was cheerfully conceded to him with almost absolute unanimity. The university of Oxford, from which he sought in vain for the deable to him, now accorded a tardy recognition of his greatness by granting to him by diploma the honor of LL. D. He had received the same degree ten years earlier from Dublin university; but after returning thanks for the honor, he declined to wear it, and would not consent to be called doctor till Oxford had given him the title.-About this time Johnson was introduced by Arthur Murphy to Mr. Thrale, a wealthy brewer of Southwark. Thrale was a man of a well cultivated mind, of sound judg him a family group, which was afterward much enlarged, made up of a strangely assorted set of dependants and pensioners. Anna Williams, the blind daughter of a Welsh phy-gree of M. A. when it would have been valusician; Robert Levett, who practised medicine among the very poor, and often received his fees in liquor; Mrs. Desmoulins and her daughter, who had no other claim upon his benevolence than the service which the father of the former, Dr. Swinfen, had rendered to Johnson in a professional capacity in his youth; and Francis Barber, his negro servant, were among the inmates of his house.-Johnson had an implicit belief in the supernatural and invisible world. He practically adopted the maxim that it is safer to believe too much than too lit-ment, and great force of character; and his tle. He believed in the existence and appear- wife, whose name has become intimately conance of disembodied spirits, and that they nected with Johnson's history, was also a permight be manifested to our cognizance. A son of some learning and of almost unbounded case of this kind occurred in 1763, which ex-vivacity, flippant, versatile, and addicted to posed Johnson to the ridicule of his enemies. Certain strange phenomena in the form of 'rappings" about the bed of a young girl, in a house in Cock lane, caused a considerable excitement, and a number of gentlemen, of whom Johnson was one, attempted to solve the mystery. Their examinations satisfied them that the whole was a cheat and imposture, and Johnson afterward wrote out a statement of it for the "Gentleman's Magazine." But the affair was seized upon by Johnson's enemies, as exposing a vulnerable point for their attacks. | Churchill, in his poem "The Ghost," depicted Johnson in such broad caricature that it was at once recognized; and Foote the comedian proposed to present him on the stage for the amusement of the town, but abandoned his purpose upon being assured that Johnson was preparing to chastise him if he undertook it.— In 1762 Johnson received from the king a pension of £300. He had often stigmatized the whole business of giving and receiving pensions as the basest kind of bribery; but it being urged by his friends that the whole nation was his debtor for what he had written, and especially for the dictionary, and the premier assuring him that no service to the ministry would ever be expected from his pen in return for the favor, he allowed his scruples to be overcome. Early in 1765 the long promised and long delayed edition of Shakespeare made its appearance, with an elaborate preface discussing the genius and writings of the dramatist, and with a concise account of each play, and notes and commentaries, both original and selected, on various passages. But the work was not such as the reputation of the editor had promised. He no doubt possessed many valuable qualifications for such a work, yet he was better adapted for original compositions, and in this case his powers were but moderately called into requisition. His own estimate of the work did not differ greatly from that of others. He had now fully attained the height of his ambition as a scholar and man of letters. His claim to the first place among his peers hero worship. The acquaintance thus begun soon grew into friendship. Johnson dined with his new friends weekly during several succeeding months, when, having suffered by an attack of sickness, he was removed in 1766 to their residence, and had apartments assigned him in their house at Southwark, and also in their villa at Streatham. Thrale was a member of parliament for Southwark, and as his political creed was nearly allied to that of his guest, Johnson became interested in the politics of the times, and there was at one time a purpose to bring him into parliament; but the government, fearing that he would not prove sufficiently facile, did not encourage it, and so the design was abandoned. He accompanied his friends on their annual excursions, visiting various parts of the kingdom with them, and also making a visit of several weeks at Paris. His connection with this family not only brought him innumerable comforts and pleasures, but it also afforded him a retreat from his own strangely assorted household, where strifes and complaints were loud and frequent. It continued till the death of Thrale, and the subsequent marriage of his widow to Signor Piozzi, greatly to the chagrin of her friends.