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less happiness; as a proof that I am truly, dear sir, your affectionate friend, "H. BOOTHBY. "The great Dictionary is placed in full view, on a desk in my own I am sorry you have met with some disappointments in the next edition'. Best wishes to Miss Williams.

room.

"Do not say you have heard from me at the good doctor's. I should write to him, but have laid out all my present stock of time on you. O! chaises and such things are only transient disquiets. I have, on a fine still day, observed the water as smooth as glass, suddenly curled on the surface by a little gust of air, and presently still and smooth again. No more than this are my chaise troubles. Like Hamlet's Ghost, 'Tis here-'tis gone.""

LETTER XXIII.

"Tissington, 23d July, 1755.

"DEAR SIR,-To answer your questions-I can say that I love your letters, because it is very true that I do love them; and I do not know any one reason why I may not declare this truth; so much do I think it would be for my reputation, that I should choose to declare it, not only to you, but to all who know you. Ask yourself why I value your affection; for you cannot be so much a stranger to yourself as not to know many reasons why I ought highly to value it; and I hope you are not so much a stranger to me as not to know I would always do as I ought, though, perhaps, in this case the doing so has not the merit of volition-for in truth I cannot help it. So much in reply to the two first sentences in your last letter. It is no unpleasing circumstance to me that the same messenger who has taken a letter to the post-house at Ashbourn from me to you, has twice brought back one from you to me. Possibly, while I am now replying to your last, you may be giving me a reply to mine again. Both ways I shall be pleased, whether I happen to be beforehand with you, or you again with me.

"I am desirous that in the great and one thing necessary you should think as I do; and I am persuaded you some time will. I will not enter into a controversy with you. I am sure I never can this way convince you in any point wherein we may differ; nor can any mortal convince me, by human arguments, that there is not a divine evidence for divine truths. Such the apostle plainly defines faith to be, when he tells us it is the substance of things hoped for, the evi

[What these were do not appear. See ante, vol. i. p. 288. n.—ED.]

2 [Dr. Lawrence.-ED.]

3 [It must not be inferred from this that Dr. Johnson had in his letter maintained a contrary doctrine. He probably combated some of Miss Boothby's peculiar tenets, which she defends, as is common in such controversies, by assertions which her antagonist would not have thought of denying.-ED.]

dence of things not seen.' Human testimony can go no farther than Divine and spiritual things are For what man knoweth the

things seen and visible to the senses. far above; and what says St. Paul? things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the spirit of God. Do read the whole chapter; and, if you please, Mr. Romaine's Sermon, or Discourse, lately published, On the benefit which the Holy Spirit of God is of to man in his journey through life.' I utterly disclaim all faith that does not work by love, love that—

'Takes every creature in of every kind;"

and believe from my soul that in every sect and denomination of Christians there are numbers, great numbers, who will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the promise you quote be gloriously fulfilled. I believe and rejoice in this assurance of happiness for ten thousand times ten thousand, thousand, &c. of every language and nation and people. I am convinced that many true Christians differ; and if such do differ, it can be only in words, with regard to which great caution should be used.

"I continue as well in health as I told you I was in my last. Mr. Fitzherbert has put off his coming here till August. My dear Miss is very well. She bids me send you her love, and tell you she must consider some time about writing to you before she can execute properly.

"Do not treat me with so much deference. I have no claim to it; and, from a friend, it looks too like ceremony-a thing I am at this time more particularly embarrassed with. Perhaps you never knew a person less apt to take offence than myself; and if it was otherwise in general, I am sure you would not have cause to apprehend the giving it, but would always be a particular exception to my taking it. "See how far the pleasure of conversing with you has overcome my present dislike to writing; and let it be a farther proof to you of my being, dear sir, your affectionate friend, and obliged humble servant, "H. BOOTH BY1. "How does Miss Williams and her father? My regards to her."

LETTER XXIV.

"Tissington, 29th July, 1755. "Dear Sir,-As it happened your rebuke for my silence was so timed as to give me pleasure. Your complaints would have been very painful to me had I not been pretty certain that before I read them would receive a letter which would take you away all cause for them. I could not have borne them under the least conscious

At the end of this letter Dr. Johnson wrote, answered.-WRIGHT.

ness of having merited them. But, quite free from this, such marks of your friendship were very pleasing. You need not make use of any arguments to persuade me of the necessity of frequent writing; I am very willing to acknowledge it in a correspondence with you; though I never so little liked to write, in general, since I could write, as for some time past. Both my mind and body are much indisposed to this employment. The last is not so easy in the posture which habit has fixed when I write, and consequently the mind affected too. To you I always wish to appear in the best light; but you will excuse infirmities; and to purchase your letters I shall think my time happily bestowed. If but one line can give you pleasure or suspend pain, I shall rejoice. How kind was your last little letter! I longed to return my immediate thanks: but Mr. Fitzherbert's mother, an old lady, bigoted to forms, prevented me; and has prevented me till now. She came here, is here, and stays some time. I continue much better in my health, thank God! alert and cheerful; and have stood storms and tempests, rain and cold, unhurt. I observe the good doctor's rules, and have found them efficacious. Mr. Fitzherbert had appointed his time for being here as next week, but has changed it to near three weeks hence. Tell me some literary news-I mean of your own; for I am very indifferent to the productions of others, but interested warmly in all yours, both in heart and mind.

