this was obstinately refused, the Dock being considered as an upstart. And a rival, Alderman Tolcher, who took a very strong part, called one morning, and immediately opened on the subject to Dr. Johnson, who appeared to give great attention, and, when the alderman had ceased speaking, replied, "You are perfectly right, Sir; I would let the rogues die of thirst, for I hate a Docker from my heart." The old man went away quite delighted, and told all his acquaintances how completely "the great Dr. Johnson was on his side of the question."]

Calumny. Ridicule. — It was after the publication of the Lives of the Poets that Dr. Farr, being engaged to dine with Sir Joshua Reynolds, mentioned, on coming in, that, in his way, he had seen a caricature, which he thought clever, of the nine muses flogging Dr. Johnson round Parnassus. The admirers of Gray and others, who thought their favourites hardly treated in the Lives, were laughing at Dr. Farr's account of the print, when Dr. Johnson was himself announced. Dr. Farr being the only stranger, Sir Joshua introduced him, and, to Dr. Farr's infinite embarrassment, repeated what he had just been telling them. Johnson was not at all surly on the occasion, but said, turning to Dr. Farr, "Sir, I am very glad to hear this. I hope the day will never arrive when I shall neither be the object of calumny or ridicule, for then I shall be neglected and forgotten."2

"Fiddle-de-dee." It was near the close of his life that two young ladies, who were warm admirers of his works, but had never seen himself, went to Bolt Court, and, asking if he was at home, were shown up stairs where he was writing. He laid down his pen on their entrance, and, as they stood before him, one of the females repeated a speech of some length, previously prepared for the occasion. It was an enthusiastic effusion, which, when the speaker had finished, she panted for her idol's reply. What was her mortification when all he said was," Fiddle-de-dee, my dear."

Hayley.- Much pains were taken by Mr. Hayley's friends to prevail on Dr. Johnson to read The Triumphs of Temper," when it was in its zenith; at last he consented, but never got beyond the two first pages, of which he uttered a few words of contempt that I have now forgotten. They were, however, carried to the author, who revenged himself by portraying Johnson as Rumble in his comedy of "The Mausoleum;" and subsequently he published, without his name, a " Dialogue in the Shades between Lord Chesterfield and Dr. Johnson," more distinguished for malignity than wit. Being anonymous, and possessing very little merit, it fell still-born from the press. See antè, p. 773.

Mrs. Montagu. Lord Lyttelton. - Dr. Johnson sent his "Life of Lord Lyttelton " in MS. to Mrs. Montagu, who was much dissatisfied with it, and thought her friend every way underrated; but the Doctor made no alteration. When he subsequently made one of a party at Mrs. Montagu's, he addressed his hostess two or three times after dinner, with a view to engage her in conversation: receiving only cold and brief answers, he said, in a low voice, to General Paoli, who sat next him, and who told me the story, "You see, Sir, I

am no longer the man for Mrs. Montagu.'

Favourite Couplet. Mrs. Piozzi related to me, that when Dr. Johnson one day observed, that poets in general preferred some one couplet they had written to any other, she replied, that she did not suppose he had a favourite; he told her she was mistaken - he thought his best lines were: —

"The encumber'd oar scarce leaves the hostile coast, Through purple billows and a floating host."

§ 6. BY MR. BARCLAY.

"Mr. Barclay 3, from his connection with Mr. Thrale, had several opportunities of meeting and conversing with Dr. Johnson. On his becoming a partner in the brewery, Johnson advised him not to allow his commercial pursuits to divert his attention from his studies. A mere literary man,' said the Doctor, * is a dull man; a man, who is solely a man of business, is a selfish man; but when literature and commerce are united, they make a respectable man.'

"Mr. Barclay saw Johnson ten days before he died, when the latter observed, That they should never meet more. Have you any objection to receive an old man's blessing?' Mr. Barclay knelt down, and Johnson gave him his blessing with great fervency.

"Mr. Barclay had never observed any rudeness or violence on the part of Johnson.

1 This story is told by Mr. Boswell, and commented upon by Mr. Blakeway (antè, p. 128.), as if Dr. Johnson had seriously entered into the spirit of the contest; whereas Dr. Mudge, more naturally, represents him as flattering, with an ironical vehemence, the prejudices of the worthy alderman, who is known, from other circumstances, to have been of a very zealous disposition. - CROKER.

2 This was bis usual declaration on all such occasions. If Johnson had been an amateur author, abuse and even criticism would no doubt have given him pain, but, to an author by profession and one who, for so many years, had lived by his pen, the greatest misfortune would be neglect; for his daily

"He has seen Boswell lay down his knife and fork, and take out his tablets, in order to register a good anecdote. "When Johnson proceeded to the dining-room, one of Mr. Thrale's servants handed him a wig of a smarter description than the one he wore in the morning; the exchange took place in the hall, or passage. Johnson, like many other men, was always in much better humour after dinner than before."

