In my last post I was writing about the relationship between Johnson and Richard Savage that puzzled people as much at the time as it does today. Boswell mentions John Hawkins opinion that Johnson, ‘‘being an admirer of genteel manners, was captivated by the address and demeanour of Savage, who as to his exterior, was to a remarkable degree accomplished.’’ Johnson himself described Savage as having, ‘‘a grave and manly deportment, a solemn dignity of mien; but which, upon a nearer acquaintance, softened into an engaging easiness of manners.’’ – So he found him charming, in fact you almost get the sense that Johnson was mesmerised by this man.
Boswell writes that ‘It is melancholy to reflect, that Johnson and Savage were sometimes in such extreme indigence, [poverty] that they could not pay for a lodging; so that they have wandered together whole nights in the streets.’ ‘… he told Sir Joshua Reynolds, that one night in particular, when Savage and he walked round St. James’s-square for want of a lodging, they were not at all depressed by their situation; but in high spirits…’ But Boswell goes on rather delicately, ‘I am afraid, however, that by associating with Savage, who was habituated to the dissipation and licentiousness of the town, Johnson, though his good principles remained steady, did not entirely preserve the conduct, for which, in days of greater simplicity, he was remarked [upon] by his friend, Mr. Hector; but was imperceptibly led into some indulgences which occasioned much distress to his virtuous mind.’ That Boswell is unable to quite say what he really means is ironic considering the way that he, in his London journal, described his own behaviour with women he picked up in some almost scientific detail. (However he did frequently regret his behaviour especially when he contracted sexually transmitted diseases, especially then.)
So what of Johnson’s wife, Tetty who I first mentioned in Blog 4, Poverty and Marriage? In his writing on Johnson’s life, Boswell realises that readers will be interested in what became of her since she and Johnson appeared so much in love once. Boswell obviously considered the idea that the reader will be wondering how come Johnson spends nights in the open or in different shelters for the homeless of the time – and with this other bloke, Richard Savage. Boswell tells us this:- ‘As Johnson was married before he settled in London, and must have always had a habitation for his wife, some readers have wondered, how he ever could have been driven to stroll about with Savage, all night, for want of a lodging. But it should be remembered, that Johnson, at different periods, had lodgings in the vicinity of London; and his finances certainly would not admit of a double establishment. When, therefore, he spent a convivial day in London, and found it too late to return to any country residence he may occasionally have had, having no lodging in town, he was obliged to pass the night in the manner described above; for, though at that period, it was not uncommon for two men to sleep together, Savage it appears, could accommodate him with nothing but his company in the open air.’
Of course, those of you who are reading this blog regularly will recall the fact that Johnson used up most of Tetty’s savings trying to run his own school back in Blog 4. And it seems to me that Boswell is blinded by his affection for Johnson here because while he says Johnson ‘must have always had a habitation for his wife,’ it’s not difficult to imagine that she was the one who kept their domestic situation together and paid for it, not him. I mean it’s not as if there is any mention of him sending money to her, at least not yet, maybe that comes later. But what money? Johnson doesn’t appear to have had much, and considering the nature of his dangerous friend, Savage, I’d have thought Johnson would, like other people at the time, have been lending him money before thinking about Tetty. (Pity I couldn’t meet Boswell and argue the point.) When in 1737 Samuel Johnson was thought to have met Richard Savage, he was twenty eight and Savage was forty. When James Boswell first met Samuel Johnson in 1763, he was twenty three and Johnson was fifty four. I should imagine that the age differences played a significant part in these relationships. Although I don’t know this, relationships of some intensity between younger and older men who were educated and perhaps privileged might have been common in the 18th Century in a way that wouldn’t be the case now except where men are lovers. I get the sense from reading Boswell’s delightful writing that intellect and conversation were highly valued then, in direct opposition to what is now true when freakishly stupid people [celeb-ratties] command attention in all our different forms of media. Back in the 18th Century, of course, there wasn’t all that much going on in terms of ‘entertainment’ or hobbies… bit of lace making for the ‘ladies’ and conversations in coffee houses for the men. I’m slightly kidding here, although I might not be that much off target.
Back for a moment with Richard Savage, Boswell has much to say about the curious friendship between Savage and Johnson that began three years before he was born himself. He was of the opinion that Savage was a fraud:- ‘… shall we not rather believe that the person who then assumed the name of Richard Savage was an imposter, being in reality the son of a shoemaker…’
And so what of Tetty Johnson? Haven’t a clue yet, she seems to have disappeared rather.
