The death of Mr. Thrale had made a very material alteration with respect to Johnson's reception in that family. The manly authority of the husband no longer curbed the lively exuberance of the lady; and as her vanity had been fully gratified, by having the Colossus of Literature attached to her for many years, she gradually became less assiduous to please him. Whether her attachment to him was already divided by another object, I am unable to ascertain; but it is plain that Johnson's penetration was alive to her neglect or forced attention; for on the 6th of October this year we find him making a "parting use of the library" at Streatham and pronounc ing a prayer which he composed on leaving Mrs. Thrale's family.

"Almighty God, Father of all mercy, help me by thy grace, that I may, with Jumble and sincere thankfulness, remember the comforts and conveniences which I have enjoyed at this place; and that I may resign them with holy subnission, equally trusting in thy protection when thou givest and when thou takest away. Have mercy upon me, O Lord! have mercy upon me! To thy fatherly protection, O Lord, I commend this family. Bless, guide, and defend them, that they may so pass through this world, as finally to enjoy in thy presence everlasting happiness, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen." (Pr. ana Med., p. 214.)

One cannot read this prayer without some emotions not very favourable to the lady whose conduct occasioned it.'

The next day, he made the following memorandum :

"October 7.-I was called early. I packed up my bundles, and used the foregoing prayer, with my morning devotions somewhat, I think, enlarged. Being earlier than the family, I read St. Paul's farewell, in the Acts, and then read fortuitously in the Gospels, which was my parting use of the library."

And in one of his memorandum-books I find, "Sunday, went to church at Streatham. Templo valedixi cum osculo."

He met Mr. Philip Metcalfe often at Sir Joshua Reynolds's and other places, and was a good deal with him at Brighthelmstone this autumn, being pleased at once with his excellent table and animated

› Dr. Johnson meant nothing of what Mr. Boswell attributes to him-he makes a part ing use of the library-makes a valediction to the church, and pronounces a prayer on quitting a place where he had enjoyed so much comfort," not because Mrs. Thrale made him less welcome there, but because she, and he with her, were leaving Streatham.-C.

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conversation: Mr. Metcalfe showed him great respect, and sent him a note that he might have the use of his carriage whenever he pleased. Johnson (3d October, 1782,) returned this polite answer : "Mr. Johnson is very much obliged by the kind offer of the carriage, but he has no desire of using Mr. Metcalfe's carriage, except when he can have the pleasure of Mr. Metcalfe's company." Mr. Metcalfe could not but be highly pleased that his company was thus valued by Johnson, and he frequently attended him in airings. They also went together to Chichester, and they visited Petworth, and Cowdray, the venerable seat of the Lords Montacute.'

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Sir," said Johnson, "I should like to stay here four-and-twenty hours. We see here how our ancestors lived.”

That his curiosity was still unabated appears from two letters to Mr. John Nichols, of the 10th and 20th of October this year. In one he says, "I have looked into your 'Anecdotes,' and you will hardly thank a lover of literary history for telling you that he has been much informed and gratified. I wish you would add your own discoveries and intelligence to those of Dr. Rawlinson, and undertake the Supplement to Wood. Think of it." In the other, “I wish, Sir, you could obtain some fuller information of Jortin,' Markland, and Thirlby. They were three contemporaries of great eminence."

LETTER 427.

TO SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS.

2

"Brighthelmstone, Nov. 14, 1789. "DEAR SIR, —I heard yesterday of your late disorder, and should think ill of myself if I had heard of it without alarm. I heard likewise of your re covery, which I sincerely wish to be complete and permanent. Your country has been in danger of losing one of its brighest ornaments, and I of losing one of my oldest and kindest friends; but I hope you will still live long, for the honour

1 This venerable mansion has since (Sept. 1793) been totally destroyed by fire.-M.

2 Dr. Richard Rawlinson, an eminent antiquary, and a great benefactor to the University of Oxford. He founded the Anglo-Saxon professorship there, and bequeathed to it all his collection of MSS., medals, antiquities, and curiosities. He died in 1754, æt. 65.-C.

Dr. John Jortin, a voluminous and respectable writer on general subjects, as well as an eminent divine. He died in August, 1770.

♦ Jeremiah Markland was an eminent critic, particularly in Greek literature. He died in 1776, æt. 88.-C.

Styan Thirlby; a critic of at least as much reputation as he deserves. He studied suo sessively divinity, medicine, and law. He died in 1758, æt. 61.-0.

of the nation; and that more enjoyment of your elegance, your intelligence, and your benevolence is still reserved for, dear Sir, your most affectionate, &c. "SAM. JOHNSON."

The Reverend Mr. Wilson having dedicated to him his "Archæological Dictionary," that mark of respect was thus acknowledged:

LETTER 428.

TO THE REV. MR. WILSON,

Clitheroe, Lancashire.

"Dec. 81, 1782.