§ 7. BY THE RIGHT HON. W. WINDHAM. Understanding that a Journal kept by the late Mr. Windham contained some particulars relating to Dr. Johnson, I applied to my friend Admiral Windham, that gentleman's nephew and heir, for permission to see the Journal, which the Admiral most readily granted; but a gentleman (Mr. Thomas Amyot), to whose care the papers had been previously consigned, with a view to his writing the life of Mr. Windham, declined to favour me with the desired information. From another quarter, however, I have been enabled to present the reader with the following extracts made from the original Journal, before (as I suppose) it was confided to Mr. Amyot. Mr. Amyot afterwards communicated some extracts from the Journal to Mr. Wright, but they do not appear to be so full as those with which I was favoured.- CROKER, 1831-47.

From 21st to 30th August, 1784. - This interval was passed by Mr. Windham in a circuitous journey to Ashbourn, when he paid a visit of a few days to his friend Dr. Johnson, [see ante, pp. 784-786.], and has preserved the following minutes of their conversations, under the title of " Johnsoniana."

Amusement. The principle of all amusement is to beguile time and to fill the interval between active thoughts and perfect vacuity.'

""

Homer. The source of every thing, either in or out of nature, that can serve the purpose of poetry, is to be found in Homer; every species of distress, every modification of heroic character, battles, storms, ghosts, incantations, &c."

Translation from the Greek. "Much credit is due to the first translators of Greek authors. Grævius and Benedictus give the palm to Sir Thomas More, among all the translators of Lucian."

Odyssey." Dr. Johnson said, he had never read through the Odyssey completely in the original."

Johnson's first Declamation." Anecdote of his first declamation at College, that having neglected to write it till the morning of his being to repeat it, and having only one copy, he got part of it by heart, while he was walking into the Hall, and the rest he repeated as well as he could extempore.'

The Ramei. "Anecdote of his tutor, who told them that the Ramei, the followers of Ramus, were so called from Ramus, a bow." 4

Johnson's Idleness." Description of himself as very idle and neglectful of his studies."

Latin." His opinion, that I could not name above five of my college acquaintance who read Latin with ease sufficient to make it pleasurable. The difficulties of the language overpower the desire of reading the author."

"That he read Latin with as much ease when he went to college as at present."

"That a year or two elapsed between" his quitting school and going to college.

Thomas Hearne." His opinion of that fact of Thomas Hearne, that he had never been in London."

Ovid's Fasti. Wotton. Wood. Recommended the reading the Fasti of Ovid, - also Wotton, and Wood on Homer."

Ovid and Virgil." Commended Ovid's description of the death of Hercules- doubted whether Virgil would not have loaded the description with too many fine words; that Virgil would sometimes dare verba."

Styles. Opinion that there were three ways in which writing might be unnatural; by being bombastic and above nature-affected and beside it, fringing events with ornaments which nature did not afford or weak and below nature. That neither of the first would please long. That the third might indeed please a good while, or at least many; because imbecility, and consequently a love of imbecility, might be found in many."

A Good Work." Baretti had told him of some Italian author, who said that a good work must be that with which the vulgar were pleased, and of which the learned could tell

bread depended on the sensation his works might create. This observation would be found applicable to many other cases. CROKER.

3 Robert Barclay, Esq. of Bury Hill, near Dorking, from whom Mr. Markland derived these memoranda in 1843, died in 1831, at an advanced age. — CROKER.

4 Sic in the MS, before me, as well as in that to which Mr. Wright had access: no doubt an error of Mr. Windham's own pen for bough; but the blunder of the tutor corroborates what is said ante (p. 13.) of Mr. Jorden's scanty literature. - CROKER.

why it pleased-that it must be able to employ the learned, and detain the idle. Chevy Chase pleased the vulgar, but did not satisfy the learned; it did not fill a mind capable of thinking strongly. The merit of Shakspeare was such as the ignorant could take in, and the learned add nothing to."

"Stat magni nominis," &c.—“ Stat magni nominis umbra he would construe as, umbra quæ est magni nominis, hoc est, celebrata."

College Tutor. "Τερψάμενος νεῖται, καὶ πλείονα εἰδώς, (the offer of the Syren to Ulysses) any man who can promise that to another will preserve his respect."- Applied to a college tutor.

Rowe's Lucan." Opinion of Rowe's translation of Lucan, that it would have been improved, if Rowe had had a couple of years to render it less paraphrastical."

Tenses. Suspicion that the old grammarians have given us from analogy more modification of tenses than were ever used. Remembers but one instance of the second future, viz. ug, in Josephus, and three of the optative, if I recollect, of the preterite middle one of them in Hesiod."

Virgil.-"The first female warrior is the Camilla of Virgil." "Vast change of the Latin language from the time of Lucretius to Virgil; - greater than known in any other, even the French. The story of Dido is in Ovid's Fasti, also of Mezentius. Virgil's invention, therefore, is less than supposed. Take from his what is in Homer, what do you leave him?" [ante, p. 559 ]

University. Great advantage of a university, that a person lives in a place where his reputation depends on his learning." Nervous Feel.-"Argument about that feel which persons on great heights suppose themselves to have of a wish to throw themselves down."

