ed upon itself, and he began to sink under that melancholy which was inherent in his constitution, and which the efforts of a powerful mind constantly occupied in literature, or in society, had alone enabled him to surmount. Mr and Mrs Thrale having visited him in 1766, learned, that, along with Dr Delap, rector of Lewis, in Sussex, he was employed in earnest prayer to God, that his rational faculties might be preserved entire. They commiserated the condition of a man of distinguished talents, reduced by natural infirmity into such a state of unhappiness, and took him along with them to their house at Streatham. From that time Dr Johnson became a constant resident in their family for sixteen or seventeen years.

Mr Thrale is represented as having possessed the plain and manly manners of an English squire. He had been regularly educated at Oxford, was a good scholar, a man of sound understanding, and well acquainted with trade, which he conducted with success. Mrs Thrale, afterwards Mrs Piozzi, possessed lively talents, improved by education. Their house at Streatham was frequented by a constant succession of polite society, into the midst of which Johnson was now transplanted. Undoubtedly the opulent citizen, who thus received into his house, and under his protection, the most eminent moral writer, and the most distinguished man of letters of his time, acting partly from humanity, and partly that himself and his friends might enjoy the pleasure and instruction to be derived from the conversation of such a companion, did himself the highest honour, and must

be admitted to have merited the riches of which he so well knew how to make a liberal use. Johnson was treated in the family of Mr Thrale with unbounded kindness and respect. He accompanied them in all their summer excursions, to Brighthelmstone, to Wales, and to Paris.

Johnson's reputation had now risen so high, that it excited the curiosity of the King. Johnson being acquainted with Mr Barnard, the Librarian at the Queen's House, frequently resorted thither, and spent some hours in reading. His Majesty, having learned this circumstance, desired that he might be informed when Johnson came next to the Library. As the conversation which took place made some noise at the time, we shall here state the account of it given by Mr Boswell, on the authority of Johnson himself. "When he 66 came to the Library, as soon as he was fairly engaged with a book, on which, while he sat by "the fire, he seemed quite intent, Mr Barnard "stole round to the apartment where the King "was, and, in obedience to his Majesty's com"mands, mentioned that Dr Johnson was then in "the Library. His Majesty said he was at lei"sure, and would go to him. Upon which, Mr

"Barnard took one of the candles that stood on "the King's table, and lighted his Majesty through "a suite of rooms, till they came to a private "door into the Library, of which his Majesty had "the key. Being entered, Mr Barnard stepped "forward hastily to Dr Johnson, who was still in "a profound study, and whispered him, Sir, "here is the King.' Johnson started up, and "stood still. His Majesty approached him, and

" at once was courteously easy. His Majesty be"gan by observing, that he understood he came "sometimes to the Library: and then mentioning “his having heard that the Doctor had been "lately at Oxford, asked him if he was not fond “ of going thither? To which Johnson answered, "that he was indeed fond of going to Oxford "sometimes, but was likewise glad to come back

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again. The King then asked him what they "were doing at Oxford. Johnson answered, he “could not much recommend their diligence, but “that in some respects they were mended, for “they had put their press under better regula“tions, and were at that time printing Polybius. “He was then asked, whether there were better li"braries at Oxford or Cambridge. He answered, " he believed the Bodleian was larger than any "they had at Cambridge, at the same time add“ing, I hope, whether we have more books or “not than they have at Cambridge, we shall make "as good use of them as they do.' Being asked, "whether All Souls or Christ Church library was "the largest, he answered, All Souls is the "largest we have, except the Bodleian.' 'Ay,' "said the King, that is the public library.' His "Majesty inquired if he was then writing any "thing. He answered, he was not; for he had 66 pretty well told the world what he knew, and "must now read to acquire more knowledge. "The king, as it should seem, with a view to

urge him to rely on his own stores, as an ori "ginal writer, and to continue his labours, then "said, 'I do not think you borrow much from "any body.' Johnson said, he thought he had

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"to pay.

already done his part as a writer. ' I should "have thought so too,' said the king, if you "had not written so well.'-Johnson observed to me upon this, that no man could have paid a "handsomer compliment; and it was fit for a King It was decisive.' When asked by an"other friend, at Sir Joshua Reynolds', whether "he made any reply to this high compliment, he an"swered, No, Sir; when the King had said it, it "was to be so. It was not for me to bandy civi"lities with my Sovereign.' Perhaps no man, "who had spent his whole life in Courts, could "have shewn a more nice and dignified sense of "true politeness, than Johnson did in this sea

"tence.

"His Majesty having observed to him, that he "supposed he must have read a great deal. "Johnson answered, that he thought more than "he read; that he had read a great deal in the "early part of his life, but having fallen into ill "health, he had not been able to read much, "compared with others: for instance, he said he "had not read much compared with Dr Warbur"ton. Upon which the King said, he heard Dr "Warburton was a man of such general knowledge, that you could scarce talk with him on

any subject on which he was not qualified to "speak; and that his learning resembled Gar"rick's acting in its universality. His Majesty "then talked of the controversy between War"burton and Louth, which he seemed to have “read, and asked Johnson what he thought of it. "Johnson answered, Warburton has more gene"ral, most scholastic learning; Louth is the

"more correct scholar. I do not know which of “them calls names best.' The King was pleased "to say he was of the same opinion, adding, "You don't think, then, Dr Johnson, that there "was much argument in the case? Johnson "said, he did not think that there was. Why, "truly,' said the King, when once it comes to "calling names, argument is pretty well at an "end.' His Majesty then asked him what he "thought of Lord Lyttleton's History, which was "then just published. Johnson said, he thought "his style pretty good, but that he had blamed "Henry the Second rather too much. Why,' "said the King, they seldom do these things by "halves." No, Sir,' answered Johnson, not "to kings.' But fearing to be misunderstood, he "proceeded to explain himself, and immediately “subjoined, That for those who spoke worse "of kings than they deserved, he could find no “excuse; but that he could more easily conceive "how some might speak better of them than they "deserved, without any ill intention, for as kings "had much in their power to give, those who "were favoured by them would frequently, from "gratitude, exaggerate their praises; and as this "proceeded from a good motive, it was certainly "excusable, as far as error could be excusable.'

"The King then asked him what he thought " of Dr Hill. Johnson answered, that he was an "ingenious man, but had no veracity; and imme "diately mentioned an instance of it, an assertion "of that writer, that he had seen objects magnis "fied to a much greater degree by using three or "four microscopes at a time than by using one.