an equal chance for one's seeing those two numbers as any other two." He was clearly right; yet the seeing of the two extremes, each of which is in some degree more conspicuous than the rest, could not but strike one in a stronger manner than the sight of any other two numbers.-Though I have neglected to preserve his conversation, it was perhaps at this interview that Dr. Knox formed the notion of it which he has exhibited in his " Winter Evenings."

system of moral government. He agreed with me now, as he always did, upon the great question of the liberty of the human will, which has been in all ages perplexed with so much sophistry: "But, sir, as to the doctrine of necessity, no man believes it. If a man should give me arguments that I do not see, though I could not answer them, should I believe that I do not see?" It will be observed, that Johnson at all times made the just distinction between doctrines contrary to reason, and doctrines above reason. On Friday, June 25, I dined with him at Talking of the religious discipline proper General Paoli's, where, he says in one of his for unhappy convicts, he said, "Sir, one of letters to Mrs. Thrale, "I love to dine." our regular clergy will probably not impress There was a variety of dishes much to his their minds sufficiently: they should be at- taste, of all which he seemed to me to eat tended by a methodist preacher 1, or a po- so much, that I was afraid he might be hurt pish priest." Let me however observe, by it; and I whispered to the General my in justice to the Reverend Mr. Vilette, who fear, and begged he might not press him. has been ordinary of Newgate for no less" Alas!" said the General, "see how very than eighteen years, in the course of which ill he looks; he can live but a very short he has attended many hundreds of wretched time. Would you refuse any slight graticriminals, that his earnest and humane ex-fications to a man under sentence of death? hortations have been very effectual. His extraordinary diligence is highly praiseworthy, and merits a distinguished reward.2 On Thursday, June 24, I dined with him at Mr. Dilly's, where were the Rev. Mr. (now Dr.) Knox, master of Tunbridge School, Mr. Smith, vicar of Southill, Dr. Beattie, Mr. Pinkerton, author of various literary performances 3, and the Rev. Dr. Mayo. At my desire old Mr. Sheridan was invited, as I was earnest to have Johnson and him brought together again by chance, that a reconciliation might be effected. Mr. Sheridan happened to come early, and having learnt that Dr. Johnson was to be there, went away; so I found, with sincere regret, that my friendly intentions were hopeless 4. I recollect nothing that passed this day, except Johnson's quickness, who, when Dr. Beattie observed, as something remarkable which had happened to him, that he had chanced to see both No. 1 and No. 1000 of the hackney-coaches, the first and the last" Why, sir," said Johnson, "there is

1 A friend of mine happening to be passing by a field congregation in the environs of London, when a methodist preacher quoted this passage with triumph.---BOSWELL.

2 I trust that the City of London, ne happily in unison with the court, will have the justice and generosity to obtain preferment for this reverend gentleman, now a worthy old s.rvant of that magnificent corporation.-BoswFLL. [This wish was not accomplished. Mr. Vilette died in April, 1799, having been nearly thirty years chaplain of Newgate.-ED.]

3 [The same whose con spondence has been lately published.-ED.]

[No doubt Mr. Boswell's intentions were friendly, but he certainly had himself contributed by his indiscretions to keep alive the old animosity. -ED.]

There is a humane custom in Italy, by which persons in that melancholy situation are indulged with having whatever they like best to eat and drink, even with expensive delicacies."

I showed him some verses on Lichfield by Miss Seward, which I had that day received from her, and had the pleasure to hear him approve of them. He confirmed to me the truth of a high compliment which I had been told he had paid to that lady, when she mentioned to him "The Columbiade," an epick poem, by Madame du Boccage:- Madam, there is not any thing equal to your description of the sea round the North Pole, in your Ode on the Death of Captain Cook."

Gent. Mag.

1793,
p. 1011.

[I have thus quoted a compliment paid by Dr. Johnson to one of this lady's poetical pieces, and I have withheld his opinion of herself, thinking that she might not like it, I am afraid that it has reached her by some other means, and thus we may account for the various attacks made by her on her venerable towsnman since his decease; some avowed, and with her own name-others, I believe, in various forms and under seveeral signatures. What are we to think of the scraps 5 of letters between her and Mr.

Hayley, impotently attempting to undermine the noble pedestal on which public opinion has placed Dr. Johnson 1.]

