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from those disagreeable doubts of their authenticity, with which we must now peruse them.

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She says of him," "He was the most charitable of mortals, without being what we call an active friend. Admirable at giving counsel; no man saw his way so clearly; but he would not stir a finger for the assistance of those to whom he was willing enough to give advice." And again on the same page, If you wanted a slight favour, you must apply to people of other dispositions; for not a step would Johnson move to obtain a man a vote in a society, to repay a compliment which might be useful or pleasing, to write a letter of request, &c. or to obtain a hundred pounds a year more for a friend who perhaps had already two or three. No force could urge him to diligence, no importunity could conquer his resolution to stand still."

b

It is amazing that one who had such opportunities of knowing Dr. Johnson, should appear so little acquainted with his real character. I am sorry this lady does not advert, that she herself contradicts the assertion of his being obstinately defective in the petite morale, in the little endearing charities of social life in conferring smaller favours; for she says, "Dr. Johnson was liberal enough in granting literary assistance to others, I think; and innumerable are the Prefaces, Sermons, Lectures, and Dedications which he used to make for people who begged of him." I am certain that a more active friend has rarely been found in any age. This work, which I fondly hope will rescue his memory from obloquy, contains a thousand instances of his benevolent exertions in almost every way that can be conceived; and particularly in employing his pen with a generous readiness for those to whom its aid could be useful. Indeed his obliging activity in doing little offices of kindness, both by letters and personal application, was one of the most remarkable features in his character; and for the truth of this I can appeal to a number of his respectable friends: Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr. Langton, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Burke, Mr. Windham, Mr. Malone, the Bishop of Dromore, Sir William Scott, Sir Robert Chambers. And can Mrs. Thrale forget the advertisements which he wrote for her husband at the time of his election contest; the epitaphs on him and her mother; the playful and even trifling verses, for the amusement of her and her daughters; his corresponding with her children, and entering into their minute concerns, which shews him in the most amiable light?

C

She relates, that Mr. Ch-lm-ley unexpectedly rode up to Mr. • Ibid. p. 258.

■"Anecdotes," p. 51.

D Ibid. p. 193.

Thrale's carriage, in which Mr. Thrale and she, and Dr. Johnson were travelling; that he paid them all his proper compliments, but observing that Dr. Johnson, who was reading, did not see him, "tapt him gently on the shoulder. "Tis Mr. Ch-Im-ley;' says my husband. 'Well, Sir-and what if it is Mr. Ch-Im-ley;' says the other, sternly, just lifting his eyes a moment from his book, and returning to it again, with renewed avidity." This surely conveys a notion of Johnson, as if he had been grossly rude to Mr Cholmondeley, a gentleman whom he always loved and esteemed. If, therefore, there was an absolute necessity for mentioning the story at all, it might have been thought that her tenderness for Dr. Johnson's character would have disposed her to state any thing that could soften it. Why then is there a total silence as to what Mr. Cholmondeley told her?-That Johnson, who had known him from his earliest years, having been made sensible of what had doubtless a strange appearance, took occasion, when he afterwards met him, to make a very courteous and kind apology. There is another little circumstance which I cannot but remark. Her book was published in 1785, she had then in her possession a letter from Dr. Johnson, dated in 1777, which begins thus: "Cholmondeley's story shocks me, if it be true, which I can hardly think, for I am utterly unconscious of it: I am very sorry, and very much ashamed."1 Why then publish the anecdote? Or if she did, why not add the circumstances, with which she was well acquainted?

In his social intercourse she thus describes him: b "Ever musing till he was called out to converse, and conversing till the fatigue of his friends, or the promptitude of his own temper to take offence, consigned him back again to silent meditation." Yet in the same book she tells, "He was, however, seldom inclined to be silent, when any moral or literary question was started; and it was on such occasions that, like the Sage in Rasselas,' he spoke, and attention watched his lips; he reasoned, and conviction closed his periods." His conversation, indeed, was so far from ever fatiguing his friends,

"Letters to Mrs. Thrale," Vol. II. p. 12. b"Anecdotes," p. 23.

• Ibid. p. 302.

Cor. et Ad.-Line 9: On "Cholmondeley" put the following note: "George James Cholmondeley, Esq. grandson of George, third Earl of Cholmondeley, and one of the Commissioners of Excise; a gentleman respected for his abilities and elegance of manners." "

1 Mr. Croker met him, and "found him very sore at being made the subject of such a debate."

2 Boswell, by giving this gentleman's name, seems to glance at the lady's rather absurd affectation of concealment.

that they regretted when it was interrupted or ceased, and could exclaim in Milton's language,

"With thee conversing, I forget all time."

