I MY DEAR SIR, N every narrative, whether historical or biographical, authenticity is of the utmoft confequence. Of this I have ever been fo firmly perfuaded, that I infcribed a former work to that person who was the best judge of its truth. I need not tell you I mean General Paoli; who, after his great, though unfuccefsful, efforts to preferve the liberties of his country, has found an honourable afylum in Britain, where he has now lived many years the object of Royal regard and private b private refpect; and whom I cannot name without expreffing my very grateful sense of the uniform kindness which he has been pleased to fhew me. The friends of Doctor Johnfon can beft judge, from internal evidence, whether the numerous converfations which form the most valuable part of the enfuing pages, are correctly related. To them, therefore I wish to appeal, for the accuracy of the portrait here exhibited to the world. As one of those who were intimately acquainted with him, you have a title to this addrefs. You have obligingly taken the trouble to peruse the original manuscript of this Tour, and can vouch for the ftrict fidelity of the present publication. Your li terary alliance with our much lamented friend, in confequence of having undertaken to render one of his labours more complete, by your edition of Shakspeare, a work which I am confident will not disappoint the expectations of the publick, gives you another claim. But I have a ftill more powerful in ducement ducement to prefix your name to this volume, as it gives me an opportunity of letting the world know that I enjoy the honour and happiness of your friendship; and of thus publickly teftifying the fincere regard with which I am, My dear Sir, Your very faithful And obedient servant, LONDON, 20th September, 1785. JAMES BOSWELL. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE THIRD EDITION. ANIMATED by the very favourable recep tion which two large impreffions of this work have had, it has been my ftudy to make it as perfect as I could in this edition, by correcting fome inaccuracies which I difcovered myself, and fome which the kindness of friends or the fcrutiny of adverfaries pointed out. A few notes are added, of which the principal object is, to refute, mifreprefentation and calumny. To the animadverfions in the periodical Journals of criticism, and in the numerous publications to which my book has given rife, I have made no anfwer. Every work muft ftand or fall by its own merit. I cannot, however, omit this opportunity of returning thanks to a gentleman who published a Defence of my Journal, and has added to the favour by communicating his name to me in a very obliging letter. It would be an idle wafte of time to take any particular notice of the futile remarks, to many of which, a petty national refentment, unworthy of my countrymen, has probably given rife; remarks, which have been industriously circulated in the publick prints by fhallow or envious cavillers, who have endeavoured to perfuade the world that Dr. Johnson's character has been lessened by recording fuch various inftances of his lively wit and acute judgment, on every topick that was presented to |