There were no
apples; but the large folio proved to be Petrarch, whom he had seen
mentioned in some preface, as one of the restorers of learning. His
curiosity having been thus excited, he sat down with avidity, and read a
great part of the book. What he read during these two years he told
me, was not works of mere amusement, 'not voyages and travels, but
all literature, Sir, all ancient writers, all manly: though but little
Greek, only some of Anacreon and Hesiod; but in this irregular manner
(added he) I had looked into a great many books, which were not commonly
known at the Universities, where they seldom read any books but what are
put into their hands by their tutors; so that when I came to Oxford, Dr.
Adams, now master of Pembroke College, told me I was the best qualified
for the University that he had ever known come there.'
That a man in Mr. Michael Johnson's circumstances should think of
sending his son to the expensive University of Oxford, at his own
charge, seems very improbable.
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