Somebody mentioned the Reverend Mr. Mason's prosecution of Mr. Murray, the bookseller, for having inserted a collection of Gray's poems, only fifty lines, of which Mr. Mason had still the exclusive property, under the statute of Queen Anne; and that Mr. Mason had persevered, notwithstanding his being requested to name his own terms of compensation.' Johnson signified his displeasure at Mr. Mason's conduct very strongly; but added, by way of showing that he was not surprised at it, 'Mason's a Whig.' MRS. KNOWLES (not hearing distinctly): 'What! a prig, sir?' JOHNSON: Worse, madam; a Whig! But he is both!' I expressed a horror at the thought of death. MRS. KNOWLES: 'Nay, thou shouldst not have a horror for what is the gate of life.' JOHNSON (standing upon the hearth rolling about, with a serious, solemn, and somewhat gloomy air): 'No rational man can die without uneasy apprehension.' MRS. KNOWLES: 'The Scriptures tell us, "The righteous shall have hope in his death."' JOHNSON: 'Yes, madam; that is, he shall not have despair. But, consider, his hope of salvation must be founded on the terms on which it is promised that the mediation of our Saviour shall be applied to us-namely, obedience; and where obedience has failed, then, as suppletory to it, repentance. But what man can say that his obedience has been such as he would approve of in another, or even in himself upon close examination, or that his repentance has not been such as to require being repented of? No man can be sure that 1 See A Letter to W. Mason, A.M., from J. Murray, Bookseller in London, second edit., p. 20. |