1764. tat. 55. refolve aright, and to keep my refolutions, for JESUS CHRIST's fake. Amen.” Such a tenderness of conscience, fuch a fervent defire of improvement, will rarely be found. It is, furely, not decent in those who are hardened in indifference to fpiritual improvement, to treat this pious anxiety of Johnson with contempt. About this time he was afflicted with a very fevere return of the hypochondriack diforder, which was ever lurking about him. He was fo ill, as, notwithstanding his remarkable love of company, to be entirely averfe to fociety, the most fatal fymptom of that malady. Dr. Adams told me, that, as an old friend, he was admitted to visit him, and that he found him in a deplorable state, fighing, groaning, talking to himself, and restlessly walking from room to room. He then used this emphatical expreffion of the misery which he felt: "I would confent to have a limb amputated to recover my fpirits." Talking to himself was, indeed, one of his fingularities ever fince I knew him. I was certain that he was frequently uttering pious ejaculations, for fragments of the Lord's Prayer have been distinctly overheard. His friend Mr. Thomas Davies, of whom Churchill fays, "That Davies hath a very pretty wife:" when Dr. Johnson muttered "lead us not into temptation," used with waggish and gallant humour to whisper Mrs. Davies, "You, my dear, are the cause of this." He had another particularity, of which none of his friends ever ventured to ask an explanation. It appeared to me fome fuperftitious habit, which he had contracted early, and from which he had never called upon his reason to dif-entangle him. This was his anxious care to go out or in at a door or paffage, by a certain number of steps from a certain point, or at least so as that either his right or his left foot, (I am not certain which,) should constantly make the first actual movement when he came close to the door or paffage. Thus I conjecture: for I have, upon innumerable occafions, obferved him fuddenly ftop, and then feem to count his fteps with a deep earnestness; and when he had neglected or gone wrong in this fort of magical movement, I have seen him go back again, put himself in a proper posture to begin the ceremony, and, having gone through it, break from his abftraction, walk briskly on, and join his companion. A ftrange inftance of fomething of this nature, even when on horseback, happened when he was in the 9 Prayers and Meditations, p. 58. 1764. ifle of Sky'. Sir Joshua Reynolds has obferved him to go a good way about, rather than cross a particular alley in Leicester-fields; but this Sir Joshua Etat. 55. imputed to his having had fome difagreeable recollection affociated with it. That the most minute fingularities which belonged to him, and made very obfervable parts of his appearance and manner, may not be omitted, it is requifite to mention, that while talking or even mufing as he fat in his chair, he commonly fhook his head in a tremulous manner, moving his body backwards and forwards, and rubbing his left knee in the fame direction, with the palm of his hand. In the intervals of articulating he made various founds with his mouth, fometimes as if ruminating, or what is called chewing the cud, fometimes giving a half whistle, sometimes making his tongue play backwards from the roof of his mouth, as if clucking like a hen, and sometimes protruding it against his upper gums in front, as if pronouncing quickly under his breath, too, too, too: all this accompanied fometimes with a thoughtful look, but more frequently with a smile. I am fully aware how very obvious an occafion I here give for the fneering jocularity of fuch as have no relish of an exact likeness; which, to render complete, he who draws it must not difdain the flightest strokes. But if witlings should be inclined to attack this account, let them have the candour to quote what I have offered in my defence. He was for fome time in the fummer at Easton Maudit, Northamptonshire, on a visit to the Reverend Dr. Percy, now Bishop of Dromore. Whatever diffatisfaction he felt at what he confidered as a flow progrefs in intellectual improvement, we find that his heart was tender, and his affections warm, as appears from the following very kind letter; To JOSHUA REYNOLDS, Efq. in Leicester-Fields, London. "DEAR SIR, "I DID not hear of your fickness till I heard likewise of your recovery, and therefore escaped that part of your pain, which every man must feel, to whom you are known as you are known to me. "Having had no particular account of your disorder, I know not in what state it has left you. If the amusement of my company can exhilarate the languor of a flow recovery, I will not delay a day to come to you; for I know not how I can fo effectually promote my own pleasure as by pleating 1764. Etat. 55. you, or my own interest as by preserving you, in whom, if I should lose you, I should lose almoft the only man whom I call a friend. Pray let me hear of you from yourself, or from dear Mifs Reynolds. Make my compliments to Mr. Mudge. I am, dear Sir, "Your most affectionate "And most humble fervant, "At the Rev. Mr. Percy's, at Easton "SAM. JOHNSON." 