— A few years previous to his connection with the Thrales, Johnson had formed another association, by which his future renown was to be very largely affected. In 1763 James Boswell, a young man, the son of a Scotch judge, visited London and obtained an introduction to Johnson. Boswell was loose in life and conversation, conceited, meddling, and inquisitive, yet endowed with an insight into character, and an appreciation of qualities the furthest possible removed from his own. Johnson fancied this young Scot on first acquaintance, and Boswell at once fastened himself upon him. They were together almost daily, rambling in the parks, supping together at the Mitre tavern, or wandering the streets till after midnight. Boswell lived in Johnson's shadow, noting his words, describing his manners, and detailing the most trivial occurrences; all of 66 which were afterward embodied in his "Life of comparatively modern origin. His avowal of Johnson," by which, much more than by the of this conviction after his return led to a dictionary, or the "Rambler," or even by violent controversy between himself and the "Rasselas" and the "Vanity of Human Wish- professed translator. In 1774 he made a tour es," Johnson is known.-The founding of the in Wales with Mr. and Mrs. Thrale. His last Literary Club" belonged to this period. considerable literary work, the "Lives of the Reynolds and Johnson led in the movement, English Poets," in four volumes, appeared and among the original nine members were from 1779 to 1781, when their author was over Hawkins, Langton, Beauclerk, Goldsmith, and 70 years old; they were undertaken at the Burke. Goldsmith had a few years before request of the booksellers, and performed by become somewhat intimate with Johnson, by irregular impulses. In some respects this was whom he was greatly esteemed as a writer and one of the best written of all his works, simple cherished as an associate. During its earlier in its style, genial and appreciative in its spirit, years the club held weekly meetings for con- and full of interesting statements and valuable versation, which contributed not a little to criticisms.-About the date of the close of that maintain the balance of Johnson's strangely work the hand of death began to be busy with affected mind. New members were admitted those about him. Mr. Thrale died in 1781, with great caution, and for several years the and a few months later he removed to his own whole number did not exceed 12. In 1778 it house. In 1782 Levett died, and the next year had grown to 26, and two years later to 35, Mrs. Williams followed him. Some time bewhen 40 was fixed as its complement. The fore the last event he had suffered temporarily club is still in existence, but it has become ra- from a partial paralysis of the vocal organs. ther a learned than a convivial society.-John- In the latter part of the same summer he once son's indolent and purposeless mode of life more visited his native town; but as winter proved highly unfavorable to his spirits. His drew on he was again brought down, and his Prayers and Meditations," published after his whole system became swollen with dropsy. death, indicate the unhappy state of his mind. By the assiduity of his friends, and skilful He was accustomed to write bitter things medical treatment, he so far recovered that duagainst himself in his penitential moments, and ring the next summer he visited Derbyshire especially during Lent. Sometimes his melan- and was again at Lichfield. Late in the folcholy verged almost on insanity; and again he lowing autumn he grew worse. To physical would pass suddenly to the most extravagant suffering he was comparatively indifferent, and hilarity. His ordinary manners, especially in when near his end he earnestly entreated his his later years, were strangely eccentric. He attendants to spare no efforts, however paintalked much to himself, muttering in a vocal ful, to prolong his life. He anticipated death but generally inaudible undertone. He was with horror; but as his last hour approached never still, but sat with head inclined over the his forebodings at length gave place to humble right shoulder, his vast trunk swaying back-confidence in the divine clemency.—Few names ward and forward, and his hand keeping up a corresponding motion upon his knee. At times he would make a kind of clucking sound, and again a suppressed whistle, and still more frequently a humming noise, accompanied with a vacant smile. His conversation was often violent and discourteous, and he delighted in contradictions. During the years from 1770 to 1775 he produced several political pamphlets, all in the interest of the government, and de- tated only as to the form of his pieces, impresssigned to meet some immediate necessity. The last of these,"Taxation no Tyranny" (1775), was written to controvert the remonstrance of the American congress against taxation without representation. In this Johnson sustained the British government in its measures against the colonies, and predicted the speedy subjugation of America. In 1773 he made a tour to the highlands of Scotland and the Hebrides, through the persuasion of Boswell, who became his fellow traveller, and afterward the chronicler of the journey, of which an account was also written by Johnson. While in Scotland Johnson made inquiries respecting the original manuscripts from which Macpherson pretended to have translated the poems of Ossian, and came away with the conviction that a large share of that work was a forgery, and the rest are more conspicuous in the