xxii DR. JOHNSON'S LIFE OF
upon it, not in a letter, but a book ; in which, though mingled with some positions fabulous and uncertain, there are acute remarks, just censures, and profound speculations, yet its principal claim to admiration is, that it was written in twenty-four hours,* of which part was spent in procuring Browne's book, and part in reading it. Of these animadversions, when they were yet not all printed, either officiousness or malice informed Dr. Browne ; who wrote to Sir Ken elm with much softness and ceremony, declaring the unworthiness of his work to engage such notice, the intended privacy of the composition, and the corruptions of the im- pression ; and received an answer equally gentle and respectful, containing high commendations of the piece, pompous professions of reverence, meek ac- knowledgments of inability, and anxious apologies for the hastiness of his remarks. The reciprocal civility of authors is one of the most risible scenes in the farce of life. Who would not have thought, that these two luminaries of their age had ceased to endeavour to grow bright by the ob- scuration of each other : yet the animadversions thus weak, thus precipitate, upon a book thus injured in the transcription, quickly passed the press ; and Reli- gio Medici was more accurately published, with an admonition prefixed " to those who have or shall pe- ruse the observations upon a former corrupt copy;" in which there is a severe censure, not upon Digby, who was to be used with ceremony, but upon the Observator who had usurped his name : nor was this invective written by Dr. Browne, 5 who was supposed
- Digbtfs Letter to Browne, vol. ii, p. xxix.
5 nor was this invective, §c.~ Yet as that of the advertisement relating to the style of this admonition would justify Nature's Cabinet Unlocked, which Dr. our ascribing it to Browne, quite as much Johnson considers to have been his.