Delitescence." The idea of delitescence is one of those that please the mind in a hilly country."

Torpescence.-"Much of the faculties of the mind lost in it." Warton." Qui stupet, in Statius, applied to Joseph Warton's admiration of fine passages. His taste is amazement." Latin. The pretensions of the English to the reputation of writing Latin is founded not so much on the specimens in that way which they have produced, as on the quantity of talent diffused through the country."

Erasmus." Erasmus appears to be totally ignorant of science and natural knowledge. But one Italian writer is mentioned in Erasmus; whence Johnson conjectured that he did not understand Italian."

Turnpike Roads." Opinion about the effect of turnpike roads. Every place communicating with each other. Before, there were cheap places and dear places. Now all refuges are destroyed for elegant or genteel poverty. Want of such a last hope to support men in their struggle through life, however seldom it might be resorted to. Disunion of families by furnishing a market to each man's abilities, and destroying the dependence of one man on another."

September 1st.-"Left Ashbourne at half-past one, having gone with Dr. Johnson, in the morning, to prayers. Regretted, upon reflection, that I had not staid another day; which I should have done if I had not waited to be asked, or had not contrived that my intention was not known."

§ 8. MISCELLANEOUS.

Donne v. Pope. The late Mr. Crauford, of Hyde Park Corner, being engaged to dinner, where Dr. Johnson was to

be, resolved to pay his court to him; and, having heard that he preferred Donne's Satires to Pope's version of them, said, "Do you know, Dr. Johnson, that I like Dr. Donne's original Satires better than Pope's." Johnson said, “Well, Sir, I can't help that."

Music. King David. - Miss Johnson, one of Sir Joshua s nieces (afterwards Mrs. Deane), was dining one day at her uncle's with Dr. Johnson and a large party: the conversation happening to turn on music, Johnson spoke very contemptuously of that art, and added, "that no man of talent, or whose mind was capable of better things, ever would or could devote his time and attention to so idle and frivolous a pursuit." The young lady, who was very fond of music, whispered her next neighbour, "I wonder what Dr. JohnG thinks of King David." Johnson overheard her, and, with great good humour and complacency, said, “ Madam, I thank you; I stand rebukea before you, and promise that, on one subject at least, you shall never hear me talk Dousense again."

Pleasure of Hunting. - The honours of the University of Cambridge were once performed to Dr. Johnsen, by Dr. Watson, afterwards Bishop of Llandaff, and then Professor of Chemistry, &c.2 After having spent the morning in seelt 2 all that was worthy of notice, the sage dined at hus conductor's table, which was surrounded by various persons, all anxious to see so remarkable a character, but the moment was Lo favourable; he had been wearied by his previous exertions and would not talk. After the party had dispersed, he said. "I was tired, and would not take the trouble, or I could have set them right upon several subjects, Sir; for instance, the gentleman who said he could not imagine how any pleasure could be derived from hunting, the reason is, because man feels his own vacuity less in action than when

Johnson in a Stage Coach. Mr. Williams, the rector of Wellesbourne, in Warwickshire, mentioned having once, when a young man, performed a stage-coach journey with Dr. Johnson, who took his place in the vehicle, provided with a little book, which his companion soon discovered to be Lucian he occasionally threw it aside, if struck by any remark made by his fellow-travellers, and poured forth his knowledge and eloquence in a full stream, to the delight and astonishment of his auditors. Accidentally, the first subject which attracted him was the digestive faculties of dogs, from whence he branched off as to the powers of digestion in various species of animals, discovering such stores of information, that this particular point might have been sup posed to have formed his especial study, and so it was with every other subject started. The strength of his men ory was not less astonishing than his eloquence; he quoted from various authors, either in the support of his own argument or to confute those of his companions, as readily, and apparently as accurately, as if the works had been in his banda The coach halted, as usual, for dinner, which seemed to le a deeply interesting business to Johnson, who vehemently attacked a dish of stewed carp, using his fingers only in feeding himself.3

"Pilgrim's Progress."- Bishop Percy was at one time on a very intimate footing with Dr. Johnson, and the Doctor one day took Percy's little daughter 4 upon his knee, and asked her what she thought of " Pilgrim's Progress ?" The child answered that she had not read it. "No!" replied the Doctor; "then I would not give one farthing for you; he set her down and took no further notice of her.

" and

1. BY MR. WINDHAM.

The following interesting Account of Mr. Windham's Conversations with Dr. Johnson a few Days before his Death, is extracted from the Journal before mentioned.— CROKER.

Tuesday, December 7. 1784. — Ten minutes past 2, P. M.After waiting some short time in the adjoining room, I was admitted to Dr. Johnson in his bedchamber, where, after placing me in the chair next him (he sitting in his usual place, on the east side of the room, and I on his right hand), he put into my hands two small volumes (an edition of the

This word is not in his Dictionary. It means here no doubt seclusion — hiding one's self. —CROKER.

