ravages without resistance*," yet when treated with the respect due to him, and in the company where respect was reciprocal, a "little child might lead him.”

So many instances are given of the warmth of his friendship, and the tenderness of his heart, that it would be difficult to produce the name of a man who possessed these virtues, but especially the last, in higher perfection. It is well known that he gave a fourth part at least of his income in charity, and his charity was of no common kind. It was such as we may say, without hazard of contradiction, few philanthropists would have courage or patience to imitate. Not content with bestowing his alms on the casual poor, he collected objects from the distressed of his acquaintance, received them into his house, as soon as he was rich enough to be master of a house, and gave them that shelter and assistance which scarcely any man thinks himself obliged to give unless to those who are connected by the nearer ties of blood. Dr. JOHNSON had no choice in the selection of the objects of this domestick charity, but their sufferings; to be poor and needy was sufficient recommendation, and to be peevish, discontented, and ungrateful, was neither a bar to their reception nor a plea for dismissing them. He literally fed and supported a set of objects who were torments to him by their evil and unthankful tempers; who sometimes drove him from his home to seek

*RA MBLER, No. 72.

relief in company; and always made it in a certain degree uncomfortable. Yet this never stinted the measure of his kindness: in answer to any suggestions that might be offered by his friends on this subject, he had a ready answer, honourable to his head and heart; " If I dismiss them, who will take them in ?"-Out of the many instances upon record of this rigorous charity, the following may be selected as an eminent and almost matchless proof of tenderness of heart, and of the unwearied desire he had to administer those comforts to others which he frequently wanted himself. It is related by him in a private letter-" Mrs. Williams is in the country to try if she can improve her health; she is very ill. Matters have come so about that she is in the country with very good accommodation: but age, and sickness, and pride, have made her so peevish, that I was forced to bribe the maid to stay with her, by a secret stipulation of half a crown a week over her wages."

Such was the man whom some have reviled for his rudeness and his petulance, and by repeating a single anecdote to his disadvantage have multiplied it in imagination to a thousand; and have concluded, contrary to all evidence, that his whole conversation was repulsive, and his whole conduct unsocial. Yet, during his long life, no man's company was more courted by persons distinguished for genius or rank; and those who knew him most intimately held him in the highest veneration. Such respect paid by all who were admitted into his society,

must have had a solid foundation; and without the knowledge we have now acquired of him, we must have looked upon that man as elevated beyond the common order who could procure such esteem, and preserve such attachments. And elevated he certainly was by morals, genius, and wisdom. With all his defects, not a single vice has been imputed to him; while he is allowed to have possessed every virtue in principle, and, as far as his limited means permitted, to have excelled in the practice. Every man who knew him was made wiser and better by the association; nor will it ever be forgotten, that in his presence neither wealth nor rank could protect those who dared to utter the language of irreligion or licentiousness.

His conversation abounded in information: on every topick of the most trifling kind he threw a new light; and many who thought they had settled their opinions, were surprised when by some unexpected illustration he proved that they had overlooked the point on which the whole depended. By a habit he appears to have early acquired of considering a question in every possible view, he was sometimes ready to take either side, and for the sake of contest or information, to argue contrary to his real opinion. This gave to conversation the spur and variety in which he delighted, but never was allowed to interfere with his preceptive duties; when he wrote for the publick, he supported religion and morality upon their genuine principles, and delivered the sentiments which he honestly believed were the best calculated to promote the in

terests of truth and virtue. Indeed few men have more strictly adhered to truth on every occasion. His reverence for it was such that he never lost sight of its obligations in the most minute occurrences, and did not scruple to check the lax vivacity of his intimate friends, and those to whom he was most indebted.

It is however far from our intention to exhibit him as a perfect character. Such praise is foolishly given to man in this state of being; nor is it necessary to attribute more to him than he claimed for himself. Compared to men in general, with regard to literary accomplishments, he was entitled to a just superiority, and he was conscious of it; and what man has ever excelled without being conscious of it? But it is hoped none will look upon him with less reverence, when they behold him as a fallible and peccant being, as a dependent creature entreating Heaven for grace and support; humble and lowly; full of acknowledgments of defects and weaknesses; penitent and sorrowful for his many infirmities; thankful for the mercies. he had received; earnest in employing the means of grace; and fervently anxious for the hopes of glory. His "Prayers and Meditations" thus exhibit his mind continually struggling with imperfections, and continually supplicating for help where only it can be found; lamenting the loss of time, and undervaluing what he had done, like Grotius, who at the close of life, exclaimed, Heu! vitam perdidi, operosè nihil agendo.

But the world has agreed to think more

highly of the publick services of Dr. JOHNSON, and to rank him among the most illustrious writers of any age or nation, and among the benefactors to religion, virtue, and learning. Nor can these desultory thoughts on his character be concluded in more appropriate terms than the pathetick tribute paid by an eminent friend* on the occasion of his death-“ He HAS MADE A CHASM, WHICH NOT ONLY NOTHING CAN FILL UP, BUT WHICH NOTHING HAS A TENDENCY TO FILL UP.-JOHNSON IS DEAD-LET US GO TO THE NEXT BEST:THERE IS NOBODY; NO MAN CAN BE SAID TO PUT YOU IN MIND OF JOHNSON."

*BOSWELL'S Life, vol. 3. p. 700. Mr. BOSWELL has not given the name of this eminent friend. Mr. BURKE was suspected by me; but I learn since that it was WILLIAM GERARD HAMILTON, usually called SINGLE-SPEECH HAMILTON.

VOL. XIX.