"TO MRS. THRALE.

one of those who, as Swift says, stood as a screen between me and death. He has, I hope, made a good exchange. He was very pious; he was very innocent; he did no ill; and of doing good a continual tenour of distress allowed him few opportunities he was very highly esteemed in the

"London, 26th June, 1784. Letters, "A message came to me yesterday vol. ii. to tell me that Macbean is dead, af-house 2."] ter three days of illness. He was

p. 373.

these unworthy efforts to blight the laurels of undoubted fame. O that the venom may fall where it ought! that the breath of public contempt may blow it from the beauteous wreaths," &c. &c. "I turn from this comet in literature (Dr. Johnson) to its SUN,-Mr. Hayley !"'

better. I mentioned to him a young man On Sunday, June 27, I found him rather who was going to Jamaica with his wife and children, in expectation of being provided for by two of her brothers settled in that island, one a clergyman and the other a physician. JOHNSON. "It is a wild <6 MR. HAYLEY TO MISS SEWARD. scheme, sir, unless he has a positive and deliberate invitation. There was a poor girl, "I have read the Lives of the Poets, with as who used to come about me, who had a much indignation as you can give me credit for cousin in Barbadoes, that, in a letter to her, with a strange mixture of detestation and delight. expressed a wish she should come out to As his language, to give the devil his due, is that island, and expatiated on the comforts frequently sublime and enriched with certain and happiness of her situation. The poor diabolical graces of his own, I continue to listen to him, whenever he speaks, with an equal mix-prised, and asked her how she could think girl went out: her cousin was much sur

ture of admiration and abhorrence."

"5th August.

with

Hayley seems to have been puzzled between his real admiration of Johnson and his wish to appear to share the indignation of his fair correspondent, who evidently did not like the expres sion of "delight" and "admiration which Hayley had qualified his assent. She therefore artfully enough seeks to enlist him more thoroughly in her cause by insinuating that Johnson, who was then at Lichfield, and whom, after Churchill, she calls "Immane Pomposo," had spoken coldly of Hayley's poetry, while she "kept an indignant silence." This partly succeeds, and Hayley's reply is a little more satisfactory to the ireful lady.

"25th October.

"Your account of Pomposo delights me that noble leviathan who lashes the troubled waters

into a sublime but mischievous storm of turbulence

and mud," &c.

she says,

But she was still dissatisfied::—“ I am dubious,” "about the epithet noble; " and then she proceeds with a long see-saw galimathias of praise and dispraise of his charity and genius on the one hand, and of his acrimony, envy, malignity, bigotry, and superstition, on the other.

Miss Seward stated afterwards that this trash had been published without her consent; though she admitted having sent it to some of her distant friends, "induced by the wit and elegance of the Haylean passages." This latter motive the Editor is sorry to say he wholly disbelieves, for he finds that the Haylean passages are but two, and contain but thirty-two lines of the letterpress; while Miss Seward's own are four in number, and extend to a hundred and ninety-one lines; that the correspondence begins and ends with her, and clearly has no objects whatsoever but to exalt herself and depreciate Dr. Johnson. Mr. Hayley attempted to ridicule Johnson in the character of Rumble in one of his dull rhyming comedies, and in a Dialogue of the Dead, which was dead-born.-ED.]

1 [This passage is an extract from Mr. Boswell's

vited me. Not I,' answered the cousin. of coming. Because,' said she, 'you inThe letter was then produced. I see it is I did not think you would come. They true,' said she, that I did invite you but lodged her in an out-house, where she passed her time miserably; and as soon as she had an opportunity she returned to England. Always tell this when you hear of people going abroad to relations upon a notion of being well received. In the case which you mention, it is probable the clergyman spends all he gets, and the physician does not know how much he is to get."

Bos

nolds's, with General Paoli, Lord Eliot We this day dined at Sir Joshua Rey(formerly Mr. Eliot, of Port Eliot), Dr. Beattie, and some other company. Talking of Lord Chesterfield :-JOHNSON. "His manner was exquisitely elegant, and he had more knowledge than I expected." WELL. "Did you find, sir, his conversation to be of a superiour style?" JOHNSON. "Sir, in the conversation which I had with him I had the best right to superiority, for it was upon philology and literature." Lord Eliot, who had travelled at the same time with Mr. Stanhope, Lord Chesterfield's natural son, justly observed, that it was strange that a man who showed he had so much affection for his son as Lord Chesterfield did, by writing so many long and anxious letters to him, almost all of them when he was secretary of state, which certainly was a proof of great goodness of disposition, should endeavour to make his

controversy with Miss Seward-Gentleman's Magazine, 1793, p. 1011.-ED.]

