JOHNSON TO MRS. THRALE. "On Monday, the 16th, I sat for my picture [to Miss Reynolds], and walked a considerable way with Poor Lawrence and his youngest son died almost little inconvenience. In the afternoon and evening I on the same day.] "DEAR SIR,It has pleased God, by a paralytic stroke in the night, to deprive me of speech. I am very desirous of Dr. Heberden's assistance, as I think my case is not past remedy. Let me see you as soon as it is possible. Bring Dr. Heberden with you, if you can; but come yourself at all events. I am glad you are so well when I am so dreadfully attacked. I think that by a speedy application of stimulants much may be done. I question if a vomit, vigorous and rough, would not rouse the organs of speech to action. As it is too early to send, I will try to recollect what I can that can be suspected to have brought on this dreadful distress. "I have been accustomed to bleed frequently for an asthmatic complaint; but have foreborne for some time by Dr. Pepys's persuasion, who perceived my legs beginning to swell. I sometimes alleviate a painful, or, more properly, an oppressive constriction of my chest, by opiates; and have lately taken opium frequently; but the last, or two last times, in smaller quantities. My largest dose is three grains, and last night I took but two. You felt myself light and easy, and began to plan schemes of life. Thus I went to bed, and in a short time waked and sat up, as has been long my custom, when I felt a confusion and indistinctness in my head, which lasted, I suppose. about half a minute. I was alarmed, and prayed God, that however he might afflict my body, he would spare my understanding. This prayer, that I might try the integrity of my faculties, I made in Latin verse. The lines were not very good, but I knew them not to be very good: I made them easily, and concluded myself to be unimpaired in my faculties. "Soon after I perceived that I had suffered a paralytic stroke, and that my speech was taken from me. I had no pain, and so little dejection in this dreadful state, that I wondered at my own apathy, and considered that perhaps death itself, when it should come, would excite less horror than seems now to attend it. "In order to rouse the vocal organs, I took two drams. Wine has been celebrated for the produc tion of eloquence. I put myself into violent motion, and I think repeated it; but all was vain. I then went to bed; and, strange as it may seem, I think slept. When I saw light, it was time to contrive what I should do. Though God stopped my speech, he left me my hand: I enjoyed a mercy which was not granted to my dear friend Lawrence, who now perhaps overlooks me as I am writing, and rejoices that I have what he wanted. My first note was necessarily to my servant, who came in talking, and could not immediately comprehend why he should read what I put into his hands. I then wrote a card to Mr. Allen, that I might have a discreet friend at hand, to act as occasion should require. In penning this note I had some difficulty: my hand, I knew not how or why, made wrong letters. I then wrote to Dr. Taylor to come to me, and bring Dr. Heberden; and I sent to Dr. Brocklesby, who is my neighbour." My physicians are very friendly, and give me great hopes; but you may imagine my situation. I have so far recovered my vocal powers, as to repeat the Lord's Prayer with no imperfect articulation. My memory, I hope, yet remains as it was; but such an attack produces solicitude for the safety of every faculty." Letters. 1 I cannot account for the date of this letter, mentioning the deaths of Dr. Lawrence, who died only that day at Canterbury, and of Mr. Lawrence, who died two days later. Mrs. Thrale's answer is liable to the same difficulty. — CROKER, 1847. 2 Dr. Lawrence, descended, as Sir Egerton Brydges informed me, from Milton's friend, was born in 1771, died in 1783, on the 13th of June. His son, the Reverend J. Law rence, died on the 15th. Johnson had addressed a Latin ode to Dr. Lawrence (Works, i. 180.) on the illness of one of his sons, some years before. Another of his sons was SiSoulden Lawrence, one of the judges of the King's Bench CROKER. 3 He lived in Norfolk Street, in the Strand. - CRORES, 1847. JOHNSON TO DAVIES "June 18. 1783. "DEAR SIR, I have had, indeed, a very heavy blow; but God, who yet spares my life, I humbly hope will spare my understanding and restore my speech. As I am not at all helpless, I want no particular assistance, but am strongly affected by Mrs. Davies's tenderness; and when I think she can do me good, shall be very glad to call upon her. I had ordered friends to be shut out; but one or two have found the way in; and if you come you shall be admitted; for I know not whom I can see that will bring more amusement on his tongue, or more kindness in his heart. I am, &c., "SAM. JOHNSON." It gives me great pleasure to preserve such a memorial of Johnson's regard for Mr. Davies, to whom I was indebted for my introduction to him.' He indeed loved Davies cordially, of which I shall give the following little evidence: One day when he had treated him with too much asperity, Tom, who was not without pride and spirit, went off in a passion; but he had hardly reached home, when Frank, who had been sent after him, delivered this note: "Come, come, dear Davies, I am always sorry when we quarrel; send me word that we are friends.” [JOHNSON TO MRS. THRALE. "June 20. 