2 Dr. Watson was a fellow of Trinity. See antè, p. 167., a very different account of one evening at Trinity: but both may be true of different evenings. The visit to Cambridge occurred in Feb. 1765. -CROKER.

New Testament), saying, " Extremum hoc munus morientis habeto."

He then proceeded to observe that I was entering upon a life which would lead me deeply into all the business of the world that he did not condemn civil employment, but that it was a state of great danger, and that he had therefore one piece of advice earnestly to impress upon me, that I would set apart every seventh day for the care of my soul. That one day, the seventh, should be employed in repenting what was amiss in the six preceding, and fortifying my virtue for the six to come. That such a portion of time was surely little enough for the meditation of eternity.

3 Mr. Boswell, ante, p. 758., mentions another instance, în which Dr. Johnson surprised his accidental companions in a stage-coach with the force of his conversation and the goodness of his appetite.-CROKER.

4 Afterwards Mrs. Isted, of Ecton, Northamptonshire. CROKER.

He then told me that he had a request to make to me; namely, that I would allow his servant Frank to look up to me as his friend, adviser, and protector, in all difficulties which his own weakness and imprudence, or the force or fraud of others, might bring him into. He said that he had left him what he considered an ample provision, viz. seventy pounds per annum; but that even that sum might not place him above the want of a protector, and to me, therefore, he recommended him as to one who had will, and power, and activity to protect him. Having obtained my assent to this, he proposed that Frank should be called in; and desiring me to take him by the hand in token of the promise, repeated before him the recommendation he had just made of him, and the promise I had given to attend to it.

I then took occasion to say how much I felt what I had long foreseen that I should feel-regret at having spent so little of my life in his company. I stated this as an instance where resolutions are deferred till the occasions are past. For some time past I had determined that such an occasion of self-reproach should not subsist, and had built upon the hope of passing in his society the chief part of my time, at the moment when it was to be apprehended we were about to lose him for ever.

I had no difficulty in speaking to him thus of my apprehensions. I could not help, on the other hand, entertaining hopes, but with these I did not like to trouble him, lest he should conceive that I thought it necessary to flatter him: he answered hastily, that he was sure I would not; and proceeded to make a compliment to the manliness of my mind, which, whether deserved or not, ought to be remembered, that it may be deserved.

I then stated, that among other neglects was the omission of introducing of all topics the most important, the consequence of which particularly filled my mind at that moment, and in which I had often been desirous to know his opinions; the subjects I meant were, I said, natural and revealed religion. The wish thus generally stated, was in part gratified on the instant. For revealed religion, he said, there was such historical evidence, as, upon any subject not religious, would have left no doubt. Had the facts recorded in the New Testament been mere civil occurrences, no one would have called in question the testimony by which they are established; but the importance annexed to them, amounting to nothing less than the salvation of mankind, raised a cloud in our minds, and created doubts unknown upon any other subject. Of proofs to be derived from history, one of the most cogent, he seemed to think, was the opinion so well authenticated, and so long entertained, of a deliverer that was to appear about that time. Among the typical representations, the sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb, in which no bone was to be broken, had early struck his mind. For the immediate life and miracles of Christ, such attestation as that of the apostles, who all, except St. John, confirmed their testimony with their blood-such belief as these witnesses procured from a people best furnished with the means of judging, and least disposed to judge favourably-such an extension afterwards of that belief over all the nations of the earth, though originating from a nation of all others most despised, would leave no doubt that the things witnessed were true, and were of a nature more than human. With respect to evidence, Dr. Johnson observed, that we had not such evidence that Cæsar died in the Capitol, as that Christ died in the manner related.

December 11.- Went with Sir Joshua, whom I took up by the way, to see Dr. Johnson. Strahan and Langton there. No hopes; though a great discharge had taken place from the legs.

December 12. At about half past seven P. M. went to Dr. Johnson's, where I stayed, chiefly in the outer room, till past eleven. Strahan there during the whole time; during part Mr. Hoole; and latterly Mr. Cruikshanks and the apothecary. I only went in twice, for a few minutes each time: the first time I hinted only what they had before been urging; namely, that he would be prevailed upon to take some sustenance, and desisted upon his exclaiming, "Tis all very childish; let us hear no more of it." The second time I came in, in consequence of a consultation with Mr. Cruikshanks and the apothecary, and addressed him formally, after premising that I considered what I was going to say as matter of duty; I said that I hoped he would not suspect me of the

1 It appears in this journal that Mr. Windham laboured occasionally under a nervous and indeed morbid hesitation to do even the commonest things, and used to lose hours and days in deliberating whether he should do this or that trifling thing. This was hypochondriasis: and he used to call it the feel which, he said, came over him on these occasions. (See antè, p. 617.) — CROKER, 1847.

