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'Let me inquire in my turn after the state of your family, great and little. I hope Lady Rothes and Miss Langton are both well. That is a good basis of content. Then how goes George on with his studies? How does Miss Mary? And how does my own Jenny? I think I owe Jenny a letter, which I will take care to pay. In the meantime, tell her that I acknowledge the debt.

'Be pleased to make my compliments to the ladies. If Mrs. Langton comes to London, she will favour me with a visit, for I am not well enough to go out.'

'TO OZIAS HUMPHRY,1 ESQ.

'April 5, 1784. 'SIR,-Mr. Hoole has told me with what benevolence you listened to a request which I was almost afraid to make, of leave to a young painter to attend you from time to time in your painting-room, to see your operations, and receive your instructions.

"The young man has perhaps good parts, but has been without a regular education. He is my godson, and therefore I interest myself in his progress and success, and shall think myself much favoured if I receive from you a permission to send him.

'My health is, by GoD's blessing, much restored, but I am not yet allowed by my physicians to go abroad; nor, indeed, do I think

1 The eminent painter, representative of the ancient family of Homfrey (now Humphry) in the West of England; who, as appears from their arms which they have invariably used, have been (as I have seen authenticated by the best authority) one of those among the knights and esquires of honour who are represented by Hollingshed as having issued from the

Tower of London on coursers apparelled for the justes, accompanied by ladies of honour, leading every one a knight with a chain of gold, passing through the streets of London into Smithfield, on Sunday, at three o'clock in the afternoon, being the first Sunday after Michaelmas, in the fourteenth year of King Richard 11. This family once enjoyed large possessions; but, like others, have lost them in the progress of ages. Their blood, however, remains to them well ascertained; and they may hope, in the revolution of events, to recover that rank in society for which, in modern times, fortune seems to be an indispensable requisite. -BOSWELL

2 Son of Mr. Samuel Paterson, eminent for his knowledge of books.-BOSWELL,

myself yet able to endure the weather.-I am, sir, your most humble servant,

'SAM. JOHNSON.'

TO THE SAME.

'April 10, 1784. 'SIR,-The bearer is my godson, whom I take the liberty of recommending to your kindness; which I hope he will deserve by his respect to your excellence, and his gratitude for your favours.-I am, sir, your most humble servant, 'SAM. JOHNSON.'

TO THE SAME.

'May 31, 1784. 'SIR,-I am very much obliged by your civilities to my godson, but must beg of you to add to them the favour of permitting him to see you paint, that he may know how a picture is begun, advanced, and completed.

'If he may attend you in a few of your operations, I hope he will show that the benefit has been properly conferred, both by his proficiency and his gratitude. At least I shall consider you as enlarging your kindness to, sir, your humble servant, 'SAM. JOHNSON.'

'TO THE REV. DR. TAYLOR, Ashbourne,
DERBYSHIRE.

'LONDON, Easter Monday,
April 12, 1784.

'DEAR SIR,-What can be the reason that I hear nothing from you? I hope nothing disables you from writing. What I have seen, and what I have felt, gives me reason to fear everything. Do not omit giving me the comfort of knowing, that after all my losses I have yet

a friend left.

'I want every comfort. My life is very solitary and very cheerless. Though it has pleased GOD wonderfully to deliver me from the dropsy, I am yet very weak, and have not passed the door since the 13th of December. I hope for some help from warm weather, which will surely come in time.

'I could not have the consent of the physicians to go to church yesterday: I therefore received the holy sacrament at home, in the room where I communicated with dear Mrs. Williams, a little before her death. O my friend, the approach of death is very dreadful. I am afraid

to think on that which I know I cannot avoid. It is vain to look round and round for that help which cannot be had. Yet we hope and hope, and fancy that he who has lived to-day may live to-morrow. But let us learn to derive our hope only from GOD.

In the meantime, let us be kind to one another. I have no friend now living but you'

This friend of Johnson's youth survived him somewhat more than three years, having died Feb. 19, 1758. -MALONE.

and Mr. Hector, that was the friend of my youth. Do not neglect, dear sir, yours affectionately, 'SAM. JOHNSON.'

'TO MRS. LUCY PORTER, IN LICHFIELD.

'LONDON, April 26, 1784. 'MY DEAR,-I write to you now, to tell you that I am so far recovered, that on the 21st I went to church, to return thanks, after a confinement of more than four long months.

My recovery is such as neither myself nor the physicians at all expected, and is such as that very few examples have been known of the like. Join with me, my dear love, in returning thanks to GOD,

'Dr. Vyse has been with [me] this evening; he tells me that you likewise have been much disordered, but that you are now better. I hope that we shall some time have a cheerful interview. In the meantime, let us pray for one another. I am, madam, your humble servant,

'SAM. JOHNSON.'

