The sacred writers (he observed) related the vicious as well as the virtuous actions of men; which had this moral effect, that it kept mankind from despair.
After my coming to London you will be at a Loss again; though Jack Hawkesworth and Baretti both, with who I lived quite familiarly, can tell pretty nearly all my Adventures from the Year 1753. however I intend to disappoint the Dogs, and either outlive them all or write my Life myself.
[4] In 1791, Boswell was able to publish his own life and used the introduction to attack rival biographies: "But what is still worse, there is throughout the whole of it [Hawkin's Life] a dark uncharitable cast, by which the most unfavourable construction is put upon almost every circumstance in the character and conduct of my illustrious friend [Samuel Johnson]; who, I trust, will, be a true and fair delineation, be vindicated both from the injurious misrepresentation of this authour, and from the slighter aspersions of a lady who once lived in great intimacy with him.
[6] A Biographical Sketch of Dr Samuel Johnson was written by Thomas Tyers for the December 1784 edition of The Gentleman's Magazine.
[9] The Anecdotes of the late Samuel Johnson, LL.D., during the Last Twenty Years of his Life, by Hesther Lynch Piozzi, was first published 26 March 1786.
Comprehending an Account of his Studies and numerous works, in chronological order; a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons; and various original pieces of his composition, never before published: the whole exhibiting a view of literature and literary men in Great-Britain, for near half a century, during which he flourished, by James Boswell, was first published in 1791.