annals of English literature than that of Dr. Johnson. Though scarcely reckoned among English poets, his productions in that department sufficiently vindicate his claim to a recognition, and not a few judicious critics have believed that with equal devotion to that kind of writing he would have rivalled Pope or Dryden. As an essayist he is ranked with Addison and Steele, whom he imi ing whatever he thus wrote with his own individuality. He lacked their vivacity and variety, and especially their genial good humor, but surpassed them in depth of reflection and nervous energy of style. He especially excelled in biographical writing, and among his numerous sketches of personal history and mental portraitures are some that may be studied as models of their kind. As a critic, his judgment was clear and discriminating, and such was his independence that he often condemned the popular favorites of the day, and in most cases posterity has confirmed his decisions. His fictions are chiefly moral allegories; for so fully was he intent on inculcating the practical lesson of life, that it was constantly before him, and gave form and coloring to his purely imaginative productions.-The only complete edition of Johnson's works is that of Oxford (11 vols. 8vo, 1825). That by Hawkins (15 vols. 8vo, London, 1787-'9) contains several pieces not written by Johnson. That by Murphy not containing the parliamentary debates (12 vols. 8vo, London, 1792), has been frequently reprinted, and in a compact form by Bohn (2 vols. 8vo, London, 1850). Lives of Johnson are numerous. Boswell's (2 vols. 4to, London, 1791) has been many times edited. Croker's edition (5 vols. 8vo, London, 1831) is one of the best; and an exact reprint of the first edition, with notes by Percy Fitzgerald, appeared in 1874 (3 vols., London). of New York, and received with her a large landed estate in that colony, which he increased by purchase, chiefly in the valley of the Mohawk, then a wilderness. Sir Peter offered his nephew the management of his entire property in New York, if he would undertake its improvement and settlement. Johnson accepted the offer, and in 1738 established himself upon a tract of land on the Mohawk, about 24 miles from Schenectady, which Sir Peter had called Warrensburgh. In addition to the settling and improving of the country, he embarked in trade with the Indians, whom he always treated with perfect honesty and justice. He would never deal with them when they were under the influence of liquor, nor yield to them anything when he had once refused. This course, added to his easy but dignified and affable manner, and the intimacy which he cultivated with them, by accommodating himself to their manners, and sometimes even to their dress, soon won for him their entire confidence, so that he acquired an influence over them greater than was ever possessed by any other white man. He became a master of their language, speaking many of their dialects perfectly, and was thoroughly acquainted with their peculiar habits, beliefs, and customs. He was adopted by the Mohawks as one of their own tribe, chosen sachem, and named Wariaghejaghe, or Warraghiaghy, "he who has charge of affairs." Complaints against the Indian commissioners and local quarrels led to their resignation, upon which Gov. Clinton appointed Johnson, already justice of the peace, colonel of the Six Nations. In 1746 he became commissary of New York for Indian affairs, and as such was very active in sending out war parties against the French. In February, 1748, he was placed in command of all the New York colonial troops for the defence of the frontier, and showed ability in organ JOHNSON, Walter Rogers, an American physicist, born in Leominster, Mass., June 21, 1794, died in Washington, April 26, 1852. He graduated at Harvard college in 1819, and in 1821 became principal of the academy at Germantown, Pa. In 1826 the Franklin institute established a high school in Philadelphia, to give the industrial classes cheap instruction in sciences and arts, according to a plan of Mr. Johnson, and gave him the chair of mechanics and natural philosophy. He added to his instructions a public course of lectures on mechanics and philosophy, under the direction of the institute, which were largely attended by both sexes. In 1836 he commenced a series of geological investigations, with special reference to the coal formations and iron ores of Penn- | sylvania. In 1837 he was appointed to take charge of the department of magnetism, electricity, and astronomy in the United States exploring expedition, but he resigned owing to changes of the original plan. In 1839 he was appointed to the chair of chemistry and physics in the medical department of the university of Pennsylvania. In 1843 he entered upon a course of investigations, under the authority of congress, into the character of the different varieties of coal, and their absolute and relative values for generating steam and heat and pro-izing and preparing for a campaign. No imducing illuminating gas, of which a report was published in 1844. He subsequently made scientific researches on other subjects connected with the navy department; and in 1845, under appointment of the city authorities of Boston, he examined the sources from which a supply of pure water