What follows is a beautiful specimen of his gentleness and complacency to a young lady, his godchild, one of the daughters of his friend Mr. Langton, then I think in her seventh year. He took the trouble to write it in a large round hand, nearly resembling printed characters, that she might have the satisfaction of reading it herself. The original lies before me, but shall be faithfully restored to her; and I daresay will be preserved by her as a jewel, as long as she lives.

'TO MISS JANE LANGTON, IN ROCHESTER, KENT. 'May 10, 1784.

'MY DEAREST MISS JENNY,-I am sorry that your pretty letter has been so long without being answered; but, when I am not pretty well, I do not always write plain enough for young ladies. I am glad, my dear, to see that you write so well, and hope that you mind your pen, your book, and your needle; for they are all necessary. Your books will give you knowledge, and make you respected; and your needle will find you useful employment when you do not care to read. When you are a little. older, I hope you will be very diligent in learning arithmetic; and, above all, that through your whole life you will carefully say your prayers and read your Bible.-I am, my dear, your most humble servant, 'SAM. JOHNSON.'

On Wednesday, May 5, I arrived in London, and next morning had the pleasure to find Dr. Johnson greatly recovered. I but just saw him; for a coach was waiting to carry him to Islington, to the house of his friend the Rev. Mr. Strahan, where he went sometimes for the benefit of good air, which, notwithstanding his having formerly laughed at the general opinion upon the subject, he now acknowledged was conducive to health.

One morning afterwards, when I found him alone, he communicated to me with solem earnestness, a very remarkable circumstance which had happened in the course of his illness, when he was much distressed by the dropsy. He had shut himself up, and employed a day in particular exercises of religion-fasting, humiliation, and prayer. On a sudden he obtained extraordinary relief, for which he looked up to Heaven with grateful devotion. He made no direct inference from this fact; but from his manner of telling it, I could perceive that it appeared to him as something more than an incident in the common course of events. For my own part, I have no difficulty to avow that cast of thinking, which by many modern pretenders to wisdom is called superstitious. But here I think even men of dry rationality may believe that there was an intermediate interposition of Divine Providence, and that the fervent prayer of this righteous man' availed.

On Sunday, May 9, I found Colonel Vallancy, the celebrated antiquary and engineer of Ireland, with him. On Monday, the 10th, I dined with him at Mr. Paradise's, where was a large company: Mr. Bryant, Mr. Joddrel, Mr. Hawkins Browne, etc. On Thursday, the 13th, I dined with him at Mr. Joddrel's, with another large company: the Bishop of Exeter, Lord Monboddo,' Mr. Murphy, etc.

On Saturday, May 15, I dined with him at Dr. Brocklesby's, where were Colonel Vallancy, Mr. Murphy, and that ever-cheerful companion, Mr. Devaynes, apothecary to his Majesty. Of these days, and others on which I saw him, I have no memorials, except the general recollection of his being able and animated in conversation, and appearing to relish society as much as the youngest man. I find only these three small particulars :-When a person was mentioned, who said, 'I have lived fifty-one years in this world, without having had ten minutes of uneasiness,' he exclaimed, 'The man who says so, lies: he attempts to impose on human credulity.' The Bishop of Exeter in vain observed, that men were very different. His Lordship's manner was not impressive; and I learnt afterwards, that Johnson did not find out that the person who talked to him was a prelate; if he had, I doubt not that he would have treated him with more respect; for once, talking of

1 I was sorry to observe Lord Monboddo avoid any communication with Dr. Johnson. I flattered myself that I had made them very good friends, but unhappily his Lordship had resumed and cherished a violent

prejudice against my illustrious friend, to whom I must do the justice to say, there was on his part not the least anger, but a good-humoured sportiveness. Nay, though he knew of his Lordship's indisposition towards him, he was even kindly; as appeared from his inquiring of me after him, by an abbreviation of his name, 'Well, how does Monny?'-BosWELL. 2 Dr. John Ross.-MALONE.

George Psalmanazar, whom he reverenced for his piety, he said, 'I should as soon think of contradicting a BISHOP.' One of the company provoked him greatly by doing what he could least of all bear, which was quoting something of his own writing, against what he then maintained. What, sir,' cried the gentleman, 'do you say to

"The busy day, the peaceful night,

Unfelt, uncounted, glided by "?"1 Johnson finding himself thus presented as giving an instance of a man who had lived without uneasiness, was much offended; for he looked upon such a quotation as unfair. His anger burst out in an unjustifiable retort, insinuating that the gentleman's remark was a sally of ebriety: Sir, there is one passion I would advise you to command; when you have drunk out that glass, don't drink another.' Here was exemplified what Goldsmith said of him, with the aid of a very witty image from one of Cibber's comedies: There is no arguing with Johnson; for if his pistol misses fire, he knocks you down with the butt-end of it.'