I certainly, then, do not claim too much in behalf of my illustrious friend in saying, that however smart and entertaining Mrs. Thrale's "Anecdotes" are, they must not be held as good evidence against him; for wherever an instance of harshness and severity is told, I beg leave to doubt its perfect authenticity; for though there may have been some foundation for it, yet, like that of his reproof to the "very celebrated lady," it may be so exhibited in the narration as to be very unlike the real fact.

The evident tendency of the following anecdote is to represent Dr. Johnson very deficient in affection, tenderness, or even common civility. "When I one day lamented the loss of a first cousin killed in America- Prythee, my dear, (said he,) have done with canting; how would the world be the worse for it, I may ask, if all your relations were at once spitted like larks, and roasted for Presto's supper?' -Presto was the dog that lay under the table while we talked.”- -I suspect this too of exaggeration and distortion. I allow that he made her an angry speech; but let the circumstances fairly appear as told by Mr. Baretti who was present:

"Mrs. Thrale, while supping very heartily upon larks, laid down her knife and fork, and abruptly exclaimed, 'O, my dear Mr. Johnson, do you know what has happened? The last letters from abroad have brought us an account that our poor cousin's head was taken off by a cannon-ball.' Johnson, who was shocked both at the fact, and her light unfeeling manner of mentioning it, replied, 'Madam, it would give you very little concern if all your relations were spitted like those larks, and drest for Presto's supper.'" 1

• "Anecdotes," p. 63.

Upon mentioning this to my friend Mr. Wilkes, he, with his usual readiness, pleasantly matched it with the following sentimental anecdote. He was invited by a young man of fashion at Paris, to sup with him and a lady, who had been for some time his mistress, but with whom he was going to part. He said to Mr. Wilkes that he really felt very much for her, she was in such distress, and that he meant to make her a present of two hundred louis-d'ors. Mr. Wilkes observed the behaviour of Mademoiselle, who sighed indeed very piteously, and assumed every pathetick air of grief; but eat no less than three French pigeons, which are as large as English partridges, besides other things. Mr. Wilkes whispered the gentleman, "We often say in England, Excessive sorrow is exceeding dry, but I never heard Excessive sorrow is exceeding hungry. Perhaps one hundred will do." The gentleman took the hint.

1 Mrs. Piozzi writes opposite this passage, "Boswell appealing to Baretti

for a testimony of the truth is comical enough. I never addressed him (John

It is with concern that I find myself obliged to animadvert on the inaccuracies of Mrs. Piozzi's "Anecdotes," and perhaps I may be thought to have dwelt too long upon her little collection. But as from Johnson's long residence under Mr. Thrale's roof, and his intimacy with her, the account which she has given of him may have made an unfavourable and unjust impression, my duty, as a faithful biographer, has obliged me reluctantly to perform this unpleasing task.

Having left the pious negociation, as I called it, in the best hands, I shall here insert what relates to it. Johnson wrote to Sir Joshua Reynolds on July 6, as follows: "I am going, I hope, in a few days, to try the air of Derbyshire, but hope to see you before I go. Let me, however, mention to you what I have much at heart.-If the Chancellor should continue his attention to Mr. Boswell's request, and confer with you on the means of relieving my languid state, I am very desirous to avoid the appearance of asking money upon false pretences. I desire you to represent to his Lordship, what, as soon as it is suggested, he will perceive to be reasonable.-That, if I grow much worse, I shall be afraid to leave my physicians, to suffer the inconveniences of travel, and pine in the solitude of a foreign country.-That, if I grow much better, of which indeed there is now little appearance, I shall not wish to leave my friends and my domestick comforts; for I do not travel for pleasure or curiosity; yet if I should recover, curiosity would revive.-In my present state, I am desirous to make a struggle for a little longer life, and hope to obtain some help from a softer climate. Do for me what you can." He wrote to me July 26: "I wish your affairs could have permitted a longer and continued exertion of your zeal and kindness. They