1783. I think to send you for some time a regular diary. You will forgive the gross images that disease must necessarily present. Dr. Lawrence said that medical treatises should be always in Latin. I have had my head covered with one formidable diffusion of cantharides. "I never had any distortion of the countenance but what Dr. Brocklesby called a little prolapsus, which went away the second day. "I was this day directed to eat flesh, and I dined very copiously upon roasted lamb and boiled pease. I then went to sleep in a chair; and when I waked, I found Dr. Brocklesby sitting by me, and fell to talking with him in such a manner as made me glad, and I hope made me thankful. The doctor fell to repeating Juvenal's ninth satire; but I let him see that the province was mine. Palsies are more common than I thought. I have been visited by four friends, who have had each a stroke, and one of them two." "June 28. and as from you I hope always to deserve. Your letter is just such as I desire, "The black dog I hope always to resist, and all those that used to help me. in time to drive, though I am deprived of almost The neighbour From hood is impoverished. I had once Richardson and Lawrence in my reach. Mrs. Allen is dead. My home has lost Levett; a man who took interest in every thing, and therefore ready at conversation. Mrs. Williams is so weak that she can be a companion no longer. When I rise, my breakfast is solitary; the black dog waits to share it. breakfast to dinner he continues barking, except that Dr. Brocklesby for a little keeps him at a distance. Dinner with a sick woman you may venture to suppose not much better than solitary. After dinner, what remains but to count the clock, and hope for that sleep which I can scarce expect? Night comes at last, and some hours of restlessness and confusion bring me again to a day of solitude. What shall exclude the black dog from an habitation like this? If I were a little richer, I would perhaps take some cheerful female into the house. "Last night fresh flies [cantharides] were put to my head, and hindered me from sleeping. To-day I fancy myself incommoded with heat. "I have, however, watered the garden both yesterday and to-day, just as I watered the laurels in the island" [at Streatham]. “July 3.— Dr. Brocklesby yesterday dismissed the cantharides, and I can now find a soft place upon my pillow. Last night was cool, and I rested well; and this morning I have been a friend at a poetical difficulty. Here is now a glimpse of daylight again; but how near is the evening none can tell, and I will not prognosticate. We all know that from none of us it can be far distant: may none of us know this in vain ! 66 I went, as I took care to boast, on Tuesday [1st July] to the Club, and hear that I was thought to have performed as well as usual. "I dined on fish, with the wing of a small turkeychick, and left roast beef, goose, and venison-pie untouched. I live much on pease, and never had them so good for so long a time in any year that I can remember." Letters. "SIR, JOHNSON TO LOWE. "Friday, June 20. 1783. illness makes it impracticable to me to wait on Mr. You know, I suppose, that a sudden Barry, and the time is short. If it be your opinion that the end can be obtained by writing, i am very willing to write, and, perhaps, it may do as well : it is, at least, all that can be expected at present from, Sir, your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." "If you would have me write, come to me: I order your admission."] Freeling MSS. JOHNSON TO MRS. PORTER. "London, June 25. 1783. "DEAR MADAM, Since the papers have given an account of my illness, it is proper that I should give my friends some account of it myself. Blisters were ap "Very early in the morning of the 16th' of this month I perceived my speech taken from me. When it was light I sat down and wrote such directions as appeared proper. Dr. Heberden and Dr. Brocklesby were called. plied, and medicines given. Before night I began to speak with some freedom, which has been increasing ever since, so that I have now very little impediment in my utterance. Dr. Heberden took his leave this morning. "Since I received this stroke I have in other respects been better than I was before, and hope yet to have a comfortable summer. Let me have your prayers. "If writing is not troublesome, let me know whether you are pretty well, and how you have passed the winter and spring. "Make my compliments to all my friends. dear Madam, your most humble servant, Pearson MSS. "SAM. JOHNSON."] am, JOHNSON TO BOSWELL. I "London, July 3. 