Another was this: When a gentleman of eminence in the literary world was violently censured for attacking people by anonymous paragraphs in newspapers, he, from the spirit of contradiction as I thought, took up his defence, and said, 'Come, come, this is not so terrible a crime; he means only to vex them a little. I do not say that I should do it; but there is a great difference between him and me; what is fit for Hephæstion is not fit for Alexander.' Another, when I told him that a young and handsome countess had said to me, I should think that to be praised by Dr. Johnson would make one a fool all one's life;' and that I answered, 'Madam, I shall make him a fool to-day, by repeating this to him;' he said, 'I am too old to be made a fool; but if you say I am made a fool, I shall not deny it. I am much pleased with a compliment, especially from a pretty woman.'

On the evening of Saturday, May 15, he was in fine spirits at our Essex Head Club. He told us, 'I dined yesterday at Mrs. Garrick's with Mrs. Carter, Miss Hannah More, and Fanny Burney. Three such women are not to be found: I know not where I could find a fourth, except Mrs. Lennox, who is superior to them all.' BOSWELL: What! had you them all to yourself, sir?' JOHNSON: 'I had them all, as much as they were had; but it might have been better had there been more company there.' BosWELL: Might not Mrs. Montagu have been a fourth?' JOHNSON: Sir, Mrs. Montagu does not make a trade of her wit; but Mrs. Montagu is a very extraordinary woman: she

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has a constant stream of conversation, and it is always impregnated; it has always meaning.' BOSWELL: 'Mr. Burke has a constant stream of conversation.' JOHNSON: 'Yes, sir; if a man were to go by chance at the same time with Burke under a shed to shun a shower, he would say, "This is an extraordinary man." If Burke should go into a stable to see his horse dressed, the ostler would say, "We have had an extraordinary man here." BoSWELL: 'Foote was a man who never failed in conversation. If he had gone into a stable- JOHNSON: Sir, if he had gone into the stable, the ostler would have said, Here has been a comical fellow; but he would not have respected him.' BosWELL: And, sir, the ostler would have answered him, would have given him as good as he brought, as the common saying is.' JOHNSON : 'Yes, sir; and Foote would have answered the ostler.-When Burke does not descend to be merry, his conversation is very superior indeed. There is no proportion between the powers which he shows in serious talk and in jocularity. When he lets himself down to that, he is in the kennel.' I have in another place1 opposed, and I hope with success, Dr. Johnson's very singular and erroneous notion as to Mr. Burke's pleasantry. Mr. Windham now said low to me, that he differed from our great friend in this observation; for that Mr. Burke was often very happy in his merriment. It would not have been right for either of us to have contradicted Johnson at this time, in a society all of whom did not know and value Mr. Burke as much as we did. It might have occasioned something more rough, and at any rate would probably have checked the flow of Johnson's good humour. He called to us with a sudden air of exultation, as the thought started into his mind, 'Oh! gentlemen, I must tell you a very great thing. The Empress of Russia has ordered the Rambler to be translated into the Russian language: so I shall be read on the banks of the Wolga. Horace boasts that his fame would extend as far as the banks of the Rhone; now the Wolga is farther from me than the Rhone was from Horace.' BOSWELL: 'You must certainly be pleased with this, sir.' JOHNSON: 'I am pleased, sir, to be sure. A man is pleased to find he has succeeded in that which he has endeavoured to do.'

One of the company mentioned his having seen a noble person driving in his carriage, and looking exceedingly well, notwithstanding his great age. JOHNSON: Ah, sir, that is nothing. Bacon observes, that a stout healthy old man is like a tower undermined.'

On Sunday, May 16, I found him alone;

1 Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides.-BOSWELL.

2 I have since heard that the report was not well founded; but the elation discovered by Johnson, in the belief that it was true, showed a noble ardour for literary fame.-BOSWELL

he talked of Mrs. Thrale with much concern, saying, Sir, she has done everything wrong, since Thrale's bridle was off her neck;' and was proceeding to mention some circumstances which have since been the subject of public discussion, when he was interrupted by the arrival of Dr. Douglas, now Bishop of Salisbury. Dr. Douglas, upon this occasion, refuted a mistaken notion which is very common in Scotland, that the ecclesiastical discipline of the Church of England, though duly enforced, is insufficient to preserve the morals of the clergy, inasmuch as all delinquents may be screened by appealing to the Convocation, which being never authorized by the King to sit for the despatch of business, the appeal never can be heard. Dr. Douglas observed that this was founded upon ignorance; for that the bishops have sufficient power to maintain discipline, and that the sitting of the Convocation was wholly immaterial in this respect, it being not a court of judicature, but, like a parliament, to make canons and regulations as times may require.

