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TO MISS REYNOLDS.

"DEAREST MADAM,

"April 8, 1782.

"Your work is full of very penetrating meditation, and very forcible sentiments. I read it with a full perception of the sublime, with wonder and terror; but I cannot think of any profit from it; it seems not born to be popular.

"Your system of the mental fabric is exceedingly obscure, and, without more attention than will be willingly bestowed, is unintelligible. The plans of Burnaby will be more safely understood, and are often charming. I was delighted with the different

bounty of different ages.

"I would make it produce something if I could, but I have indeed no hope. If a bookseller would buy it at all, as it must be published without a name, he would give nothing for it worth your acceptance. I am, &c. "SAM. JOHNSON."

Reynolds MSS.

"REVEREND SIR,

TO DR. HAMILTON.1

"Bolt Court, June 4, 1783.

"Be pleased to excuse this application from a stranger in favour of one who has very little ability to speak for herself. The unhappy woman who waits on you with this, has been known to me many years. She is the daughter of a clergyman of Leicestershire, who by an unhappy marriage is reduced to solicit a refuge in the workhouse of your parish, to which she has a claim by her husband's settlement.

1 This and the following notes addressed to the Rev. Dr. Hamilton, Vicar of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, are published from the originals in the possession of his son, who observes that they are of no further interest than as showing the goodness of Johnson's heart, and the spirit with which he entered into the cause and interests of an individual in distress, when he was almost on the bed of sickness and death himself.Wright.

"Her case admits of little deliberation; she is turned out of What my condition allows me to do and having no friend, she can have I am, reverend Sir, &c.,

her lodging into the street. for her I have already done, recourse only to the parish.

"SAM. JOHNSON."

MSS.

TO MRS. LUCY PORTER.

"DEAR MADAM,

66 London, June 25, 1783.

"Since the papers have given an account of my illness, it is proper that I should give my friends some account of it myself.

66

Very early in the morning of the 16th of this month I perceived my speech taken from me. When it was light I sat down and wrote such directions as appeared proper. Dr. Heberden and Dr. Brocklesby were called. Blisters were applied, and medicines given. Before night I began to speak with some freedom, which has been increasing ever since, so that I have now very little impediment in my utterance. Dr. Heberden took his leave this morning.

"Since I received this stroke I have in other respects been better than I was before, and hope yet to have a comfortable summer, Let me have your prayers.

"If writing is not troublesome, let me know whether you are pretty well, and how you have passed the winter and spring. "Make my compliments to all my friends. I am, dear Madam, your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON."

Pearson MSS.

TO F. BARBER.

"Heale, Sept. 16, 1783.

"DEAR FRANCIS,

"I rather wonder that you have never written; but that is now not necessary, for I purpose to be with [you] on Thursday before dinner. As Thursday is my birth-day, I would have a little dinner got, and would have you invite Mrs. Desmoulins, Mrs. Davis that was about Mrs. Williams, and Mr. Allen and Mrs. Gardiner, I am, yours, &c., "SAM. JOHNSON."

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"MADAM,

TO MRS. MONTAGU.

“September 22, 1783.

"That respect which is always due to beneficence makes it fit that you should be informed, otherwise than by the papers, that, on the 6th of this month, died your pensioner, Anna Williams, of whom it may be truly said, that she received your bounty with gratitude, and enjoyed it with propriety. You perhaps have still her prayers.

"You have, Madam, the satisfaction of having alleviated the sufferings of a woman of great merit, both intellectual and moral, Her curiosity was universal, her knowledge was very extensive, and she sustained forty years of misery with steady fortitude. Thirty years and more she had been my companion, and her death has left me very desolate.

"That I have not written sooner, you may impute to absence, to ill health, to any thing rather than want of regard to the benefactress of my departed friend. I am, Madam, your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON."

Montagu MSS.

TO MRS. LUCY PORTER.

"DEAR MADAM,

"Bolt Court, Fleet Street, Nov. 10, 1783.

"The death of poor Mr. Porter, of which your maid has sent me an account, must have very much surprised you. The death of a friend is almost always unexpected: we do not love to think of it, and therefore are not prepared for its coming. lle was, I think, a religious man, and therefore that his end was happy.

"Death has likewise visited my mournful habitation. Last month died Mrs. Williams, who had been to me for thirty years in the place of a sister: her knowledge was great, and her conversation pleasing. I now live in cheerless solitude.

"My two last years have passed under the pressure of successive diseases. I have lately had the gout with some severity. But I wonderfully escaped the operation which I mentioned, and am upon the whole restored to health beyond my own expectation.

"As we daily see our friends die round us, we that are left must cling closer, and, if we can do nothing more, at leaat pray for one another; and remember, that as others die we must die too, and prepare ourselves diligently for the last great trial. I am, Madam, yours affectionately, &c. "SAM. JOHNSON."

Pearson MSS.

TO MRS. LUCY PORTER.

"DEAR MADAM,

"London, Nov. 29, 1783.

"You may perhaps think me negligent that I have not written to you again upon the loss of your brother; but condolences and consolations are such common and such useless things, that the omission of them is no great crime; and my own diseases occupy my mind and engage my care. My nights are miserably restless, and my days, therefore, are heavy. I try, however, to hold up my head as high as I can.

"I am sorry that your health is impaired: perhaps the spring and the summer may, in some degree, restore it; but if not, we must submit to the inconveniences of time, as to the other dispensations of Eternal Goodness. Pray for me, and write to me, or let Mr. Pearson write for you. I am, &c.,

"SAM. JOHNSON."

Pearson MSS.

TO MISS REYNOLDS.

"December 23, 1783.

"DEAREST MADAM,

"You shall doubtless be very welcome to me on Christmas day. I shall not dine alone, but the company will all be people whom we can stay with or leave. I will expect you at three, if I hear no more. I am this day a little better. dear Madam, your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON."

I am,

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"I mean, do not be later than three; for as I am afraid I shall not be at church, you cannot come too soon."

BOSWELL TO SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"Edinburgh, 6th February, 1784.

"I long exceedingly to hear from you. Sir William Forbes brought me good accounts of you, and Mr. Temple sent me very pleasing intelligence concerning the fair Palmeria. But a line or

two from yourself is the next thing to seeing you.

My anxiety about Dr. Johnson is truly great. I had a letter from him within these six weeks, written with his usual acuteness and vigour of mind. But he complained sadly of the state of his health; and I have been informed since that he is worse. I intend to be in London next month, chiefly to attend upon him with respectful affection. But, in the mean time, it will be a great favour done me, if you, who know him so well, will be kind enough to let me know particularly how he is.

I hope Mr. Dilly conveyed to you my Letter on the State of the Nation, from the Author. I know your political principles, and indeed your settled system of thinking upon civil society and subordination, to be according to my own heart; and therefore I doubt not you will approve of my honest zeal. But what montrous effects of party do we now see! I am really vexed at the conduct of some of our friends.

"Amidst the conflict our friend of Port Eliot is with much propriety created a peer. But why, O why did he not obtain the title of Baron Mahogany? (p. 39.) Genealogists and heralds would have had curious work of it to explain and illustrate that title. I ever am, with sincere regard, my dear Sir, your affectionate humble servant, "JAMES BOSWELL." Reynolds MSS.

TO DR. HAMILTON.

"Bolt Court, Feb. 11, 1784.

66 SIR,

"My physicians endeavour to make me believe that I shall sometime be better qualified to receive visits from men of elegance and civility like yours.

"Mrs. Pellè shall wait upon you, and you will judge what will be proper for you to do. I once more return you my thanks, and am, Sir, &c., "SAM. JOHNSON."

MSS

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