TO MISS PORTER. (The beginning is torn and lost.) "25th Jan., 1759. "You will forgive me if I am not yet so composed as to give any directions about any thing. But you are wiser and better than I, and I shall be pleased with all that you shall do. It is not of any use for me now to come down; nor can I bear the place. If you want any directions, Mr. Howard will advise you. The twenty pounds I could not get a bill for to-night, but will send it on Saturday. I am, my dear, your affectionate servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." Pearson MSS. TO MISS PORTER. "6th Feb., 1759. "DEAR MISS, "I have no reason to forbear writing, but that it makes my heart heavy, and I had nothing particular to say which might not be delayed to the next post; but had no thoughts of ceasing to correspond with my dear Lucy, the only person now left in the world with whom I think myself connected. There needed not my dear mother's desire, for every heart must lean to somebody, and I have nobody but you; in whom I put all my little affairs with too much confidence to desire you to keep receipts, as you prudently proposed. "If you and Kitty will keep the house, I think I shall like it best. Kitty may carry on the trade for herself, keeping her own stock apart, and laying aside any money that she receives for any of the goods which her good mistress has left behind her. I do not see, if this scheme be followed, any need of appraising the books. My mother's debts, dear mother, I suppose I may pay with little difficulty; and the little trade may go silently forward. I fancy Kitty can do nothing better; and I shall not want to put her out of a house, where she has lived so long, and with so much virtue. I am very sorry that she is ill, and earnestly hope that she will soon recover; let her know that I have the highest value for her, and would do any thing for her advantage. Let her think of this proposal. I do not see any likelier method by which she may pass the remaining part of her life in quietness and competence. "You must have what part of the house you please, while you are inclined to stay in it; but I flatter myself with the hope that you and I shall some time pass our days together. I am very solitary and comfortless, but will not invite you to come hither till I can have hope of making you live here so as not to dislike your situation. Pray, my dearest, write to me as often as you can. I am, dear Madam, your affectionate humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." Pearson MSS. TO MISS PORTER. "1st March, 1758-[9]. 66 DEAR MADAM, "I thought your last letter long in coming; and did not require or expect such an inventory of little things as you have sent me. I could have taken your word for a matter of much greater value. I am glad that Kitty is better; let her be paid first, as my dear, dear mother ordered, and then let me know at once the sum necessary to discharge her other debts, and I will find it you very soon. "I beg, my dear, that you would act for me without the least scruple, for I can repose myself very confidently upon your prudence, and hope we shall never have reason to love each other less. I shall take it very kindly if you make it a rule to write to me once at least every week, for I am now very desolate, and am loth to be universally forgotten. affectionate servant, Pearson MSS. I am, dear sweet, your "SAM. JOHNSON." 66 DEAR MADAM, TO MISS PORTER. "March 23, 1759. "I beg your pardon for having so long omitted to write. One thing or other has put me off. I have this day moved my things, and you are now to direct ine at Staple Inn, London. I hope, my dear, you are well, and Kitty mends. I wish her success in her trade. I am going to publish a little story book ["Rasselas"], which I will send you when it is out. Write to me, my dearest girl, for I always glad to hear from you. I am, my dear, your humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." Pearson MSS. TO MISS PORTER. "May 10, 1759. "DEAR MADAM, "I am almost ashamed to tell you that all your letters came safe, and that I have been always very well, but hindered, I hardly know how, from writing. I sent, last week, some of my works, one for you, one for your aunt Hunter, who was with my poor dear mother when she died, one for Mr. Howard, and one for Kitty. "I beg you, my dear, to write often to me, and tell me how you like my little book. I am, dear love, your affectionate humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." Pearson MSS. TO MRS. MONTAGU. Gray's Inn, Dec. 17, 1759. "MADAM, "Goodness so conspicuous as yours will be often solicited, and perhaps sometimes solicited by those who have little pretension to your favour. It is now my turn to introduce a petitioner, but such as I have reason to believe you will think worthy of your notice. Mrs. Ogle, who kept the music-room in Soho Square, a woman who struggles with great industry for the support of eight children, hopes by a benefit concert to set herself free from a few debts, which she cannot otherwise discharge. She has, I know not why, so high an opinion of me as to believe that you will pay less regard to her application than to mine. You know, Madam, I am sure you know, how hard it is to deny, and therefore would not wonder at my compliance, though I were to suppress a motive which you know not, the vanity of being supposed to be of any importance to Mrs. Montagu. But though 1 See pp. 269, 270, note.-Editor. I may be willing to see the world deceived for my advantage, I am not deceived myself, for I know that Mrs. Ogle will owe whatever favours she shall receive from the patronage which we humbly entreat on this occasion, much more to your compassion for honesty in distress, than to the request of, Madam, your most obedient and most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." Montagu MSS TO MISS PORTER. "DEAREST MADAM, "Inner Temple Lane, Jan. 13, 1761. "I ought to have begun the new year with repairing the omissions of the last, and to have told you sooner, what I can always tell you with truth, that I wish you long life and happiness, always increasing till it shall end at last in the happiness of heaven. 66 'I hope, my dear, you are well; I am at present pretty much disordered by a cold and cough; I have just been blooded, and hope I shall be better. 66 'Pray give my love to Kitty. I should be glad to hear that she goes on well. I am, my dearest dear, your most affectionate servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." Pearson MSS. 66 'DEAR MADAM, TO MISS REYNOLDS "21st Dec., 1762. "If Mr. Mudge should make the offer you mention, I shall certainly comply with it, but I cannot offer myself unasked. I am much pleased to find myself so much esteemed by a man whom I so much esteem. 66 "Mr. Tolcher is here; full of life, full of talk, and full of enterprise. To see brisk young fellows of seventy-four, is very surprising to those who begin to suspect themselves of growing old. "You may tell at Torrington that whatever they may think, I have not forgot Mr. Johnson's widow, nor school—Mr. Johnson's salmon-not Dr. Morison's 'Idler.' For the widow I shall apply very soon to the Bishop of Bristol, who is now sick. The salmon I cannot yet learn any hope of making a profitable scheme, for where I have inquired, which was where I think the information very faithful, I was told that dried salmon may be bought in London for a penny a pound; but I shall not yet drop the search. "For the school, a sister of Miss Carwithen's has offered herself to Miss Williams, who sent her to Mr. Reynolds, where the business seems to have stopped. Miss Williams thinks her well qualified, and I am told she is a woman of elegant manners, and of a lady-like appearance. Mr. Reynolds must be written to, for, as she knows more of him than of me, she will probably choose rather to treat with him. "Dr. Morison's Books shall be sent to him with my sincere acknowledgements of all his civilities. "I am going for a few days or weeks to Oxford, that I may free myself from a cough, which is sometimes very violent; however, if you design me the favour of any more letters, do not let the uncertainty of my abode hinder you, for they will be sent after me, and be very gladly received by, Madam, your most obliged humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." TO GEORGE STRAHAN, At School. "19th Feb. [1763.] "DEAR GEORGE, "I am glad that you have found the benefit of confidence and hope you will never want a friend to whom you may safely disclose any painful secret. The state of your mind you had not so concealed but that it was suspected at home; which I mention, that if any hint should be given you, it may not be imputed to me, who have told nothing but to yourself, who had told more than you intended. "I hope you read more of Nepos, or of some other book, than you construe to Mr. Bright. The more books you look into for your entertainment, with the greater variety of style you will make yourself acquainted. Turner I do not know; but think that if Clark be better, you should change it, for I shall never be willing that you should trouble yourself with more than one book to learn the government of words. What book that one shall be, |