Johnson, talking of the fear of death, said, 'Some people are not afraid, because they look upon salvation as the effect of an absolute decree, and think they feel in themselves the marks of sanctification. Others, and those the most rational in my opinion, look upon salvation as conditional; and as they never can be sure that they have complied with the conditions, they are afraid.'

In one of his little manuscript diaries, about this time, I find a short notice, which marks his amiable disposition more certainly than a thousand studied declarations:- Afternoon spent cheerfully and elegantly, I hope without offence to GOD or man; though in no holy duty, yet in the general exercise and cultivation of benevolence.'

On Monday, May 17, I dined with him at Mr. Dilly's, where were Colonel Vallancy, the Reverend Dr. Gibbons, and Mr. Capel Lofft, who, though a most zealous Whig, has a mind so full of learning and knowledge, and so much exercised in various departments, and withal so much liberality, that the stupendous powers of the literary Goliath, though they did not frighten this little David of popular spirit, could not but excite his admiration. There was also Mr. Braithwaite of the Post-office, that amiable and friendly man, who, with modest and unassuming manners, has associated with many of the wits of the age. Johnson was very quiescent to-day. Perhaps, too, I was indolent. I find nothing more of him in my notes, but that, when I mentioned that I had seen in the King's library sixty-three editions of my favourite Thomas à Kempis,-amongst which it was in eight languages, Latin, German, French, Italian, Spanish, English, Arabic, and Armenian, -he said he thought it unnecessary to collect

many editions of a book, which were all the
same, except as to the paper and print; he
would have the original, and all the transla-
tions, and all the editions which had any
variations in the text. He approved of the
famous collection of editions of Horace by
Douglas, mentioned by Pope, who is said to
have had a closet filled with them; and he
added, 'Every man should try to collect one
book in that manner, and present it to a public
library.'

On Tuesday, May 18, I saw him for a short
time in the morning. I told him that the mob
had called out, as the King passed, 'No Fox-no
He said, 'They
Fox,' which I did not like.
were right, sir.' I said, I thought not; for
it seemed to be making Mr. Fox the King's
competitor. There being no audience, so that
there could be no triumph in a victory, he
fairly agreed with me. I said it might do
very well, if explained thus: 'Let us have
no Fox;' understanding it as a prayer to
his Majesty not to appoint that gentleman

minister.

CHAPTER LX.
1781.

ON Wednesday, May 19, I sat a part of the
evening with Johnson, by ourselves. I observed,
that the death of our friends might be a con-
solation against the fear of our own dissolution,
because we might have more friends in the
other world than in this. He perhaps felt this
as a reflection upon his apprehension as to
death; and said, with heat, How can a man
know where his departed friends are, or whether
they will be his friends in the other world?
How many friendships have you known formed
upon principles of virtue? Most friendships
are formed by caprice or by chance, mere con-
federacies in vice or leagues in folly.'

We talked of our worthy friend Mr. Langton.
He said, 'I know not who will go to Heaven if
Langton does not. Sir, I could almost say, Sit
anima mea cum Langtono.' I mentioned a very
eminent friend as a virtuous man. JOHNSON:
'Yes, sir, but

virtue of Langton.

has not the evangelical

-, I am afraid, would

not scruple to pick up a wench.'

He, however, charged Mr. Langton with what he thought want of judgment upon an interesting occasion. 'When I was ill,' said he, 'I desired he would tell me sincerely in what he thought my life was faulty. Sir, he brought me a sheet of paper, on which he had written down several texts of Scripture, recommending Christian charity. And when I questioned him what occasion I had given for such an animadversion, all that he could say amounted to this, -that I sometimes contradicted people in con versation. Now what harm does it do to any

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man to be contradicted?' BoSWELL: 'I suppose he meant the manner of doing it; roughly and harshly.' JOHNSON: 'And who is the worse for that?' BOSWELL: 'It hurts people of weaker nerves.' JOHNSON: 'I know no such weaknerved people.' Mr. Burke, to whom I related this conference, said, 'It is well if, when a man comes to die, he has nothing heavier upon his conscience than having been a little rough in conversation.'

