
From the Advertisement:
"The compiler of this work having, for a long series of years, derived considerable amusement from visiting the "silent mansion of the dread," and transcribing therefrom such inscriptions as he deemed most worthy of preservation, is induced to offer the produce of his industry to the public, in the hope that it may prove neither uninstructive nor unentertaining int he perusal. But while he humbly claims some merit for the large portion of original matter that will be found exclusively in these volumes, he cannot withhold his obligations from the more early collectors. Todlervey , Hackettand others, from whose labours he has derived many valuable additions, which, form the perishable nature of the originals, are, with the subjects they commemorate, falling hourly into oblivion. The editor has preferred the melange to that of a classification of subjects, and if he shall thereby occasionally be guile the serious of a smile, or the volatile of a few moments' steady reflections, who, otherwise, would have restricted their reading to the department most in unison with their sentiments, his objects will be fully accomplished. Translations, of such as were originally written foreign languages, are given in this collection, and Dr. Johnsons ' celebrated Essay on epitaphs, and Addison's remarks on the same subject, are likewise given, as properly introductory introductory to the work.
London, June 10, 1806.
From the Text:
"AN ESSAY ON EPITAPHS. THOUGH criticism has been cultivated in every age of learning, by men of great abilities and extensive knowledge, till the rules of writing are become rather burthensome than instructive to the mind; though almost every species of composition has been the subject of particular treatises, and given birth to definitions, distinctions, precepts, and illustrations; yet o critic of note, that has fallen within my observation, has hitherto thought sepulchral inscriptions worthy of a minute examination, or pointed out, with proper accuracy, their beauties and defects. The reasons of this neglect it is useless to enquire , and, perhaps, impossible to discover; it might be justly expected that this kid of writing would have been the favourite topic of criticism, and that self-love might have produced some regard for it, in those authors that have crowded libraries with elaborate dissertations upon Homer; since, to afford a subject of rheroic poems is the privilege of very few, but every many may expect to be recorded in an epitaph, and therefore finds some interest in providing that his memory may not suffer by an unskillful panegyric. If our prejudices in favour of antiquity deserve to have any part in the regulation of our studies, Epitaphs seem entitled to more than common regard, as they are probably of the same age with the art of writing. The most ancient structures in the world, the Pyramids, are supposed to be sepulchral monuments, which either pride or gratitude erected; and the same passions which incited ment o such laborious and expensive methods of preserving their own memory, or that of their benefactors, would doubtless incline them not to neglect nay easier means by which the same ends might be obtained. Nature and reason have dictated to every nation, that to preserve good actions from obligation, is both the interest and duty of mankind; and therefore we find no people acquainted with the use of letters, that omitted to grace the tombs of their heroes and wise men with panegyricla inscriptions. To examine, therefore, in what the perfection of Epitaphs consists, and what rules are to be observed in composing them, will be at least of as much use as other critical enquiries ; and for assigning a few hours to such disquisitions, great examples at least, if not strong reasons, may be pleaded. An Epitaph, as the word itself implies, is an inscription on the tomb, and in its most extensive import may admit indiscriminately satire or praise..."
According to Wikipedia:
"Samuel Johnson (1709- 1784), often referred to as Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. Johnson was a devout Anglican and committed Tory, and has been described as "arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history".
He is also the subject of "the most famous single work of biographical art in the whole of literature":
James Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson.
Born in Lichfield , Staffordshire, Johnson attended Pembroke College, Oxford for just over a year, before his lack of funds forced him to leave. After working as a teacher he moved to London, where he began to write for The Gentleman's Magazine. His early works include the biography Life of Mr Richard Savage, the poems London and The Vanity of Human Wishes, and the play Irene. After nine years of work, Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language was published in 1755. It had a far-reaching effect on Modern English and has been described as "one of the greatest single achievements of scholarship".
This work brought Johnson popularity and success. Until the completion of the Oxford English Dictionary 150 years later, Johnson's was viewed as the pre -eminent British dictionary.
His later works included essays, an influential annotated edition of The Plays of William Shakespeare, and the widely read tale The History of Rasselas , Prince of Abissinia . In 1763, he befriended James Boswell, with whom he later travelled to Scotland; Johnson described their travels in A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland. Towards the end of his life, he produced the massive and influential Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, a collection of biographies and evaluations of 17th- and 18th-century poets...



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