might be brought to that city. He participated in the organization of the American association of geologists, and, at its subsequent reorganization as the American association for the advancement of science, was its first secretary. portant operations took place, as peace was soon after made at Aix-la-Chapelle. In April, 1750, he was appointed a member of the provincial council. The revival of the Albany board of commissioners in 1753 led to a quarrel between the colonists and the Indians, and the council and assembly urged Col. Johnson to effect a reconciliation. The governor having granted him a new commission, July 5, 1753, he proceeded to Onondaga, held a council, and succeeded in settling the difficulty, but declined having anything further to do with Indian affairs. He lived at Fort Johnson, a large stone dwelling which he had erected upon the N. side of the Mohawk, directly opposite Warrensburgh, and which he had fortified in 1743 shortly before the commencement of the war with the French. It is now (1874) stand JOHNSON. I. Sir William, baronet, a British general and colonial officer, born at Warrentown, county Down, Ireland, in 1715, died near Johnstown, N. Y., July 11, 1774. He was a younger son of Christopher Johnson, an Irish gentleman of good family. Educated to a mercantile life, his career was entirelying in good preservation, about three miles changed by the refusal of his parents to permit him to marry a lady with whom he had fallen in love. His uncle, Admiral Sir Peter Warren, had married a daughter of Stephen De Lancey west of the present village of Amsterdam. In 1754 he attended as one of the delegates from New York the celebrated congress of Albany, and also the great council held with the In came a thriving village, and in 1772 the shire town of Tryon co. Sir William gave great attention to agriculture, and was the first who introduced sheep and blood horses into the valley of the Mohawk. He lived in the style of an old English baron, and exercised the most unbounded hospitality. He continued active in his duties as head of the Indian department, made the treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1768, and his death resulted from over-exertion at an Indian council. About 1740 he married Catharine Wisenburgh, a German girl, who died young, leaving him a widower with three children, a son, John, knighted in 1765, and two daughters, who married respectively Col. Claus and Col. Guy Johnson. Sir William never married again. He had for some years many mistresses, both Indian and white, by whom it is said that he had 100 children; and one of his earlier ones, also a German, has been the probable cause, from having been It confounded with his wife, of the erroneous statement that none of his children were legitimate. Mary, or as she is generally called Molly" Brant, the sister of Thayendanega or Joseph Brant, the great Mohawk sachem, whom he took to his house, and with whom he lived happily till his death, is by some termed his wife, but they were never legally married. He had eight children by her, whom he provided for by his will, in which he calls them his natural children. The church in a vault of which he was buried was burned down in 1837; but in 1862 the vault was discovered, and his remains were removed and reinterred. His life has been written by W. L. Stone (2 vols., 1865). II. Sir John, son of the preceding, born in 1742, died in Montreal, Canada, Jan. 4, 1830. He succeeded to his father's title in 1774, and was at the same time appointed a major general in the British service. In the revolutionary war he remained loyal to the crown, and used his influence with the Indians to inflict frequent injuries upon the frontier settlements of New York, in retaliation for the sequestration of his large estates in the Mohawk valley. He was governor of Upper Canada for several years subsequent to 1796. dians on that occasion, at which they strongly JOHNSTON, a central county of North Carolina, drained by Neuse and Little rivers; area, 660 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 16,897, of whom 5,194 were colored. It has a diversified surface, and contains iron ore and granite. The North Carolina railroad traverses it. The chief productions in 1870 were 246,338 bushels of Indian corn, 132,277 of sweet potatoes, and 4,108 bales of cotton. There were 1,366 horses, 788 mules and asses, 3,253 milch cows, 1,689 working oxen, 4,239 other cattle, 5,653 sheep, and 20,530 swine; 4 flour mills, 5 saw mills, 1 manufactory of sash, doors, and blinds, and 6 of tar and turpentine. Capital, Smithfield. JOHNSTON, Albert Sidney, an American soldier, born in Mason co., Ky., in 1803, killed at the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862. He graduated at West Point in 1826, and served on fron tier duty and in the Black Hawk war till 1834, | other principal works are: a Dictionary of when he resigned, went to Texas, enlisted as Geography" (1850-'52; last ed., 1867); a “Geoa private soldier, in 1836 became adjutant | logical Map of Europe," in the preparation of general, and soon after succeeded Gen. Felix which he was aided by Sir R. I. Murchison and Houston in the chief command of the army of Prof. Nichol; "Atlas of North America" Texas. This led to a duel, in which Johnston (1858); "Military Atlas to Alison's Europe;" was wounded. He was the Texan secretary "Royal Atlas of Modern Geography," with a of war from 1838 to 1840. On the outbreak special index to each map (1860–62, and later of the Mexican war he was made colonel of a editions), the only atlas for which a prize medal volunteer regiment of Texan rifles; his regi- was awarded at the London exhibition of 1862; ment having been discharged, he became in- and a series of six library maps of the great spector general on the staff of Gen. W. O. But- divisions of the globe (1863-'5). ler, and was present at the battle of Monterey. From 1846 to 1849 he was engaged as a farmer on the Brazos river. In October, 1849, he reëntered the United States army with the rank of major, and served as paymaster till 1855. He was then made colonel of cavalry and placed in command of the department of Texas, which | he held till August, 1857, when he took command of the expedition to Utah. In November, 1857, he was made brevet brigadier general for meritorious conduct while in command of the army in that territory. In January, 1861, he was placed in command of the department of the Pacific, but was superseded in April by Gen. Sumner. He resigned his commission May 3, entered the confederate service, and was placed in command of the division of the West. On the first day of the battle of Shiloh he received a ball in the leg which severed an artery, and he soon died from loss of blood, Gen. Beauregard succeeding to the command. JOHNSTON, Arthur, a Scottish physician, born at Caskieben, near Aberdeen, in 1587, died in Oxford in 1641. After studying at the university of Aberdeen, he went to Padua, where he completed his education in 1610. He then travelled for some time in southern and central Europe, and resided for 20 years in France. About 1632 he returned to Scotland, and was appointed physician to Charles I. In 1637 he became principal of the university of Aberdeen, but his duties as royal physician requiring his residence at court, the greater part of his subsequent life was passed in England. He was highly esteemed as a Latin poet, his principal works being Parerga et Epigrammata (Aberdeen, 1632); Cantici Salomonis Paraphrasis Poetica (London, 1633); and Paraphrasis Poetica Psalmorum Davidis (Aberdeen, 1637), by many considered equal to Buchanan's version. JOHNSTON, or Johnstone, Charles, a British JOHNSTON, Alexander, a Scottish painter, born satirist, born in Ireland early in the 18th cenin Edinburgh in 1816. He early became known tury, died in British India about 1800. He chiefly in Scotch genre painting and smaller studied law, but on account of deafness pracpictures. His more elaborate work, "Lord tised only as a chamber counsel in London; and Lady Russell receiving the Sacrament in and during his last 18 years he was a journalPrison" (1846), is in the Vernon gallery, and ist in Bengal. He published many satirical his subsequent productions include "Melanch-works, and acquired most notoriety by his thon surprised by a French Traveller while rocking the Cradle of his Child" (1854) and Tyndal translating the Bible" (1855). His "Introduction of Flora Macdonald to Prince Charlie" was exhibited at Paris in 1855. Many of his pictures have been engraved. "Chrysal, or the Adventures of a Guinea" (London, 1760; 3d and enlarged ed., 4 vols., 1761; French translation by Frenais, Paris, 1768), with contemporary sketches painting "the baser sides of literature and life." JOHNSTON, George, a Scottish naturalist, born JOHNSTON, Alexander Keith, a Scottish geog-in 1798, died in Berwick-on-Tweed, July 3, rapher, born in Kirkhill, Mid-Lothian, Dec. 28, 1804, died at Ben Rhydding, July 9, 1871. He was educated in Edinburgh, and then apprenticed to an engraver, but soon manifested a decided taste for the study of geography. That he might be able to consult the highest geographical authorities in the original, he made himself master of a number of modern languages. He also travelled extensively for scientific purposes. His first important work was the "National Atlas" (1843), which secured his election to the royal geographical society, and his appointment to the office of geographer to the queen for Scotland. In 1848 his "Physical Atlas" was published, and immediately after its appearance he was chosen member of the Gesellschaft für Erdkunde of Berlin, of the geographical society of Paris, and of the geological society of London. His 1855. After serving a medical apprenticeship with Dr. Abercrombie of Edinburgh, he entered the university of that city, where he graduated in 1819. Subsequently he settled as a medical practitioner at Berwick-on-Tweed. Amid many arduous professional duties he cultivated natural history with an enthusiasm and a success which rendered the place of his residence "one of the most classic localities in Great Britain." Apart from numerous papers contributed to the "Edinburgh Philosophical Journal" and other scientific periodicals, he published two works of first-rate importance: "History of British Zoöphytes" (2d ed., 2 vols. 8vo, London, 1847), and "History of British Sponges and Lithophytes" (8vo, 1842). In 1850 appeared his "Introduction to Conchology," with an abundance of illustrations. His latest work was "The Natural History of the East |