1783. "DEAR SIR, -Your anxiety about my health is very friendly and very agreeable with your general kindness. I have indeed had a very frightful blow. On the 17th of last month, about three in the morning, as near as I can guess, I perceived myself almost totally deprived of speech. I had no pain. My organs were so obstructed that I could say no, but could scarcely say yes. I wrote the necessary directions, for it pleased God to spare my hand, and sent for Dr. Heberden and Dr. Brocklesby. Between the time in which I discovered my own disorder, and that in which I sent for the doctors, I had, I believe, in spite of my surprise and solicitude, a little sleep, and nature began to renew its operations. They came and gave the directions which the disease required, and from that time I have been continually improving in articulation. I can now speak; but the nerves are weak, and I cannot continue discourse long; but strength, I hope, will return. The physicians consider me as cured. I was last Sunday at church. On Tuesday I took an airing to Hampstead, and dined with the Club, where Lord Palmerston was proposed, and, against my opinion, was rejected. I designed to go next week with Mr. Langton to Rochester, where I purpose to stay about ten days, and then try some other air. I have many kind invitations. Your brother has very frequently inquired after me. Most of my friends have, indeed, been very attentive. Thank dear Lord Hailes for his present. 2 "I hope you found at your return every thing gay and prosperous, and your lady, in particular, 1 Mistake for 17th.-CROKER. 2 His lordship was soon after chosen, and is now a member of the Club. BosWELL. 3 She soon returned, and attended him in his last illness. -CROKER, 1847. 4 During his illness Mr. Murphy visited him, and found him reading Dr. Watson's Chemistry: articulating with difficulty, he said, "From this book he who knows nothing of JOHNSON TO MRS. PORTER "London, July 5. 1783. "DEAR MADAM, - The account which you gire your health is but melancholy. May it please God to restore you. My disease affected my speech, and still continues, in some degree, to ob for a while, but the organs being still weak are struct my utterance; my voice is distinct enoug: quickly weary; but in other respects I am, I think, rather better than I have lately been, and can let you know my state without the help of any other hand. In the opinion of my friends, and in my own, I am gradually mending. The physicians consider me as cured, and I had leave four days ago to wash the cantharides from my head. Last Tuesday I dined at the Club. "I am going next week into Kent, and purpose to change the air frequently this summer : whether I shall wander so far as Staffordshire I cannot tel I should be glad to come. Return my thanks to Mrs. Cobb, and Mr. Pearson, and all that have shown attention to me. Let us, my dear, pray for one another, and consider our sufferings as notices mercifully given us to prepare ourselves for another state. "I live now but in a melancholy way. My old friend Mr. Levett is dead, who lived with me in the house, and was useful and companionable; Mrs. Desmoulins is gone away; and Mrs. Williams is so much decayed, that she can add little to another's gratifications. The world passes away, and we are passing with it; but there is, doubtless, another world, which will endure for ever. Let us all it ourselves for it. I am, &c., SAM. JOHNSON.” Such was the general vigour of his constitution, that he recovered from this alarming and severe attack with wonderful quickness*: so that in July he was able to make a visit to Mr. Langton at Rochester, where he passed about a fortnight, and made little excursions as easily as at any time of his life. JOHNSON TO MRS. THRALE. "London, July 23. 1753. "I have been thirteen days at Rochester, and am now just returned. I came back by water in a common boat, twenty miles for a shilling; and when I landed at Billingsgate I carried my budge myself to Cornhill before I could get a coach, and was not much incommoded." “August 13. — Of this world, in which you represent me as delighting to live, I can say little. Since I came home I have only been to churc once to Burney's, once to Paradise's, and once to may learn a great deal, and he who knows will be pleased find his knowledge recalled to his mind in a manner pleasing." Life, p. 121. Murphy adds, that in the eugene of August he set out for Lichfield on a visit to Miss LLA Porter; and in his way back paid his respects to Dr. Adams at Oxford. But it seems certain that he did not in this terval go to Lichfield, and there is barely time for a shor excursion to Oxford. - CROKER. Reynolds's. With Burney I saw Dr. Rose, his new relation, with whom I have been many years acquainted. If I discovered no reliques of disease, I am glad; but Fanny's trade is fiction.' "I have since partaken of an epidemical disorder; but common evils produce no dejection. "Paradise's company, I fancy, disappointed him; I remember nobody. With Reynolds was the Archbishop of Tuam, a man coarse of voice and inelegant of language.' "I am now broken with disease, without the alleviation of familiar friendship or domestic society; I have no middle state between clamour and silence, between general conversation and selftormenting solitude. Levett is dead, and poor Williams is making haste to die: I know not if she will ever come out of her chamber. 