"I hope our difference is only in words, or that in time our sentiments will be so much the same as to make our expressions clear and plain. As you say, every moment brings the time nearer in which we must think alike. O may this time (or rather end of time to us) which will fully disclose truth, also with it disclose eternal happiness to us! You see I cannot help praying for you, nor shall I ever, as I am truly, dear sir, your affectionate friend, "H. BOOTHBY.

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My little flock all well; Miss much at your service, and has a high regard for you. If you mention me at the doctor's, mention me as one who is always glad of paying regard there, and hearing well of them.”

LETTER XXV.

"30th July, 1755.

"DEAR SIR,-Why, my good friend, you are so bountiful and so kind that I must thank you, and say I am truly grateful, though I have not time for more, as I have been obliged to write several letters to-day, and cannot easily write much. Your account of Mr. Williams's departure was very sweet to me'. He is happy without doubt, and, instead of condoling with, I most heartily rejoice with

1

[When the term "sweet" is applied on such an occasion, it is not surprising that we meet strange expressions scattered through the correspondence.-ED.]

Miss Williams from this assurance, which I trust she has as strongly as I, and then she must be every moment thankful.

"I am not so well as I have been. The damp weather has affected me. But my dear children are all well; and some sunshine will revive me again. This is only to let you see I think of you, and, as I ought, receive every instance of your regard when I assure you it increases mine, and makes me more and more, dear sir, your grateful and affectionate friend, "H. BOOTH BY.

"I will tell you some time what I think of Anacreon '."

LETTER XXVI.

“13th August, 1755,

"DEAR SIR,-You was at Oxford then? And I was vain enough to conclude you was not in town, or I should have heard from you sooner, and you have not lessened my vanity by thinking of and writing to me, in a place where so many objects suited to your taste would be courting your attention—so many of the learned seeking your conversation. This is a new obligation, of which I am very sensible. Yet I had rather seen a letter dated from Lichfield, because then I should have hoped soon to see Mr. Johnson himself, and for an opportunity of conversing with him.

"I am at present preparing to receive Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. and Mrs. Alleyne, Mr. Gernier, &c. If you have been in town this week, probably you have seen Mr. Fitzherbert. I hope he would not neglect to inquire after the most valuable acquaintance he has there. Our scene here will be much changed. But all is, and ought to be, variable in this life; and I expect the change with much inward tranquillity. The interval of rest and quiet I have had has greatly contributed to the amendment of my health. I walked a mile yesterday without great fatigue; and hope I shall be able to support the labours to come. I am not careful, however, for the morrow. That is in the hands of the almighty and all-merciful God. There I trust; and pray-'Give me this day my daily bread.'

"Miss is still tuning-no wonder that you have inspired her with awe. She is disturbed she does not write; yet cannot satisfy herself

[Had he sent to Miss Boothby the translation of Anacreon's Dove, which he gave to Mrs. Thrale in 1777? When dictating it to that lady he said, "I never was much struck with any thing in the Greek language till I read that, so I never read any thing in the same language since, that pleased me as much. I hope my translation," continued he, "is not worse than that of Frank Fawkes." Seeing her disposed to laugh, "Nay, nay," said he, "Frank Fawkes has done them very finely." When she had finished writing, "But you must remember to add," said Dr. Johnson, "that though these verses were planned, and even begun, when I was sixteen years old, I never could find time to make an end of them before I was sixty-eight."-ED.]

with any mental composition. She has yet been working for you. I leave her to herself, and hope she will produce something.

"Remember that the more people I see the more I shall rejoice in a letter from you. Turtle-feasts and venison-feasts I delight not in. Treat me sometimes, as often as you can, with what will be really a feast; and in the best manner I am able I will thank you, and be ever, as now, dear sir, your grateful and affectionate friend, "H. BOOTHBY."

LETTER XXVII.

"Tissington, 20th August, 1755.

"DEAR SIR,-Every where I find myself in your thoughts-at Oxford-in town. How shall I reward this kind attention to a friend, this tender solicitude for her health and welfare? Your par

tiality will I know make you reply, by neglecting no means to procure and preserve them.' This is what I am sensible I owe to the most inconsiderable creature whom it pleases a good Providence to benefit in the last degree by me; and much more to a friend. Pain and sickness do most certainly produce the consequences you observe ; and often do I reflect with the greatest wonder and gratitude on all those various occasions in which it has pleased God to visit me with these, that he should never leave me without that medicine of lifea friend.

"I am glad you saw Mr. Fitzherbert, and that he repeated his invitation to Tissington. He and his company arrived here on Thursday last, all at a loss what to do with themselves in still life. They set out yesterday to Derby race, and return on Friday, with some forty more people, to eat a turtle; weight, a hundred and thirty. This feast I, who, you know, love eating, am preparing for them. It will be a day of fatigue. But then how sweet and comfortable it will be, to lie down and rest at night! The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eateth little or much. My business is to prepare a feast, not to eat. During the time of our having been here alone, I have found great good from rest and quiet, and the strength gained in this interval of repose enables me to support the hurry of company, and the necessary cares for their reception and entertainment, much better than I could do for a long time before I left London. But I am not so well as I was a fortnight since. The pain in my side is increased, as I find it will be on all occasions where I am obliged to prolong exercise to the least degree of fatigue, and in my present situation there is no avoiding these sometimes. But I have respite seasonably, thank God, as now. And next week Mr. Fitzherbert and his guests go to dance at Buxton, and see the Peak. You will perhaps think a tour round the Peak would be no bad thing for me; and I should think so too; but as this will be ordered, or

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