Etat. 74] THE ESSEX STREET CLUB 1037 Ossian to a blind man, who should dispute the reality of colours, and deny that the British troops are clothed in red. The blind man's doubt would be rational, if he did not know by experience that others have a power which he himself wants: but what perspicacity has Mr. Clark which Nature has withheld from me or the rest of mankind? "The true state of the parallel must be this. Suppose a man, with eyes like his neighbours, was told by a boasting corporal that the troops, indeed, wore red clothes for their ordinary dress, but that every soldier had likewise a suit of black velvet, which he put on when the King reviews them. This he thinks strange, and desires to see the fine clothes, but finds nobody in forty thousand men that can produce either coat or waistcoat. One, indeed, has left them in his chest at Port Mahon; another has always heard that he ought to have velvet clothes somewhere; and a third has heard somebody say that soldiers ought to wear velvet. Can the inquirer be blamed if he goes away believing that a soldier's red coat is all that he has ? "But the most obdurate incredulity may be shamed or silenced by facts. To overpower contradictions, let the soldier show his velvet coat, and the Fingalist the original of Ossian. The difference between us and the blind man is this: the blind man is unconvinced, because he cannot see; and we, because, though we can see, we find that nothing can be shown." Notwithstanding the complication of disorders under which Johnson now laboured, he did not resign himself to despondency and discontent, but with wisdom and spirit endeavoured to console and amuse his mind with as many innocent enjoyments as he could procure. Sir John Hawkins has mentioned the cordiality with which he insisted that such of the members of the old club in Ivy-lane as survived, should meet again and dine together, which they did, twice at a tavern, and once at his house; and in order to insure himself society in the evening for three days in the week, he instituted a club at the Essex Head, in Essex-street, then kept by Samuel Greaves, an old servant of Mr. Thrale's. "DEAR SIR, 66 66 TO SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS. It is inconvenient to me to come out; I should else have waited on you with an account of a little evening club which we are establishing in Essex-street, in the Strand, and of which you are desired to be one. It will be held at the Essex Head, now kept by an old servant of Thrale's. The company is numerous, and, as you will see by the list, miscellaneous. The terms are lax, and the expenses light. Mr. Barry was adopted by Dr. Brocklesby, who joined with me in forming the plan. We meet thrice a week, and he who misses forfeits twopence. "If you are willing to become a member, draw a line under your name. Return the list. We meet for the first time on Monday at eight. "Dec. 4, 1783." "I am, etc., 66 'SAM. JOHNSON. It did not suit Sir Joshua to be one of this club. But when I mention only Mr. Daines Barrington, Dr. Brocklesby, Mr. Murphy, Mr. John Nichols, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Joddrel, Mr. Paradise, Dr. Horsley, Mr. Windham,* I shall sufficiently obviate * I was in Scotland when this Club was founded, and during all the winter. Johnson, however, declared I should be a member, and invented a word upon the occasion : Boswell (said he) is a very clubable man." When I came to town, I was proposed by Mr. Barrington, and chosen. I believe that there are few societies where there is better conversation or more decorum. Several of us resolved to continue it after our great founder was removed by death. Other members were added; and now, above eight years since that loss, we go on happily. the misrepresentation of it by Sir John Hawkins, as if it had been a low alehouse association, by which Johnson was degraded. Johnson himself, like his namesake Old Ben, composed the Rules of his Club.* In the end of this year he was seized with a spasmodic asthma of such violence, that he was confined to the house in great pain, being sometimes obliged to sit all night in his chair, a recumbent posture being so hurtful to his respiration, that he could not endure lying in bed; and there came upon him at the same time that oppressive and fatal disease, a dropsy. It was a very severe winter, which probably aggravated his complaints; and the solitude in which Mr. Levett and Mrs. Williams had left him, rendered his life very gloomy. Mrs. Desmoulins, who still lived, was herself so very ill, that she could contribute very little to his relief. He, however, had none of that unsocial shyness which we commonly see in people afflicted with sickness. He did not hide his head from the world, in solitary abstraction; he did not deny himself to the visits of his friends and acquaintances; but at all times, when he was not overcome by sleep, was ready for conversation as in his best days. "DEAR MADAM, 66 TO MRS. LUCY PORTER, IN LICHfield. "You may perhaps think me negligent that I have not written to you again upon the loss of your brother; but condolences and consolations are such common and such useless things, that the omission of them is no great crime: and my own diseases occupy my mind, and engage my care. My nights are miserably restless, and my days, therefore, are heavy. I try, however, to hold up my head as high as I can. "I am sorry that your health is impaired; perhaps the spring and the summer may, in some degree, restore it; but if not, we must submit to the inconveniences of time, as to the other dispensations of Eternal Goodness. Pray for me, and write to me, or let Mr. Pearson write for you. To-day deep thoughts with me resolved to drench "The Club shall consist of four-and-twenty. "The meetings shall be on the Monday, Thursday, and Saturday of every week; but in the week before Easter there shall be no meeting. "Every member is at liberty to introduce a friend once a week, but not oftener. "Two members shall oblige themselves to attend in their turn every night from eight to ten, or to procure two to attend in their room. "Every member present at the Club shall spend at least sixpence; and every member who stays away shall forfeit threepence. The master of the house shall keep an account of the absent members: and deliver to the President of the night a list of the forfeits incurred. When any member returns after absence, he shall immediately lay down his forfeits; which, if he omits to do, the President shall require. "There shall be no general reckoning, but every man shall adjust his own expenses. “The night of