I therefore now return you thanks for the notice which I have received from you, and which I confider as giving to my name not only more bulk, but more weight; not only as extending its fuperficies, but as encreasing its value.

Your book was evidently wanted, and will, I hope, find its way into the schools; to which, however, I do not mean to confine it; for no man has fo much skill in ancient rites and practices as not to want it.

As I fuppofe myself to owe part of your kindness to my excellent friend Dr. Patten, he has likewife a just claim to my acknowledgments, which I hope you, Sir, will transmit.

There will foon appear a new Edition of my Poetical Biography. If you will accept of a copy to keep me in your mind, be pleased to let me know how it may be conveniently conveyed to you. The prefent is small, but it is given with good-will by,

REVEREND SIR,

Your most obliged and most humble servant,

SAM. JOHNSON.

LETTER XXXV.

SIR,

To MR. NICHOLS.

Jan. 10, 1783. I am much obliged by your kind communication of your account of Hinckley. I knew Mr. Carte as one

* For this work Dr. Johnson had contributed several hints towards the life of Anthony Blackwall, to whom, when very young, he had been fome time an ufher at Market Bosworth-fchool. Blackwall died in April 1730, before Johnson was one and twenty. J. N.

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of the Prebendaries of Litchfield, and for, fome time Surrogate of the Chancellor. Now I will put you in a way of fhewing me more kindness. I have been confined by illness a long time; and sickness and folitude make tedious evenings. Come fornetimes, and fee,

IT has pleased God by a paralytic ftroke in the night to deprive me of fpeech.

I am very defirous of Dr. Heberden's affiftance, as I think my cafe is not paft remedy. Let me fee you as foon as it is poffible, Bring Dr. Heberden with you, if you can; but come yourself at all events. I am glad you are fo well, when I am fo dreadfully attacked.

I think that by a fpeedy application of ftimulants much may be done. I queftion if a vomit, vigorous and rough, would not caufe the organs of fpeech to action. As it is too early to fend, I will try to recollect what I can that can be fufpected to have brought on this dreadful diftrefs.

I have been accustomed to bleed frequently for an asthmatic complaint; but have forborn for fome time by Dr. Pepy's's perfuafion, who perceived my legs beginning to fwell.

I sometimes alleviate a painful, or more properly an oppreffive conftriction of my cheft by opiates, and have lately taken opium frequently; but the laft or two last times in fmaller quantities. My largest dofe is three grains, and last night I took but two.

You will fuggeft these things, and they are all that I can call to mind, to Dr. Heberden.

IT hath pleafed Almighty God this morning to deprive me of the powers of fpeech; and as I do not know but that it might be his further good pleasure to deprive me foon of my fenfes, I requeft you will, on the receipt of this note, come to me, and act for me, as the exigencies of my cafe may require.

LETTER XXXVIII.

TO THE REV. DR. TAYLOR, ASHBOURN, DERBYSHIRE.

DEAR SIR,

WHAT can be the reason that I hear nothing from you? I hope nothing difables you from writing. What I have feen, and what I have felt, gives me reason to fear every thing. Do not omit giving me the comfort of knowing, that after all my loffes I have got a friend left.

I want every comfort. My life is very folitary and very cheerless. Though it has pleased God wonderfully to deliver me from the dropfy: I am yet very weak, and have not paffed the door fince the 13th of December. I hope for fome help from warm weather, which will furely come in time.

I could not have the confent of the Phyficians to go to Church yesterday; I therefore received the Holy Sacrament at home, in the room where I communicated with dear Mrs. Williams, a little before her death. O, my friend, the approach of death is very dreadful. I am afraid to think on that which I know I cannot avoid. It is vain to look round and round, for that help which cannot be had. Yet, we hope and hope, and fancy that he who has lived to-day may live to-morrow, But let us learn to derive our hope only from God,

In the mean time, let us be kind to one another. I have no friend now living but you and Mr. Hector, that was the friend of my youth. Do not neglect,

AFTER a long and not inattentive obfervation on mankind, the generofity of your Lordship's offer raises in me no lefs wonder than gratitude. Bounty fo liberally bestowed I should gladly receive if my condition made it neceffary; for to fuch a mind who would not be proud to own his obligation? But it hath pleased God to restore me to fuch a measure of health, that if I fhould now appropriate fo much of a fortune destined to do good, I could not escape from myself the charge of advancing a false claim. My journey to the continent, though I once thought it neceffary, was never much encouraged by my phyficians, and I was very defirous that your Lordship fhould be told of it by Sir Joshua Reynolds as an event very uncertain; for if I fhould grow much bet

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