a

2 See antè, p. 166. That more importance may not be given to this transaction than it deserves, it must be recollected, that Johnson fancied that his attendants were treating him with a timid leniency, merely to spare him pain, notion which irritated, at once, his love of life, his animal courage, and his high moral principle. We have already seen (ante, p. 494.) that when in health he had said, "Whoever is afraid of any thing is a scoundrel;" and now, in the same feeling, and the same words, he censures the

weakness of importuning him to take nourishment for the purpose of prolonging his life for a few hours or days. I then stated what the reason was. It was to secure that which I was persuaded he was most anxious about; namely, that he might preserve his faculties entire to the last moment. Before I had quite stated my meaning, he interrupted me by saying, that he had refused no sustenance but inebriating sustenance; and proceeded to give instances where, in compliance with the wishes of his physician, he had taken even a small quantity of wine. I readily assented to any objections he might have to nourishment of that kind, and observing that milk was the only nourishment I intended, flattered myself that I had succeeded in my endeavours, when he recurred to his general refusal, and "begged that there might be an end of it." I then said, that I hoped he would forgive my earnestness, or something to that effect, when he replied eagerly, that from me nothing could be necessary by way of apology; adding, with great fervour, in words which I shall, I hope, never forget, "God bless you, my dear Windham, through Jesus Christ;" and concluding with a wish "that we might [share] in some humble portion of that happiness which God might finally vouchsafe to repentant sinners, These were the last words I ever heard him speak. I hurried out of the room with tears in my eyes, and more affected than I had been on any former occasion.

December 13. In the morning meant to have met Mr. Cruikshanks in Bolt Court; but while I was deliberating 1 about going, was sent for by Mr. Burke. Went to Bolt Court about half-past three, found that Dr Johnson had been almost constantly asleep since nine in the morning, and heard from Mr. Desmoulins what passed in the night. He had compelled Frank to give him a laucet, and had besides concealed in the bed a pair of scissors, and with one or the other of them had scarified himself in three places, two of them in the leg. On Mr. Desmoulins making a difficulty in giving him the lancet, he said, "Don't, if you have any scruple; but I will compel Frank;" and on Mr. Desmoulins attempting afterwards to prevent Frank from giving it to him, and at last to restrain his hand, he grew very outrageous, so as to call Frank scoundrel, and to threaten Mr. Desmoulins that he would stab him ; he then made the three incisions above mentioned, two of which were not unskilfully made; but one of those in the leg was a deep and ugly wound, from which they suppose him to have lost at least eight ounces of blood.

Upon Dr. Heberden expressing his fears about the scarification, Dr. Johnson told him he was timidərum timidissimus. A few days before his death, talking with Dr. Brocklesby, he said, "Now will you ascribe my death to my having taken eight grains of squills, when you recommended only three? Dr. Heberden, to my having opened my left foot, when nature was pointing out the discharge in the right?" conversation was introduced by his quoting some lines to the same purpose, from Swift's verses on his own death. 3

The

It was within the same period, if I understood Dr. Brocklesby right, that he enjoined him, as an honest man and a physician, to inform him how long he thought he had to live. Dr. Brocklesby inquired, in return, whether he had firmness to bear the answer. Upon his replying that he had, and Dr. Brocklesby limiting the time to a few weeks, he said, "that he then would trouble himself no more with medicine or medical advice:" and to this resolution he pretty much adhered.

In a conversation about what was practicable in medicine or surgery, he quoted, to the surprise of his physicians, the opinion of Marchetti for an operation of extracting (I think) part of the kidney. He recommended for an account of China, Sir John Mandeville's Travels. Holyday's Notes on Juvenal he thought so highly of as to have employed himself for some time in translating them into Latin.

He insisted on the doctrine of an expiatory sacrifice as the condition without which there was no Christianity (ante, p. 292.); and urged in support the belief entertained in all ages, and by all nations, barbarous as well as polite. He recom. mended to Dr. Brocklesby, also, Clarke's Sermons (ante, p. 807.), and repeated to him the passage which he had spoken

lics chose that for their burying place, that some Catholics, in Queen Elizabeth's time, had been burnt there. Upon Dr. Brocklesby's asking him whether he did not feel the warmth of the sun, he quoted from Juvenal

"Præterea minimus gelido jam in corpore sanguis
Febre calet sola." 2-

December 13. Forty-five minutes past ten P. M. While writing the preceding articles- I received the fatal account, so long dreaded, that Dr. Johnson was no more!

May those prayers which he incessantly poured from a heart fraught with the deepest devotion, find their acceptance with Him to whom they were addressed which piety, so humble and so fervent, may seem to promise!

December 18. For some days no work of any sort has been done. I cannot, indeed, say that all the time has been mis-spent; much of it has been employed in performing the last duties of respect and affection to the great man who is

A few days after the remnant of the Ivy-lane Club had dined with him [Feb. 1784], Dr. Johnson sent for me, and informed me that he had discovered in himself the symptoms of a dropsy; and, indeed, his very much increased bulk, and the swollen appearance of his legs, seemed to indicate no less. He told me, that he was desirous of making a will, and requested me to be one of his executors: upon my consenting, he gave me to understand that he meant to make a provision for his servant, Frank, of about 70l. a year for his life, and concerted with me a plan for investing a sum sufficient for the purpose: at the same time he opened to me the state of his circumstances, and the amount of what he had to dispose

of.

