ord manner, as de mbed to we hy toe % were b. LOMERI Dodit to othe ne bul a suverenity of understanding and qe furtally imp red lar, with a more orgas.org and the basing Cquited Ler -to serant of ne hand, he w.ntto Lichtel? aotises to bsent to the marriage, which *t not but be convence was a very imprna int steine, both on account of their disparity of years, and her mand of Orture. But Mus. echason knew ... the ardon of her sou's tempet and was too kohbet & porcu, to oppose bus in H. "ious. nchingly de, at my quest by the Fou. and Rey M. Ieder, I know not for what reason the marriage ceremony was not performed at Birmingham; but a resolution was taken that it should be at Derby, for which place the bride and bridegroom set out on horseback, I suppose in very good humour. But though Mr Topham Beauclerk used archly to mention Johnson's having told him, with much gravity, 'Sir, it was a love marriage on both sides,' I have had from my illustrious friend the following curious account of their journey to church upon the nuptial morn (9th July): Sir, she had read the old romances, and had got into her head the fantastical notion that a woman of spirit should use her lover like a dog. So, sir, at first she told me that I rode too fast, and she could not keep up with me, and, when I rode a little slower, she passed me, and complained that I lagged behind. I was not to be made the slave of caprice; and I resolved to begin as I meant to end. I therefore him. When the maid descended the gentleman was gone, and poor Mrs. Johnson was much agitated by the adventure; it was the only time he ever made an effort to see her. Dr. Johnson did all he could to console his wife, but told Mrs. Williams, "Her son is uniformly undutiful; so I conclude, like many other sober men, he might once in his life be drunk, and in that fit nature got the better of his pride." The following anecdotes of Dr. Johnson are recorded by the same lady : " "One day that he came to my house to meet many others, we told him that we had arranged our party to go to Westminster Abbey: would not he go with us? "No," he replied, not while I can keep out." 66 Upon our saying that the friends of a lady had been in great fear lest he should make a certain match, he said, "We that are his friends have had great fears for him." 'Dr. Johnson's political principles ran high, both in Church and State: he wished power to the King and to the Heads of the Church, as the laws of England have established; but I know he disliked absolute power; and I am very sure of his disapprobation of the doctrines of the Church of Rome; because about three weeks before we came abroad he said to my Cornelia, "You are going where the ostentatious pomp of church ceremonies attracts the imagination; but if they want to persuade you to change, you must remember, that by increasing your faith, you may be persuaded to become Turk." If these were not the words, I have kept up to the express meaning.'-M.] VOL. I. E |