to disperse them; but hinder their first ingress if you can. Consider such thoughts as morbid. "Such illness as may excuse my omission to Lord Hailes I cannot honestly plead. I have been hindered, I know not how, by a succession of petty obstructions. I hope to mend immediately, and to send next post to his lordship. Mr. Thrale would have written to you if I had omitted; he sends his compliments, and wishes to see you. I “You and your lady will now have no more wrangling about feudal inheritance. How does the young Laird of Auchinleck? I suppose Miss Veronica is grown a reader and discourser. have just now got a cough, but it has never yet hindered me from sleeping; I have had quieter nights than are common with me. I cannot but rejoice that Joseph' has had the wit to find the way back. He is a fine fellow, and one of the best travellers in the world. "Young Col brought me your letter. He is a very pleasing youth. I took him two days ago to the Mitre, and we dined together. I was as civil as I had the means of being. I have had a letter from Rasay, acknowledging, with great appearance of satisfaction, the insertion in the Edinburgh paper. I am very glad that it was done. "My compliments to Mrs. Boswell, who does not love me, and of all the rest, I need only send them to those that do; and I am afraid it will give you very little trouble to distribute them. am, my dear, dear Sir, &c., "SAM. JOHNSON." I 1 Joseph Ritter, a Bohemian, who was in my service many years, and attended Dr. Johnson and me in our tour to the Hebrides. After having left me for some time, he had now returned to me. APPENDIX. I. VARIOUS LETTERS, FROM DR. JOHNSON TO DIFFERENT PERSONS, From January, 1764, to December, 1775; published by Mr. Croker in the first and subsequent editions of his Boswell's Life of Johnson." 66 "MY DEAR, TO MISS PORTER. "London, Jan. 10, 1764. WAS in hopes that you would have written to me before this time, to tell me that your house was finished, and that you were happy in it. I am sure I wish you happy. By the carrier of this week you will receive a box, in which I have put some books, most of which were your poor dear mamma's, and a diamond ring, which I hope you will wear as my new year's gift. If you receive it with as much kindness as I send it, you will not slight it, you will be very fond of it. "Pray give my service to Kitty, who, I hope, keeps pretty well. I know not now when I shall come down; I believe it will not be very soon. But I shall be glad to hear of you from time to time. "I wish you, my dearest, many happy years; take what care you can of your health. I am, my dear, your affectionate humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." Pearson MSS. |