In a visit which I made him in a few days, in consequence of a very pressing request to see me, I found him labouring under great dejection of mind. He bade me draw near him, and said he wanted to enter into a serious conversation with me; and, upon my expressing a willingness to join in it, he, with a look that cut me to the heart, told me that he had the prospect of death before him, and that he dreaded to meet his Saviour.3 Icould not but be astonished at such a declaration, and advised him, as I had done once before, to reflect on the course of his life and the services he had rendered to the cause of religion and virtue, as well by his example as his writings; to which he answered, that he had written as a philosopher, but had not lived like one. In the estimation of his offences, he reasoned thus: "Every man knows his own sins, and also what grace he has resisted. But, to those of others, and the circumstances under which they were committed, he is a stranger he is, therefore, to look on himself as the greatest sinner that he knows of." At the conclusion of this argument, which he strongly enforced, he uttered this passionate exclamation," Shall I, who have been a teacher of others, myself be a castaway?"

Much to the same purpose passed between us in this and other conversations that I had with him; in all which I could not but wonder, as much at the freedom with which he opened his mind, and the compunction he seemed to feel for the errors of his past life, as I did at his making choice of me for his confessor, knowing full well how meanly qualified I was for such an office.

It was on a Thursday (19th February) that I had this conversation with him; and here, let not the supercilious lip of scorn protrude itself, while I relate that, he declared his intention to devote the whole of the next day to fasting, humiliation, and such other devotional exercises as became a man in his situation. On the Saturday following I made him a visit, and, upon entering his room, observed in his countenance such a serenity, as indicated that some remarkable crisis of his disorder had produced a change in his feelings. He told me that, pursuant to the resolution he had mentioned, he had

spent the preceding day in an abstraction from all worldly concerns; that, to prevent interruption, he had, in the morn ing, ordered Frank not to admit any one to him; and the better to enforce the charge. had added these awful words. He then "For your master is preparing himself to die." mentioned to me, that, in the course of this exercise, he found himself relieved from that disorder which had been growing on him, and was become very oppressing, the dropsy, by a gradual evacuation of water to the amount of twenty pirts, a like instance whereof he had never before experienced, and asked me what I thought of it.

I was well aware of the lengths that superstition and enthusiasm will lead men, and how ready some are to attribute favourable events to supernatural causes, and said, that k might savour of presumption to say that, in this instance, God had wrought a miracle; yet, as divines recognise certa dispensations of his providence, recorded in the Scripture by the denomination of returns of prayer, and his omnipotence is now the same as ever, I thought it would be little less than criminal to ascribe his late relief to causes merely natura, and that the safer opinion was, that he had not in vain humbled himself before his Maker. He seemed to acquiesce in all that I said on this important subject; and, several times, while I was discoursing with him, cried out, “It is wonderful, very wonderful!"

His zeal for religion, as manifested in his writings and conversation, and the accounts extant that attest his piety, have induced the enemies to his memory to tax him with soperstition. To that charge I oppose his behaviour on this occasion, and leave it to the judgment of sober and rational persons, whether such an unexpected event as that above mentioned would not have prompted a really superstitious man to some more passionate exclamation than that it was "wonderful."

[This relief, extraordinary as it was, Johnson himself said, "was only a reprieve," — the disease returned, and Hawkins renewed the subject of the will. pp. 580. 593.]

His complaint still increasing, I continued pressing him to make a will; but he still procrastinated that business. On the 27th of November, in the morning. I went to his house, with a purpose still farther to urge him not to give occasion, by dying intestate, for litigation among his relations; but finding that he was gone to pass the day with the Rev Mr. Strahan, at Islington, I followed him thither, and found there our old friend Mr. Ryland, and Mr. Hoole. Upon my sitting down, he said, that the prospect of the change he was about to undergo, and the thought of meeting his Saviour, troubled him, but that he had hope that he would not reject him.

I then began to discourse with him about his will, and the provision for Frank, till he grew angry. He told me, that he had signed and sealed the paper I left him; but that, said I, had blanks in it, which, as it seems, you have not filled up with the names of the executors. "You should have filled them up yourself," answered he. I replied, that such an act would have looked as if I meant to prevent his choice of a fitter person. "Sir," said he, "these minor virtues are not to be exercised in matters of such importance as this." At length he said that on his return home be would send for a clerk, and dictate a will to him. "You will then," said I, "be inops consilii; rather do it now. With Mr. Strahan's permission, I will be his guest at dinner; and, if Mr. Hoole will please to hold the pen, I will, in a few words, make such a disposition of your estate as you shall direct. To this he assented; but such a paroxysm of the asthma seized him, as prevented our going on. As the fire burned up, he found himself relieved, and grew cheerful. "The fit," said he, “was very sharp; but I am now easy."

