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“ I wish you would a little correct or restrain your imagination, and 1778. imagine that happiness, such as life admits, may be had at other places as Ætat. 69. well as London. Without asserting Stoicism, it may be said, that it is our business to exempt ourselves as much as we can from the power of external things. There is but one folid basis of happiness; and that is, the reasonable hope of a happy futurity. This may be had every where.

“ I do not blame your preference of London to other places, fy it is really to be preferred, if the choice is free; but few have the choice of their place, or their manner of life ; and mere pleasure ought not to be the prime motive of action.

“ Mrs. Thrale, poor thing, has a daughter. Mr. Thrale dinikes the times, like the rest of us. Mrs. Williams is fick; Mrs. Desmoulins is poor. I have miserable nights. Nobody is well but Mr. Levett. I am, dear Sir,

“ Your most, &c. « London, July 3, 1778.

SAM. JOHNSON.”

In the course of this year there was a difference between him and his friend Mr. Strahan; the particulars of which it is unnecessary to · relate. Their reconciliation was communicated to me in a letter from Mr. Strahan, in the following words:

« The notes I shewed you that past between him and me were dated in March last. The matter lay dormant till July 27, when he wrote to me as follows:

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"IT would be very foolish for us to continue strangers any longer. You can never by persistency make wrong right. If I resented tooacrimoniously, I resented only to yourself. Nobody ever saw or heard what I wrote. You saw that my anger was over, for in a day or two I came to your house. I have given you longer time ; and I hope you have made so good use of it, as to be no longer on evil terms with, Sir,

" Your, &c.

"SAM. JOHNSON.'

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On this I called upon him; and he has since dined with me.”

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After

1778. After this time, the same friendship as formerly continued between Dr. Ærat. 6. Johnson and Mr. Strahan. My friend mentioned to me a little circumstance

of his attention, which, though we may smile at it, must be allowed to have its foundation in a nice and true knowledge of human life. c. When I write to Scotland, (said he,) I employ Strahan to frank my letters, that he may have the consequence of appearing a Parliament-man among his countrymen.” "

TO CAPTAIN LANGTON, at Warley Camp. « DEAR SIR,

“ WHEN I recollect how long ago I was received with so much kindness at Warley Common, I am ashamed that I have not made some enquiries after

my

friends. Pray how many sheep-stealers did you convict ? and how did you punish them? When are you to be cantoned in better habitations ? The air grows cold, and the ground damp. Longer stay in the camp cannot be without much danger to the health of the common men, if even the officers can escape.

“ You see that Dr. Percy is now Dean of Carlisle ; about five hundred a year, with a power of presenting himself to some good living. ,

He is provided for.

“ The session of the club is to commence with that of the parliament. Mr. Banks desires to be admitted; he will be a very honourable accession.

“ Did the King please you? The Coxheath men, I think, have some reason to complain : Reynolds says your camp is better than theirs.

“ I hope you find yourself able to encounter this weather. Take care of your own health; and, as you can, of your men. Be pleased to make my compliments to all the gentlemen whose notice I have had, and whose kindness I have experienced. I am, dear Sir,

“ Your most humble servant, “ O&t. 31, 1778.

SAM. JOHNSON.

I wrote to him on the 18th of August, the 18th of September, and the 6th of November ; informing him of my having had another son born, whom I had called James; that I had passed some time at Auchinleck; that the

8 Dr. Johnson here addresses his worthy friend, Bennet Langton, Esq. by his title, as a Captain of the Lincolnshire militia,

Counters r But

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Countess of Loudoun, now in her ninety-ninth year, was as fresh as when he 1778.
saw her, and remembered him with respect; and that his mother by adop- Ætat. 69.
tion, the Countess of Eglintoune, had said to me, “ Tell Mr. Johnson I love
him exceedingly;" that I had again fuffered much from bad spirits ; and
that as it was very long since I heard from him, I was not a little uneasy.

The continuance of his regard for his friend Dr. Burney, appears from the
following letters:

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To the Revererend Dr. WHEELER, Oxford.

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« DEAR SIR,

« Dr. BURNEY, who brings this paper, is engaged in a History of Mufick; and having been told by Dr. Markham of some MSS. relating to his subject, which are in the library of your College, is desirous to examine them. He is my friend; and therefore I take the liberty of intreating your favour and assistance in his enquiry: and can assure you, with great confidence, that if you knew him he would not want any intervenient solicitation to obtain the kindness of one who loves learning and virtue as you love them.