Johnson, at the time when the paper was presented to him, though at first pleased with the attention of his friend, whom he thanked in an earnest manner, soon exclaimed, in a loud and angry tone, 'What is your drift, sir?' Sir Joshua Reynolds pleasantly observed, that it was a scene for a comedy, to see a penitent get into a violent passion, and belabour his confessor.1

I have preserved no more of his conversation at the times when I saw him during the rest of this month, till Sunday, the 30th of May, when I met him in the evening at Mr. Hoole's, where there was a large company both of ladies and gentlemen. Sir James Johnston happened to say, that he paid no regard to the arguments of counsel at the bar of the House of Commons, because they were paid for speaking. JOHNSON: 'Nay, sir, argument is argument. You cannot help paying regard to their arguments, if they are good. If it were testimony, you might disregard it, if you knew that it were purchased. There is a beautiful image in Bacon,2 upon this subject: Testimony is like an arrow shot from a long bow; the force of it depends on the strength of the hand that draws it. Argument is like an

1 After all, I cannot but be of opinion, that as Mr.

Langton was seriously requested by Dr. Johnson to mention what appeared to him erroneous in the character of his friend, he was bound, as an honest man, to intimate what he really thought, which he certainly did in the most delicate manner: so that Johnson

himself, when in a quiet frame of mind, was pleased with it. The texts suggested are now before me, and I shall quote a few of them :-Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.' Matt. v. 5.-'I therefore, the prisoner of the LORD, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love.' Ephes. v. 1, 2.-' And above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.' Col. iii. 14.-Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not: charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up; doth not behave itself unseemly, is not easily provoked.' 1 Cor. xiii. 4, 5.-BOSWELL

2 Dr. Johnson's memory deceived him. The passage referred to is not Bacon's, but Boyle's; and may be found, with a slight variation, in Johnson's Dictionary, under the word Crossbow. So happily selected are the greater part of the examples in that incomparable work, that if the most striking passages found in it were collected by one of our modern book-makers, under the title of The Beauties of Johnson's Dictionary, they would form a very pleasing and popular volume. MALONE.

arrow from a cross-bow, which has equal force though shot by a child.'

2

He had dined that day at Mr. Hoole's, and Miss Helen Maria Williams being expected in the evening, Mr. Hoole put into his hands her beautiful Ode on the Peace.' Johnson read it over, and when this elegant and accomplished young lady was presented to him, he took her by the hand in the most courteous manner, and repeated the finest stanza of her poem: this was the most delicate and pleasing compliment he could pay. Her respectable friend, Dr. Kippis, from whom I had this anecdote, was standing by, and was not a little gratified.

Miss Williams told me, that the only other time she was fortunate enough to be in Dr. Johnson's company, he asked her to sit down by him, which she did; and upon her inquiring bow he was, he answered, 'I am very ill indeed, madam. I am very ill even when you are near me; what should I be were you at a distance?'

He had now a great desire to go to Oxford, as his first jaunt after his illness. We talked of it for some days, and I had promised to accompany him. He was impatient and fretful to-night, because I did not at once agree to go with him on Thursday. When I considered how ill he had been, and what allowance should be made for the influence of sickness upon his temper, I resolved to indulge him, though with some inconvenience to myself, as I wished to attend the musical meeting in honour of Handel, in Westminster Abbey, on the following Saturday.

In the midst of his own diseases and pains, he was ever compassionate to the distresses of others, and actively earnest in procuring them aid, as appears from a note to Sir Joshua Reynolds, of June, in these words :-'I am ashamed to ask for some relief for a poor man, to whom, I hope, I have given what I can be expected to spare. The man importunes me, and the blow goes round. I am going to try another air on Thursday.'

On Thursday, June 3, the Oxford post-coach took us up in the morning at Bolt Court. The other two passengers were Mrs. Beresford and her daughter, two very agreeable ladies from

The peace made by that very able statesman, the Earl of Shelburne, now Marquis of Lansdowne, which may fairly be considered as the foundation of all the prosperity of Great Britain since that time.-BoSWELL. 2 In the first edition of my work, the epithet amiable was given. I was sorry to be obliged to strike it out; but I could not in justice suffer it to remain, after this young lady had not only written in favour of the savage anarchy with which France has been visited, but had (as I have been informed by good authority) walked without horror over the ground at the Tuileries when it was strewed with the naked bodies of the faithful Swiss guards, who were barbarously massacred for having bravely defended, against a crew of ruffians, the Monarch whom they had taken an oath to defend. From Dr. Johnson she could now expect, not endear. ment, but repulsion. -BosWELL.

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