"REVEREND SIR, -That I have long omitted to return you thanks for the honour conferred upon me by your dedication, I entreat you with great earn. estness not to consider as more faulty than it is. A very importunate and oppressive disorder has for some time debarred me from pleasures and obstructed me in the duties of life. The esteem and kindness of wise and good men is one of the last pleasures which I can be content to lose; and gratitude to those from whom this pleasure is received is a duty of which I hope never to be reproached with the final neglect. I therefore now return you thanks for the rotice which I received from you, and which I consider as giving to my name not only more bulk, but more weight; not only as extending its superficies, but as increasing its value. Your book was evidently wanted, and will, I hope, find its way into the school; to which, however, I do not mean to confine it; for no man has so much skill in ancient rites and practices as not to want it. As I suppose myself to owe part of your kindness to my excellent friend, Dr. Pate, he has likewise a just claim to my acknowledgment, which I hope

A letter from Dr. Patten, and Dr. Johnson's answer, have appeared in the Gentleman' Aagazine. The latter is subjoined:

I KTTER 429.

TO THE REV. DR. PATTEN.

"Sept 24, 1781.

"DEAR SIR,-It is so long since we passed any time together, that you may be allowed to have forgotten some part of my character; and I know not upon what other supposition 1 can pass without censure or complaint the ceremony of your address Let me not trifle time In words, to which while we speak or write them we assign little meaning Whenever you

favour me with a letter, treat me as one that is glad of your kindness and proud of your esteem.

"The papers which have been sent for my perusal I am ready to inspect, if you judge my inspection necessary or useful: but, indeed, I do not; for what advantage can arise from it? A dictionary consists of independent parts, and therefore one page is not much a specimen of the rest. It does not occur to me that I can give any assistance to the author, and for my own interest I resign it into your hands, and do not suppose that I shall ever see my name with regret where you shall think it proper to be put.

“I think it, however, my duty to inform a writer who intends me so great an honour, that In my opinion he would have consulted his interest by dedicating his work to some powerful and popular neighbour, who can give him more than a name. What will the world do but look on and laugh when one schoia: dedicates to another?

"If I had been consulted about this Lexicon of Antiquities while it was yet only a design

you, Sir, will transmit. There will soon appear a new edition of my Poetical Biography: if you will accept a copy to keep me in your mind, be pleased to let me know how it may be conveniently conveyed to you. This present is small, but it is given with good will by, reverend Sir, your most, &c.

"SAM JOHNSON."

I should have recommended rather a division of Hebrew, Greek, and Roman particulars into three volumes, than a combination in one. The Hebrew part, at least, I would have wished to separate, as it might be a very popular book, of which the use might be extended from men of learning down to the English reader, and which might become a concomitant to the Family Bible.

"When works of a multifarious and extensive kind are undertaken in the country, the necessary books are not always known. I remember a very learned and ingenious clergyman, of whom, when he had published notes upon the Psalms, I inquired what was his opinion of Hammond's Commentary, and was answered, that he had never heard of it. As this gentleman has the opportunity of consulting you, it needs not be supposed that he has not heard of all the proper books; but unless he is near some library, I know not how he could peruse them; and if he is conscious that his supellex is nimis angusta, it would be prudent to delay his publication till his deficiencies may be supplied.

"It seems not very candid to hint any suspicions of imperfections in a work which I have not seen, yet what I have said ought to be excused, since I cannot but wish well to a learned man, who has elected me for the honour of a dedication, and to whom I am indebted for a correspondence so valuable as yours. And I beg that I may not lose any part of his kindness, which I consider with respectful gratitude. Of you, dear Sir, I entreat that you will never again forget for so long a time your most humble servant, SAMUEL JOHNSON."*

Dr. Thomas Patten had been a Fellow of Corpus Christi College, A.M. 1786, D.D. 1784. He was afterwards Rector of Childry, Berks, where he died in 1790.—-0.

CHAPTER XI.

1783.

Country Gentleman-House of Hanover-Conversation-Lies of Vanity-Opium-Exaggera▾ tion-Neglect of Merit-Use of Riches-Crabbe's "Village"-Keeping Accounts-Lorda Mansfield, Loughborough, and Thurlow-Harrington's Nuga Antiquæ-" Quos Deus vult perdere," &c-Prince of Wales-Burney's Travels-Chinese Architecture-InnovationTyburn-Dr. Hurd-Parentheses-"Derrick or Smart"-" The great Twalmley "—Owen Cambridge-Family Histories-" Turkish Spy "-Orchards-Oratory-Origin of LanguageMadness-Rev. James Compton.

IN 1783 he was more severely afflicted than ever, as will appear in the course of his correspondence; but still the same ardour for literature, the same constant piety, the same kindness for his friends, and the same vivacity, both in conversation and writing, distinguished him.

Having given Dr. Johnson a full account of what I was doing at Auchinleck, and particularly mentioned what I knew would please him,-my having brought an old man of eighty-eight from a lonely cottage to a comfortable habitation within my inclosures, where he had good neighbours near to him,-I received an answer in February, of which I extract what follows:

"I am delighted with your account of your activity at Auchinleck, and wish the old gentleman, whom you have so kindly removed, may live long to promote your prosperity by his prayers. You have now a new character and new

duties: think on them and practise them.

"Make an impartial estimate of your revenue; and whatever it is, live upon less. Resolve never to be poor. Frugality is not only the basis of quiet, but of beneficence. No man can help others that wants help himself. We must nave enough before we have to spare.

"I am glad to find that Mrs. Boswell grows well; and hope that, to keep her well, no care nor caution will be omitted. May you long live happily together. When you come hither, pray bring with you Baxter's Anacreon. I cannot get that edition in London."

On Friday, March 21, having arrived in London the night before.

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