“ I have been flattering myself all the summer with the hope of paying my annual visit to my friends, but something has obstructed me: I still hope not to be long without seeing you. I should be glad of a little literary talk; and glad to shew you, by the frequency of my visits, how eagerly I love it, when you talk it. I am, dear Sir,

“ Your most humble servant, “ London, Nov. 2, 1778.

SAM. JOHNSON.

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“ THE bearer, Dr. Burney, has had some account of a Welsh Manuscript in the Bodleian library, from which he hopes to gain some materials for his History of Musick; but, being ignorant of the language, is at a lofs where to find assistance. I make no doubt but you, Sir, can help him through his difficulties, and therefore take the liberty of recommending him to your favour, as I am sure you will find him a man worthy of every civility that can be shewn, and every benefit that can be conferred.

I

1778. « But we must not let Wellh drive us from Greek. What comes of Etat. 79. Xenophon ? If you do not like the trouble of publishing the book, do not 69

let your commentaries be lost; contrive that they may be published fomewhere. I am, Sir,

" Your humble servant, « London, Nov. 2, 1778.

SAM. JOHNSON.”

These letters procured Dr. Burney great kindness and friendly offices from both of these gentlemen, not only on that occasion, but in future visits to the university. The same year Dr. Johnson not only wrote to Dr. Joseph Warton in favour of Dr. Burney's youngest son, who was to be placed in the college there, but accompanied him to Winchester, when he went thither.

We surely cannot but admire the benevolent exertions of this great and good man, especially when we consider how grievously he was afficted with bad health, and how uncomfortable his home was made by the perpetual jarring of those whom he charitably accommodated under his roof. He has sometimes suffered me to talk jocularly of his groupe of females, and call them his Seraglio. He thus mentions them, together with honeft Levett, in one of his letters to Mrs. Thrale *: “ Williams hates every body; Levett hates Desmoulins, and does not love Williams; Desmoulins hates them both; Pollo loves none of them.”

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TO JAMES BOSWELL, Ejq. « DEAR SIR,

“ IT is indeed a long time since I wrote, and I think you have some reason to complain ; however, you must not let small things disturb you, when you have such a fine addition to your happiness as a new boy, and I hope your lady's health restored by bringing him. It seems very probable that a little care will now restore her, if any remains of her complaints are left.

“ You seem, if I understand your letter, to be gaining ground at Auchinleck, an incident that would give me great delight.

*

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“ When any fit of anxiety, or gloominess, or perversion of mind, lays hold upon you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaints, but exert your whole care to hide it; by endeavouring to hide it, you will drive it away. Be always busy.

8 Vol. II. page 38.

9 Miss Carmichael.

* The

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1778.

tat, 69.

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« The Club is to meet with the parliament; we talk of electing Banks, the traveller; he will be a reputable member.

Langton has been encainped with his company of militia on Warley-
common; I spent five days amongst them; he signalized himself as a diligent
officer, and has very high respect in the regiment. He presided when I was
there at a court-martial; he is now quartered in Hertfordshire; his lady and
little ones are in Scotland. Paoli came to the camp and commended the
foldiers.

« Of myself I have no great matter to say, my health is not restored, my
nights are restless and tedious. The best night that I have had these twenty
years was at Fort-Augustus.
“ I hope foon to send you a few lives to read. I am, dear Sir,

" Your most affectionate,
of Nov. 21, 1778.

SAM. Johnson."

5

About this time Mr. John Hussey, who had been some time in trade, and is now a clergyman of the Church of England, being about to undertake a journey to Aleppo, and other parts of the East, which he accomplished, Dr. Johnson honoured him with the following letter:

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To Mr. John HUSSEY. « DEAR SIR,

“ I have sent you the Grammar,' and have left you two books more, by which I hope to be remembered, write my name in them; we may perhaps see each other no more, you part with my good wishes, nor do I despair of seeing you return. Let no opportunities of vice corrupt you; let no bad example seduce you ; let the blindness of Mahometans confirm you in Christianity. God bless you. I am, dear Sir,

« Your affectionate humble servant, “ Dec. 29, 1778.

SAM. Johnson.”

Johnson this year expressed great satisfaction at the publication of the first volume of “ Discourses to the Royal Academy,” by Sir Joshua Reynolds, whom he always considered as one of his literary school. Much praise indeed is due to those excellent Discourses, which are so universally admired, and for which the authour lately received from the Empress of Russia a gold

· Notwithstanding all my anxious attention to chronological order, I find that I have ascribed to this year (see page 181,) the publication of his Prefaces to the Poets, which in fact came out early in the next year,

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