indispensable attendance will come to every member once a month. Whoever shall for three months together omit to attend himself, or by substitution, nor shall make any apology in the fourth month, shall be considered as having abdicated the Club. "When a vacancy is to be filled, the name of the candidate, and of the member recommending him, shall stand in the Club-room three nights. On the fourth he may be chosen by ballot; six members at least being present, and two-thirds of the ballot being in his favour; or the majority, should the numbers not be divisible by three. "The master of the house shall give notice, six days before to each of those members whose turn of necessary attendance is come. at the Essex Head. Your company is therefore earnestly requested.' "One penny shall be left by each member for the waiter." will be your turn of presiding Johnson's definition of a Club in this sense, in his Dictionary, is, "An assembly of good fellows. meeting under certain conditions " CHAPTER LIV-1784 JOHNSON'S ILLNESS Burton's Books-Essex Head Club-Johnson's Illness and Fear of Death-Seeks the Advice of the Scottish Doctors, Cullen, Hope, and Munro-Boswell's Pamphlet-Johnson's Continued Ill-healthOzias Humphrey and Mauritius Lowe-Johnson's Letter to Langton's Little Daughter-Visit to Rev. George Strahan at Islington-The Bishop of Exeter-The Countess's Compliment-Johnson and his Women Friends-Mrs. Thrale-Dr. Douglas, Bishop of Salisbury-Thomas à KempisFox and the King-On Death-Langton-Helen Maria Williams. AND now I am arrived at the last year of the life of SAMUEL JOHNSON; a year in which, although passed in severe indisposition, he nevertheless gave many evidences of the continuance of those wondrous powers of mind, which raised him so high in the intellectual world. His conversation and his letters of this year were in no respect inferior to those of former years. The following is a remarkable proof of his being alive to the most minute curiosities of literature. "TO MR. DILLY, BOOK SELLER, IN THE "SIR, "THERE is in the world a set of books which used to be sold by the booksellers on the bridge, and which I must entreat you to procure me. They are called From a drawing THE ESSEX HEAD 66 6 situated in Essex Street, Strand, where Johnson established a club towards the end of 1783. The tavern was sometimes called "Sam's," after the landlord, Samuel Greaves, an old servant of Mr. Thrale's. 'The terms,' said Johnson, are lax and the expenses light. We meet thrice a week, and he who misses forfeits twopence.' The forfeit was found too light, and a member, for every night of non-attendance, incurred, very soon after, the heavier mulct of threepence."-P. Cunningham. Burton's Books: * the title of one is "Admirable Curiosities, Rareties, and Wonders in England." I believe there are about five or six of them; they seem very proper to allure backward readers: be so kind as to get them for me, and send me them with the best printed edition of Baxter's Call to the Unconverted.' "Jan. 6, 1784." “I am, Sir, "SAM. JOHNSON. 66 TO MR. PERKINS. "DEAR SIR,— "I was very sorry not to see you when you were so kind as to call on me ; but to disappoint friends, and if they are very good-natured, to disoblige them, is one of the evils of sickness. If you will please to let me know which of the afternoons in this week I shall be favoured with another visit by you and Mrs. Perkins, and the young people, I will take all the measures that I can to be pretty well at that time. "Jan. 21, 1784." "I am, dear Sir, "Your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON. His attention to the Essex Head Club appears from the following letter to Mr. Alderman Clark, a gentleman for whom he deservedly entertained a great regard. "DEAR SIR,— 66 66 TO RICHARD CLARK, ESQ. 'You will receive a requisition, according to the rules of the Club, to be at the house as president of the night. This turn comes once a month, and the member is obliged to attend, or send another in his place. You were enrolled in the Club by my invitation, and I ought to introduce you; but as I am hindered by sickness, Mr. Hoole will very properly supply my place as introductor, or yours as President. I hope in milder weather to be a very constant attendant. "I am, Sir, etc., SAM. JOHNSON. "Jan. 27, 1784." "You ought to be informed that the forfeits began with the year, and that every night of non-attendance incurs the mulct of threepence, that is, ninepence a week.” On the 8th of January I wrote to him, anxiously inquiring as to his health, and enclosing my" Letter to the People of Scotland, on the present State of the Nation." "I trust (said I), that you will be liberal enough to make allowance for my differing from you on two points [the Middlesex Election, and the American War,] when my general principles of government are according to your own heart, and *[The following list comprises several of these books; but probably is incomplete : 1. Historical Remarques on London and Westminster 2. Wars in England, Scotland, and Ireland 3. Wonderful Prodigies 4. English Empire in America 5. Surprising Miracles of Nature and Art 1681 1681 1681 1685 1685 6. History of Scotland and Ireland .. 1685 Etat. 75] and My when, at a crisis of "TO JAMES BOSWELL, the institution of a new club in the neighbourhood, at the house of an old servant of Thrale's, I went thither to meet the company, and was seized with a spasmodic asthma, so violent, that with difficulty I got to my own house, in which I have been confined eight or nine weeks, and from which I know not when I shall be able to go even to church. The asthma, however, is not the worst. A dropsy gains ground upon me; my legs and thighs are very much swollen with water, which I should be content if I could keep there, but I am afraid that it will soon be higher. My nights are very sleepless and very tedious. And yet I am extremely afraid of dying. "My physicians try to make me hope that much of my malady is the effect of cold, and that some degree at least of recovery is to be expected from vernal breezes and summer suns. If my life is prolonged to autumn, I should be glad to try a warmer climate; though how to travel with a diseased body, without a companion to conduct me, and with very little money, I do not well see. Ramsay has recovered his limbs in Italy; and Fielding was sent to Lisbon, where, indeed, he died; but he was, I believe, past hope when he went. Think for me what I can do. "I received your pamphlet, and when I write again may perhaps tell you some opinion about it; but you will forgive a man struggling with disease his neglect of 66-(2279) |