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son) so familiarly in my life. I never did eat any supper, and there were no larks." Mr. Croker and Mr. Hayward both agree that Mrs. Piozzi's version is unaffected by Baretti's. Yet surely the "point" in the one story is, that Johnson, in the other, that the lady, is shown to be unfeeling. She herself characteristically takes issue only on the "larks" and "supper,' and virtually admits the In the Maloniana, however, the story is told more fully:-"Mrs. Thrale has grossly misrepresented the story which she has told of Dr. Johnson's saying a harsh thing to her at table (see her Anecdotes'). The fact was this. A Mr. Thrale, related to Mr. Thrale, Johnson's friend, for whom they both had a great regard, had gone some time before to the East or

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West Indies. Dr. Johnson had not yet heard of his fate; and Mrs. Thrale very abruptly while she was eating some larks most ravenously, laid down her knife and fork-'O dear, Dr. Johnson, do you know what has happened? The last letters from abroad have brought us account that poor Tom Thrale's head was taken off by a cannon-ball in the action of Johnson, who was shocked both at the fact and at her gross manner of telling it, replied,-Madam, it would give you very little concern if all your relations were spitted like those larks, and dressed for Presto's supper.' Presto was the dog which lay under the table, and which Mrs. Thrale was feeding just as she mentioned the death of Mr. Thrale's cousin."

that have your kindness may want your ardour. In the mean time I am very feeble, and very dejected."

By a letter from Sir Joshua Reynolds I was informed, that the Lord Chancellor had called on him, and acquainted him that the

1 Mr. Croker discovered among the Reynolds's papers a letter of Lord Thurlow's to Reynolds:

"Thursday, Nov. 18, 1784.

"DEAR SIR,-My choice, if that had been left me, would certainly have been that the matter should not have been talked of at all. The only object I regarded was my own pleasure, in contributing to the health and comfort of a man whom I venerate sincerely and highly for every part, without exception, of his exalted character. This you know I proposed to do, as it might be without any expense-in all events at a rate infinitely below the satisfaction I proposed to myself. It would have suited the purpose better if nobody had heard of it, except Dr. Johnson, you, and F. Boswell. But the chief objection to the rumour is, that his Majesty is supposed to have refused it. Had that been so, I should not have communicated the circumstance. It was impossible for me to take the King's pleasure on the suggestion I presumed to move. I am an untoward solicitor. The time seemed to press, and I chose rather to take on myself the risk of his Majesty's concurrence than delay a journey which might conduce to Dr. Johnson's health and comfort.

"But these are all trifles, and scarce deserve even this cursory explanation. The only question of any worth is whether Dr. Johnson has any wish to go abroad, or other occasion for my assistance. Indeed he should give me credit for perfect simplicity, when I treat this as merely a pleasure afforded me, and accept it accordingly any reluctance, if he examines himself thoroughly, will certainly be found to rest, in some part or other, upon a doubt of the disposition with which I offer it.

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this letter," he says, was kept from Boswell's knowledge is certain by his obvious vexation at thinking that the refusal had come from the King. That it was designedly kept from him is rendered probable by the following curious circumstance :-On the face of the original letter his name has been obliterated with so much care that but for the different colour of the ink and some other small circumstances, it would not have been discoverable; it is artfully done, and the sentence appears to run, 'except Dr. Johnson, you, and l'—' Boswell' being erased. This looks like an uncandid trick, to defraud Boswell of his merit in this matter but by whom the obliteration was made I cannot guess.' Reasoning from this letter and other facts, he positively affirms that Lord Thurlow had never applied to the King for increase of the pension, though he had undertaken to do so, and by way of compensation had made the offer of the mortgage. There is nothing whatever to warrant such an assertion, and Boswell's statement cannot be shaken. What this: took place was An application was made to the King, either through Pitt, or directly, which was refused. This is proved by Reynolds's statement to Boswell that the 'application had not been successful,' as well as by that of Hawkins: "Lord Thurlow, as the public had been informed, exerted his endeavours for the purpose (of an increase to Johnson's pension); but the application failing, &c." Lord Thurlow then made the proposition as to the mortgage; and it is to this that the letter of November 18, which was written nearly three months after the failure of the original negotiation, refers; where any one not prejudiced by a favourite theory must see that the passage-" the chief objection to the rumour is that his Majesty is supposed to have refused it "alludes to the royal sanction necessary for mortgaging the pension. Mr. Croker confounded two separate transactions.

More serious is the insinuation of so petty a deceit on the part of Reynolds, the loyalty of whose character is beyond even suspicion. Indeed, there could be no reason why this portion of the

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