2 [The Charter-House, into which Johnson had procured his admission.-ED.]

short." Mr. *****. "Sir, I am honoured | " your friends would do every thing for by your attention in any way." JOHNSON. you." He paused, grew more and more "Come, sir, let's have no more of it. We agitated,―till tears started into his eyes, offended one another by our contention; let us not offend the company by our compliments."

He now said, he wished much to go to Italy, and that he dreaded passing the winter in England. I said nothing; but enjoyed a secret satisfaction in thinking that I had taken the most effectual measures to make such a scheme practicable.

On Monday, June 28, I had the honour to receive from the Lord Chancellor the following letter:

"TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ. “SIR,—I should have answered your letter immediately, if (being much engaged when I received it) I had not put it in my pocket, and forgot to open it till this morning.

1

"I am much obliged to you for the suggestion; and I will adopt and press it as far as I can. The best argument, I am sure, and I hope it is not likely to fail, is Dr. Johnson's merit. But it will be necessary, if I should be so unfortunate as to miss seeing you, to converse with Sir Joshua on the sum it will be proper to ask,—in short, upon the means of setting him out. It would be a reflection on us all if such a man should perish for want of the means to take care of his health. Yours, &c.

"THURLOW."

This letter gave me very high satisfaction ; I next day went and showed it to Sir Joshua Reynolds, who was exceedingly pleased with it. He thought that I should now communicate the negotiation to Dr. Johnson, who might afterwards complain if the attention with which he had been honoured should be too long concealed from him. I intended to set out for Scotland next morning; but Sir Joshua cordially insisted that I should stay another day, that Johnson and I might dine with him, that we three might talk of his Italian tour, and, as Sir Joshua expressed himself, "have it all out." I hastened to Johnson, and was told by him that he was rather better today. BOSWELL. "I am very anxious about you, sir, and particularly that you should go to Italy for the winter, which I believe is your own wish." JOHNSON. "It is, sir." Boswell. "You have no objection, I presume, but the money it would require." JOHNSON. Why, no, sir." Upon which I gave him a particular account of what had been done, and read to him the Lord Chancellor's letter. He listened with much attention; then warmly said, "This is taking prodigious pains about a man. “O, sir,” said I, with most sincere affection,

cr

and he exclaimed with fervent emotion, "GOD bless you all!" I was so affected that I also shed tears. After a short silence, he renewed and extended his grateful benediction, "God bless you all, for JESUS CHRIST's sake." We both remained for some time unable to speak. He rose suddenly and quitted the room, quite melted in tenderness. He staid but a short time, till he had recovered his firmness; soon after he returned I left him, having first engaged him to dine at Sir Joshua Reynolds's next day. I never was again under that roof which I had so long reverenced.

On Wednesday, June 30, the friendly confidential dinner with Sir Joshua Reynolds took place, no other company being present. Had I known that this was the last time that I should enjoy in this world the conversation of a friend whom I so much respected, and from whom I derived so much instruction and entertainment, 1 should have been deeply affected. When I now look back to it, I am vexed that a single word should have been forgotten.

Both Sir Joshua and I were so sanguine in our expectations, that we expatiated with confidence on the liberal provision which we were sure would be made for him, conjecturing whether munificence would be displayed in one large donation, or in an ample increase of his pension. He himself catched so much of our enthusiasm as to allow himself to suppose it not impossible that our hopes might in one way or other be realized. He said that he would rather have his pension doubled than a grant of a thousand pounds; "For," said he, " though probably I may not live to receive as much as a thousand pounds, a man would have the consciousness that he should pass the remainder of his life in splendour, how long soever it might be." Considering what a moderate proportion an income of six hundred pounds a-year bears to innumerable fortunes in this country, it is worthy of remark, that a man so truly great should think it splendour.

As an instance of extraordinary liberality of friendship, he told us that Dr. Brocklesby had upon this occasion offered him a hundred a-year for his life1. A grateful tear

[It should be recollected that the amiable and accomplished man who made this generous offer to the tory champion was a keen whig; and it is stated in the Biographical Dictionary, that he pressed Johnson in his last illness to remove to his house for the more immediate convenience of medical advice. Dr. Brocklesby died in 1797, æt. 76. He was a very intimate friend

}

started into his eye, as he spoke this in a management of the business in the hands of faltering tone. Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Sir Joshua and I endeavoured to flatter his imagination with agreeable prospects of happiness in Italy. Nay," said he, "I must not expect much of that; when a man goes to Italy merely to feel how he breathes the air, he can enjoy very little."