66 “I am now quite alone; but let me turn my thoughts another way." 66 August 20. — This has been a day of great emotion; the office of the communion for the sick has been performed in poor Mrs. Williams's chamber. At home I see almost all my companions dead or dying. At Oxford I have just lost Wheeler, the man with whom I most delighted to converse. The sense of my own diseases, and the sight of the world sinking round me, oppress me perhaps too much. I hope that all these admonitions will not be vain, and that I shall learn to die as dear Williams is dying, who was very cheerful before and after this awful solemnity, and seems to resign herself with calmness and hope upon eternal mercy. "I read your last kind letter with great delight; but when I came to love and honour, what sprung in my mind? How loved, how honoured once, avails thee not. "I sat to Mrs. Reynolds yesterday for my picture, perhaps the tenth time; and I sat for three hours with the patience of mortal born to bear." "August 26. Things stand with me much as they have done for some time. Mrs. Williams fancies now and then that she grows better, but her vital powers appear to be slowly burning out. Nobody thinks, however, that she will very soon be quite wasted; and as she suffers me to be of very little use to her, I have determined to pass some time with Mr. Bowles, near Salisbury, and have taken a place for Thursday. "Some benefit may be perhaps received from change of air, some from change of company, and some from mere change of place. It is not easy to grow well in a chamber where one has long been sick, and where every thing seen, and every person speaking, revives and impresses images of pain. Though it be true that no man can run away from himself, yet he may escape from many causes of useless uneasiness. That the mind is its own place, is the boast of a fallen angel that had learned to lie. External locality has great effects, at least upon all embodied beings. I hope this little journey will afford me at last some suspense of melancholy."] Letters. "Heale, near Salisbury, Aug. 29. 1783. "DEAR SIR, - Without appearing to want a just sense of your kind attention, I cannot omit to give an account of the day which seemed to appear in some sort perilous. I rose at five, and went out at six; and having reached Salisbury about nine, went forward a few miles in my friend's chariot. I was no more wearied with the journey, though it was a high-hung, rough coach, than I should have been forty years ago. We shall now see what air will do. The country is all a plain; and the house in which I am, so far as I can judge from my window, for I write before I have left my chamber, is sufficiently pleasant. Be so kind as to continue your attention to Mrs. Williams. It is great consolation to the well, and still greater to the sick, that they find themselves not neglected; and I know that you will be desirous of giving comfort, even where you have no great hope of giving help. "Since I wrote the former part of the letter, I find that by the course of the post I cannot send it before the 31st. I am, &c., SAM. JOHNSON." While he was here, he had a letter from Dr. Brocklesby, acquainting him of the death of Mrs. Williams, which affected him a good deal. Though for several years her temper had not been complacent, she had valuable qualities, and her departure left a blank in his house. Upon this occasion he, according to his habitual course of piety, composed a prayer.+ I shall here insert a few particulars concerning him, with which I have been favoured by one of his friends. "He had once conceived the design of writing the Life of Oliver Cromwell, saying that he 4 Prayers and Meditations, p. 226.-B. In his letter to Miss Susannah Thrale, Sept. 9., he thus writes: "Pray show mamma this passage of a letter from Dr. Brocklesby: Mrs. Williams, from mere inanition, has at length paid the great debt to nature, about three o'clock this thought it must be highly curious to trace his extraordinary rise to the supreme power from so obscure a beginning. He at length laid aside his scheme, on discovering that all that can be told of him is already in print; and that it is impracticable to procure any authentic information in addition to what the world is already in possession of." 1 "He had likewise projected, but at what part of his life is not known, a work to show how small a quantity of REAL FICTION there is in the world; and that the same images, with very little variation, have served all the authors who have ever written." "His thoughts in the latter part of his life were frequently employed on his deceased