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When Johnson Spoke, Others Listened                   9

satisfaction & self-sufficiency, only to make myself an object of ridi¬
cule & contempt."

William Samuel Johnson replied on April 2, 1786, in the margin
of his son's letter with his advice on oration:

Johnson wrote to his son Robert Charles on April 2, 1786, giving

advice on oration; the father's advice was written in the left margin

of the son's letter of March 31. (Muir gift)

I congratulate you on yr success very heartily, & am extremely
glad to fmd you are animated with a laudable ambition to excell in
speaking. It is indeed a noble accomplishment! With this disposi¬
tion, you may rely upon it, you will accomplish your wishes if you
can only submit to that persevering Industry & attention without
which no Man ever exceled in that, or indeed, any other signal
accomplishment. Remember the infmite Pains Demosthenes &
Cicero took with themselves to effect their progress. My Instruc¬
tions shall not be wanting to the utmost of my ability. Two things
are essentially necessary to a speaker—Ideas—& Words—The first
are to be attained by constant Study, & continually treasuring up in
the mind every species of useful science to be ready for use when
ask'd for & there is hardly anything in the whole circle of science &
in the common affairs of Life that will not at one time or other be
found useful to a public speaker, & more especially professional