In a conversation about what was practicable in medicine or surgery, he quoted, to the surprise of his physicians, the opinion of Marchetti for an operation of extracting (I think) part of the kidney. He recommended for an account of China, Sir John Mandeville's Travels. Holyday's Notes on Juvenal he thought so highly of as to have employed himself for some time in translating them into Latin. He insisted on the doctrine of an expiatory sacrifice as the condition without which there was no Christianity; and urged in support the belief entertained in all ages, and by all nations, barbarous as well as polite. He recommended to Dr. Brocklesby, also, Clarke's Sermons, and repeated to him the passage which he had spoken of to me. While airing one day with Dr. Brocklesby, in passing and returning by St. Pancras church, he fell into prayer, and mentioned, upon Dr. Brocklesby's inquiring why the Catholics chose that for their burying place, that some Catholics, in Queen Elizabeth's time, had been burnt there. (1) Upon Dr. Brocklesby's asking him whether he did not feel the warmth of the sun, he quoted from Juvenal "Præterea minimus gelido jam in corpore sanguis December 13. Forty-five minutes past ten P. M. -While writing the preceding articles — I received the fatal account, so long dreaded, that Dr. Johnson was no more! (1) The reader will be aware that other causes have been assigned for this preference; but I learn, from unquestionable authority, that it rests upon no foundation, and that mere prejudice exists amongst the Roman Catholics in favour of this church, as is the case with respect to other places of burial in various parts of the kingdom. MARKLAND. (2) ["Add that a fever only warms his veins, And thawe the little blood that yet remains," GIFFORD.] May those prayers which he incessantly poured from a heart fraught with the deepest devotion, find their acceptance with Him to whom they were addressed; which piety, so humble and so fervent, may seem to promise! PART XIX. ANECDOTES OF DR. JOHNSON, 451. Introduction to Johnson. HANNAH MORE visited London in 1773 or 1774, in company with two of her sisters. The desire she had long felt to see Dr. Johnson was speedily gratified. Her first introduction to him took place at the house of Sir Joshua Reynolds, who prepared her, as he handed her up stairs, for the possibility of his being in one of his moods of sadness and silence. She was surprised at his coming to meet her as she entered the room, with good humour in his countenance, and a macaw of Sir Joshua's on his hand; and still more at his assisting her with a verse from a Morning Hymn, which she had written at the desire of Sir James Stonehouse. In the same pleasant humour he continued the whole of the evening. (1) From the very interesting Memoirs of the Life and Cor. respondence of Mrs. Hannah More, by William Roberts, Esq. 452. Visit to Bolt Court. The most amiable and obliging of women, Miss Reynolds, ordered the coach to take us to Dr. Johnson's. The conversation turned upon a new work of his, just going to the press (the Journey to the Hebrides), and his old friend Richardson: Mrs. Williams, the blind poet, who lives with him, was introduced to us. She is engaging in her manners; her conversation lively and entertaining. Not finding Johnson in his little parlour when we came in, Hannah seated herself in his great chair, hoping to catch a little ray of his genius: when he heard it he laughed heartily, and told her it was a chair in which he never sat. He said it reminded him of Boswell and himself when they stopped a night at the spot (as they imagined) where the Weird Sisters appeared to Macbeth: the idea so worked upon their enthusiasm, that it quite deprived them of rest; however, they learned, the next morning, to their mortification, that they had been deceived, and were quite In another part of the country. (1) 453. "Sir Eldred of the Bower." Rock." "The Bleeding Johnson, full of wisdom and piety, was this evening very communicative. To enjoy Dr. Johnson perfectly, one must have him to one's self, as he seldom cares to speak in mixed parties. Our tea was not over till nine; we then fell upon "Sir Eldred :" he read both poems through, suggested some little alterations in the first, and did me the honour to write one whole stanza (2); but in the "Rock,” he has not altered a word. Though only a tea visit, he stayed with us till twelve. p. 881,] (1) [See antè, Vol. IV. p. 119., and Vol. V. 454. Garrick and Johnson. My petite assemblée came at seven. The dramatis persona were Mrs. Boscawen, Mrs. Garrick, and Miss Reynolds; my beaux were Dr. Johnson, Dean Tucker, and last, but not least in our love, David Garrick. You know that wherever Johnson is, the confinement to the tea-table is rather a durable situation. However, my ears were open, though my tongue was locked, and they all stayed till near eleven. Garrick was the very soul of the company, and I never saw Johnson in such perfect good-humour. We have often heard that one can never properly enjoy the company of these two unless they are together. There is great truth in this remark; for after the Dean and Mrs. Boscawen (who were the only strangers) were gone, Johnson and Garrick began a close encounter, telling old stories, "e'en from their boyish days," at Lichfield. We all stood round them above an hour, laughing in defiance of every rule of Chesterfield. I believe we should not have thought of sitting down or of parting, had not an impertinent watchman been saucily vociferous. 455. Dean Tucker. I asked Dr. Johnson, what he thought of the Dean of Gloucester. His answer was verbatim as follows: "I look upon the Dean of Gloucester to be one of the most excellent writers of this period. I differ from him in opinion, and have expressed that difference in my writings; but I hope what I wrote did not indicate what I did not feel, for I felt no acrimony. No person, however learned, can read his writings without improvement. He is sure to find something he did not know before.' I told him the Dean did not value himself on elegance of style. He said, " he knew nobody whose style was more perspicuous, manly, and vigorous, or better suited to his subject." I was not a littl pleased with this tribute to the worthy Dean's merit from such a judge of merit; that man, too, professedly differing from him in opinion. 456. "Adventurer."- De Lolme. Keeping bad company leads to all other bad things. I have got the headache to-day, by raking out so late with that gay libertine, Johnson. Do you know - I did not that he wrote a quarter of the "Adventurer?" (1) I made him tell me all that he wrote in the Fugitive Pieces." De Lolme (2) told me, that he thought Johnson's late political pamphlets were the best things he had written. 457. The Puritans.— Richard Baxter. Dr. Johnson never opens his mouth but one learns something; one is sure either of hearing a new idea, or an old one expressed in an original manner. He scolded me heartily, as usual, when I differed from him in opinion, and, as usual, laughed when I flattered(3) him. I was very bold in combating some of his darling prejudices: nay, I ventured to defend one or two of the Puritans, whom I forced him to allow to be good men, and good writers. He said he was not angry with me at all for liking Baxter. He liked him himself; "but then," said he, "Baxter was bred up in the establishment, and would have died in it, if he could have got the living of Kidderminster. He was a very good man." Dr. Johnson was wrong; for Baxter was offered a bishopric after the Restoration. 1) [For an account of Johnson's share in the "Adventurer," see ante, Vol. I. p. 300.] (2) [A native of Geneva, and author of "The Constitution of England;" of which the first English edition appeared in 1775.] (3) [On the subject of Miss More's flattery of Johnson, se antè, Vol. VII. p. 137., and p. 65. of the present volume.] VOL. IX. |