Soon after this time Dr. Johnson had the mortification of being informed by Mrs. Thrale, that "what she supposed he never believed" was true; namely, that she was actually going to marry Signor Piozzi, an Italian musick-master.

["MRS. PIOZZI1 TO DR. JOHNSON. "Bath, 30th June, [1784.].

Our conversation turned upon living in the country, which Johnson, whose melancholy mind required the dissipation of quick successive variety, had habituated himself "MY DEAR SIR,-The enclosed is Letters, to consider as a kind of mental imprison- a circular letter, which I have sent vol. ii. ment. Yet, sir," said I, " there are many to all the guardians; but our friend- p. 375. people who are content to live in the coun-ship demands somewhat more: it requires try." JOHNSON, "Sir, it is in the intel- that I should beg your pardon for conceallectual world as in the physical world: we ing from you a connexion which you must are told by natural philosophers that a body have heard of by many, but I suppose never is at rest in the place that is fit for it; they believed. Indeed, my dear sir, it was conwho are content to live in the country are cealed only to save us both needless pains. fit for the country." I could not have borne to reject that coun sel it would have killed me to take, and I only tell it you now because all is irrevocably settled, and out of your power to prevent. I will say, however, that the dread of your disapprobation has given me some anxious moments, and though, perhaps, 1 am become by many privations the most in dependent woman in the world, I feel as if acting without a parent's consent till you write kindly to your faithful servant,

Talking of various enjoyments, I argued that a refinement of taste was a disadvantage, as they who have attained to it must be seldomer pleased than those who have no nice discrimination, and are therefore satisfied with every thing that comes in their way. JOHNSON. "Nay, sir, that is a paltry notion. Endeavour to be as perfect as you can in every respect."

I accompanied him in Sir Joshua Reynolds's coach to the entry of Bolt-court. He asked me whether I would not go with him to his house; I declined it, from an apprehension that my spirits would sink. We bade adieu to each other affectionately in the carriage. When he had got down upon the foot-pavement, he called out, "Fare you well!" and, without looking back, sprang away with a kind of pathetick briskness, if I may use that expression, which seemed to indicate a struggle to conceal uneasiness, and impressed me with a foreboding of our long, long separation.

"H. L. P."]

σε

DR. JOHNSON TO MRS. PIOZZI. "London, July 8th, 1784. "DEAR MADAM,-What you have Letters, done, however I may lament it, I vol. ii. have no pretence to resent, as it has p. 376. not been injurious to me: I therefore breathe out one sigh more of tenderness, perhaps useless, but at least sincere.

"I wish that God may grant you every blessing, that you may be happy in this world for its short continuance, and eternally happy in a better state; and whatever

I remained one day more in town, to have the chance of talking over my negotiation with the Lord Chancellor; but the multiplicity of his lordship's important engagements did not allow of it; so I left the of the celebrated Charles Townshend, as well as of Mr. Burke to whom he had bequeathed 10007. [In the lady's own publication of the corresin his will; but recollecting that he might outlive pondence, this letter is given as from Mrs. Piozzi, his friend, or that the legacy might fall when Mr. and is signed with the initial of her new name; Burke did not want it, he requested him to accept Dr. Johnson's answer is also addressed to Mrs. it from his living hand, "ut pignus amicitia." Piozzi, and both the letters allude to the matter as Doctor Brocklesby's name was the subject of one done; yet it appears by the periodical publications of Mr. Burke's playful puns. There was, cotem- of the day that the marriage did not take place until porary with him, in London, a low quack who the 25th July. The Editor knows not how to called himself Doctor Rock. One day Mr. Burke account for this but by supposing that Mrs. Piozzi, to called Brocklesby Doctor Rock, and on his taking avoid Johnson's importunities, had stated that as some offence at this disreputable appellation, Burke done which was only settled to be done. Any undertook to prove algebraically that Rock was reader who is curious about this miserable mésalhis proper name, thus, "Brock-b Rock," liance will find it most acrimoniously discussed or "Brock less b, makes Rock." Q. E. D.-in Baretti's Strictures in the European Magazine ED.]

for 1788.-ED.]