friends. He often muttered these or such like sentences: 'Poor man! and then he died."" unseemliness, drives a man either to stammering, a nonplus, or harping on that which should follow, whereas a slow speech confirmeth the memory, addeth a conceit of wisdom to the hearers, besides a seemliness of speech and countenance.' Dr. Johnson's method of conversation was certainly calculated to excite attention, and to amuse and instruct (as it happened), without wearying or e fusing his company. He was always most per fectly clear and perspicuous; and his language wa so accurate, and his sentences so neatly constructed that his conversation might have been all printe without any correction. At the same time, it wa easy and natural; the accuracy of it had no appear ance of labour, constraint, or stiffness: he seemet more correct than others by the force of habit, and the customary exercises of his powerful mind." Speaking of a certain literary friend, He is a He spoke often in praise of French literature very pompous puzzling fellow,' said he he lent The French are excellent in this,' he would st me a letter once that somebody had written to him, 'they have a book on every subject.' From what no matter what it was about; but he wanted to he had seen of them he denied them the praise a ↑ have the letter back, and expressed a mighty value superior politeness, and mentioned, with very visite for it: he hoped it was to be met with again; he disgust, the custom they have of spitting on the would not lose it for a thousand pounds. I laid floors of their apartments. This,' said the docter my hand upon it soon afterwards, and gave it him. 'is as gross a thing as can well be done; and une I believe I said I was very glad to have met with wonders how any man, or set of men, can persist ir it. Oh, then he did not know that it signified any so offensive a practice for a whole day together thing. So you see, when the letter was lost it was one should expect that the first effort towards cvworth a thousand pounds, and when it was foundlisation would remove it even among savages.' it was not worth a farthing.' 939 "The style and character of his conversation is pretty generally known: it was certainly conducted in conformity with a precept of Lord Bacon, but it is not clear, I apprehend, that this conformity was either perceived or intended by Johnson. The precept alluded to is as follows: In all kinds of speech, either pleasant, grave, severe, or ordinary, it is convenient to speak leisurely, and rather drawlingly than hastily: because hasty speech confounds the memory, and oftentimes, besides the "Baxter's Reasons of the Christian Regin' he thought contained the best collection of the evidences of the divinity of the Christian system.” 66 Chymistry was always an interesting purs with Dr. Johnson. Whilst he was in Wiltshire, be attended some experiments that were made by. 1 physician at Salisbury on the new kinds of air. It the course of the experiments frequent mention being made of Dr. Priestley, Dr. Johnson knit his brows, and in a stern manner inquired, Why d we hear so much of Dr. Priestley?" He was very morning (Sept. 6.). She died without a struggle, retaining her faculties entire to the very last; and, as she expressed it, having set her house in order, was prepared to leave it at the last summons of nature." In his letter to Mrs. Thrale, Sept. 22., he adds: "Poor Williams has, I hope, seen the end of her afflic tions. She acted with prudence, and she bore with fortitude. She has left me. "Thou thy weary task hast done, Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages.' Had she had good-humour and prompt elocution, her universal curiosity and comprehensive knowledge would have made her the delight of all that knew her. She left her little to your charity-school." MALONE. Mr. Malone observes, "This, however, was entirely a mistake, as appears from the Memoirs published by Mr. Noble. Had Johnson been furnished with the materials which the industry of that gentleman has procured, and with others which it is believed are yet preserved in manuscript, he would, without doubt, have produced a most valuable and curious history of Cromwell's life."- BOSWELL. I may add, that, had Johnson given us a Life of Cromwell, we should not have been disgusted in numberless instances with"My Lord Protector" and "My Lady PROTECTRESS" and certainly the brutal ruffian who presided in the bloody assembly that murdered their sovereign would have been characterised by very different epithets than those which are applied to him in this work, where we find him described as "the BOLD and DETERMINED Bradshaw."-MALONE. 2 Hints for Civil Conversation. - Bacon's Works, 4to. vol. i. p. 571. MALONE. 3 I do not wonder at Johnson's displeasure when the name of Dr. Priestley was mentioned; for I know no writer who has been suffered to publish more pernicious doctrines. I shall instance only three. First, Materialism; by which mind is denied to human nature; which, if believed, mos ! |