After I had dictated a few lines, I told him, that the ancient form of wills contained a profession of the faith of the testator; and that he being a man of eminence for learning and parts, it would afford an illustrious example, and well become him, to make such an explicit declaration of his belief, as might obviate all suspicions that he was any other than a Christian. He thanked me for the hint, and, calling for paper, wrote on a slip, that I had in my hand and gave him, the following words: "I humbly commit to the infinite and eternal goodness of Almighty God, my soul polluted with many sins; but, as I hope, purified by repentance, and redeemed, as I trust, by the death of Jesus Christ 5; and, returning it to me, said, "This I commit to your custody.

Upon my calling on him for directions to proceed, he told

4 I find the above sentiment in "Law's Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life," a book which Johnson was very conversant with, and often commended. -HAWKINS, ante, p. 15, 5 The will of the other great luminary of that age, Mr. Burke, is throughout strikingly characteristic, and was no doubt chiefly drawn up by himself. Those who revere his memory will read with satisfaction the opening declaration. "First, according to the ancient, good, and laudable custom, of which my heart and understanding recognise the propriety, I bequeath my soul to God, hoping for his mercy through the only merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."- MARK

LAND.

me that his father, in the course of his trade of a bookseller, had become bankrupt, and that Mr. William Innys had assisted him with money or credit to continue his business. "This," said he, "I consider as an obligation on me to be grateful to his descendants, and I therefore mean to give 2001. to his representative." He then meditated a devise of his house at Lichfield to the corporation of that city for a charitable use; but, it being freehold, he said, "I cannot live a twelvemonth, and the last statute of mortmain stands in the way: I must, therefore, think of some other disposition of it." His next consideration was, a provision for Frank, concerning the amount whereof I found he had been consulting Dr. Brocklesby, to whom he had put this question, "What would be a proper annuity to bequeath to a favourite servant?" The doctor answered, that the circumstances of the master were the truest measure; and that, in the case of a nobleman, 501. a year was deemed an adequate reward for many years' faithful service. "Then shall I," said Johnson, "be nobilissimus; for I mean to leave Frank 701. a year, and I desire you to tell him so." And now, at the making of the will, a devise, equivalent to such a provision, was therein inserted. The residue of his estate and effects, which took in, though he intended it not, the house at Lichfield, he bequeathed to his executors, in trust for a religious association; which it is needless to describe.

Having executed the will with the necessary formalities, he would have come home; but being pressed by Mr. and Mrs. Strahan to stay, he consented, and we all dined together. Towards the evening he grew cheerful; and I having promised to take him in my coach, Mr. Strahan and Mr. Ryland would accompany him home. In the way thither he appeared much at ease, and told stories. At eight I set him down, and Mr. Strahan and Mr. Ryland betook themselves to their respective homes.

Sunday, Nov. 28th. I saw him about noon: he was dozing; but waking, he found himself in a circle of his friends. Upon opening his eyes, he said, that the prospect of his dissolution was very terrible to him, and addressed himself to us all, in nearly these words: "You see the state in which I am; conBlicting with bodily pain and mental distraction: while you are in health and strength, labour to do good, and avoid evil, if ever you hope to escape the distress that now oppresses me."

A little while after, "I had, very early in my life, the seeds of goodness in me: I had a love of virtue, and a reverence for religion; and these, I trust, have brought forth in me fruits meet for repentance; and, if I have repented as I ought, I am forgiven. I have, at times, entertained a loathing of sin and of myself, particularly at the beginning of this year, when I had the prospect of death before me; and this has not abated when my fears of death have been less; and, at these times, I have had such rays of hope shot into my soul, as have almost persuaded me that I am in a state of reconciliation with God."

29th. Mr. Langton, who had spent the evening with him, reported, that his hopes were increased, and that he was much cheered upon being reminded of the general tendency of his writings, and of his example.

30th. I saw him in the evening, and found him cheerful. Was informed that he had, for his dinner, eaten heartily of a French duck pie and a pheasant.

Dec. 1. He was busied in destroying papers. Gave to Mr. Langton and another person [young Mr. Desmoulins], to fair-copy, some translations of the Greek epigrams, which he had made in the preceding nights, and transcribed the next morning, and they began to work on them.

3d. Finding his legs continue to swell, he signified to his physicians a strong desire to have them scarified; but they, unwilling to put him to pain, and fearing a mortification, declined advising it. He afterwards consulted his surgeon, and he performed the operation on one leg.

4th. I visited him the scarification made yesterday in his leg appeared to have had little effect. He said to me, that he was easier in his mind, and as fit to die at that instant as he could be a year hence. He requested me to receive the sacrament with him on Sunday, the next day. Complained of great weakness, and of phantoms that haunted his imagination.

5th. Being Sunday, I communicated with him and Mr.

He very much admired, and often in the course of his illness recited, from the conclusion of old Isaac Walton's Life of Bishop Sanderson, the following pathetic request: "Thus this pattern of meekness and primitive innocence changed this for a better life:-'tis now too late to wish that mine may be like his: for I am in the eighty-fifth year of my age, and God knows it hath not: but, I most humbly beseech Almighty God, that my death may; and I do as earnestly beg, that, if any reader shall receive any satisfaction from this very plain, and as true, relation, he will be so charitable as to say, Amen."- HAWKINS.

2 Mr. George Steevens. - CROKER.

3 As I take no pleasure in the disgrace of others, I regret the necessity I am under of mentioning these particulars: my reason for it is, that the transaction which so disturbed him may possibly be better known than the motives that

Langton, and other of his friends, as many as nearly filled the room. Mr. Strahan, who was constant in his attendance on him throughout his illness, performed the office. Previous to reading the exhortation, Johnson knelt, and, with a degree of fervour that I had never been witness to before, uttered the following most eloquent and energetic prayer:

Almighty and most merciful Father, I am now, as to human eyes it seems, about to commemorate, for the last time, the death of thy son Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. Grant, O Lord, that my whole hope and confidence may be in his merits and in thy mercy: forgive and accept my late conversion; enforce and accept my imperfect repentance; make this commemoration of him available to the confirmation of my faith, the establishment of my hope, and the enlargement of my charity; and make the death of thy son Jesus effectual to my redemption Have mercy upon me, and pardon the multitude of my offences. Bless my friends: have mercy upon all men. Support me by the grace of thy Holy Spirit in the days of weakness, and at the hour of death, and receive me, at my death, to everlasting happiness, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen."

Upon rising from his knees, after the office was concluded, he said, that he dreaded to meet God in a state of idiocy, or with opium in his head; and, that having now communicated with the effects of a dose upon him, he doubted if his exertions were the genuine operations of his mind, and repeated from Bishop Taylor this sentiment, "That little that has been omitted in health can be done to any purpose in sickness." 1

While he was dressing and preparing for this solemnity, an accident happened which went very near to disarrange his mind. He had mislaid, and was very anxious to find a paper that contained private instructions to his executors; and myself, Mr. Strahan, Mr. Langton, Mr. Hoole, Frank, and I believe some others that were about him, went into his bedchamber to seek it. In our search, I laid my hands on a parchment-covered book, into which I imagined it might have been slipped. Upon opening the book, I found it to be meditations and reflections, in Johnson's own handwriting; and having been told a day or two before by Frank, that a person 2 formerly intimately connected with his master, a joint proprietor of a newspaper, well known among the booksellers, and of whom Mrs. Williams once told me she had often cautioned him to beware; I say, having been told that this person had lately been very importunate to get access to him, indeed to such a degree as that, when he was told that the doctor was not to be seen, he would push his way up stairs; and having stronger reasons than I need here mention, to suspect that this man might find and make an ill use of the book, I put it, and a less of the same kind, into my pocket; at the same time telling those around me, and particularly Mr. Langton and Mr. Strahan, that I had got both, with my reasons for thus securing them. After the ceremony was over, Johnson took me aside, and told me that I had a book of his in my pocket; I answered that I had two, and that to prevent their falling into the hands of a person who had attempted to force his way into the house, I had done as I conceived a friendly act, but not without telling his friends of it, and also my reasons. He then asked me what ground I had for my suspicion of the man I mentioned: I told him his great importunity to get admittance; and farther, that immediately after a visit which he made me, in the year 1775, I missed a paper of public nature, and of great importance; and that a day or two after, and before it could be put to its intended use, I saw it in the newspapers.3

At the mention of this circumstance, Johnson paused; but recovering himself, said, "You should not have laid hands on the book; for had I missed it, and not known you had it, I should have roared for my book, as Othello did for his handkerchief, and probably have run mad."

I gave him time, till the next day, to compose himself, and then wrote him a letter, apologising, and assigning at large the reasons for my conduct; and received a verbal answer by Mr. Langton, which were I to repeat it, would render me suspected of inexcusable vanity [p. 803.]. It concluded with these words, "If I was not satisfied with this I must be a savage."

7th. I again visited him. Before my departure Dr. Brocklesby came in, and, taking him by the wrist, Johnson

actuated me at the time.-HAWKINS. - Miss Hawkins's Memoirs, vol. i. p. 264., tells this story in the same way, supplies Steevens's name, and insists on the same justification, which would be quite inconclusive, even if the fact on which the suspicion against Steevens was grounded were true; for the purloined paper was only a copy of an address from the Middlesex magistrates to the king (which was, from its very nature, destined for publication). And after all, there was no other proof that Steevens had taken that paper, than that it appeared in the St. James's Chronicle the day after Steevens had made a visit at Sir John's. Hawkins's act was unjustifiable, and the defence frivolous. It is observable, that there was no allusion to these circumstances in the first edition of Hawkins's work, but Boswell's notice of the fact forced Hawkins to make what defence he could, and a wretched one it is. See ante, p. 803.- CROKER.