1765. Maudit, Northamptonshire, (by Early in the year 1765 he paid a fhort visit to the University of Cambridge, with his friend Mr. Beauclerk. There is a lively picturesque account of his behaviour on this vifit, in the Gentleman's Magazine for March 1785, being an extract of a letter from the late Dr. John Sharp. The two following fentences are very characteristical: "He drank his large potations of tea with me, interrupted by many an indignant contradiction, and many a noble sentiment."—" Several perfons got into his company the last evening at Trinity, where, about twelve, he began to be very great; stripped poor Mrs. Macaulay to the very skin, then gave her for his toast, and drank her in two bumpers." The ftrictness of his felf-examination and fcrupulous Chriftian humility, appear in his pious meditation on Eafter-day this year." I purpose again to partake of the bleffed facrament; yet when I confider how vainly I have hitherto refolved at this annual commemoration of my Saviour's death, to regulate my life by his laws, I am almost afraid to renew my refolutions 2." No man was more gratefully fenfible of any kindness done to him than Johnson. There is a little circumftance in his diary this year, which fhews him in a very amiable light. "July 2. I paid Mr. Simpson3 ten guineas, which he had formerly lent me in my neceffity, and for which Tetty expreffed her gratitude." "July 8. I lent Mr. Simpson ten guineas more." Here he had a pleafing opportunity of doing the fame kindness to an old friend, which he had formerly received from him. Indeed his liberality as to money was very remarkable. The next article in his diary is, "July 16, I received seventy-five pounds. Lent Mr. Davies twenty-five." 3 Prayers and Meditations, p. 61. 4 Jofeph Simpson, Efq. mentioned in p. 188. He wrote a tragedy entitled "The Patriot;" in which Dr. Johnson having made fome corrections, advantage was taken of this circumstance after bis death, and the piece falfely published under his name. 1765. He appears this year to have been feized with a temporary fit of ambition, for he had thoughts both of studying law and of engaging in politicks. His Etat. 56. "Prayer before the Study of LAW" is truly admirable: "Sept. 26, 1765. "Almighty GoD, the giver of wisdom, without whofe help refolutions are vain, without whose bleffing study is ineffectual; enable me, if it be thy will, to attain fuch knowledge as may qualify me to direct the doubtful, and inftruct the ignorant; to prevent wrongs and terminate contentions; and grant that I may use that knowledge which I fhall attain, to thy glory and my own falvation, for JESUS CHRIST's fake. Amen.” His prayer in the view of becoming a politician is entitled, "Engaging in POLITICKS with H▬▬▬n,” no doubt his friend, the Right Honourable William Gerard Hamilton, for whom, during a long acquaintance, he had a great esteem, and to whofe converfation he once paid this high compliment: "I am very unwilling to be left alone, Sir, and therefore I go with my company down the first pair of stairs, in some hopes that they may, perhaps, return again. I go with you, Sir, as far as the street-door." In what particular department he intended to engage does not appear, nor can Mr. Hamilton explain. His prayer is in general terms. Enlighten my understanding with knowledge of right, and govern my will by thy laws, that no deceit may mislead me, nor temptation corrupt me; that I may always endeavour to do good, and hinder evil"." There is nothing upon the subject in his diary. This year was distinguished by his being introduced into the family of Mr. Thrale, one of the most eminent brewers in England, and Member of Parliament for the borough of Southwark. Foreigners are not a little amazed when they hear of brewers, distillers, and men in fimilar departments of trade, held forth as persons of confiderable confequence. In this great commercial country it is natural that a fituation which produces much wealth fhould be confidered as very refpectable; and, no doubt, honest industry is entitled to esteem. But, perhaps, the too rapid advance of men of low extraction tends to leffen the value of that diftinction by birth and gentility, which has ever been found beneficial to the grand scheme of fubordination. Johnfon used to give this account of the rife of Mr. Thrale's father: "He worked at fix fhillings a week for twenty years in the great brewery, which afterwards was The proprietor of it had an only daughter, who was married to a his own. Prayers and Meditations, p. 66. • Ibid. p. 67. Mm 2 nobleman. 1765. Ætat. 56. nobleman. It was not fit that a peer fhould continue the business. On the old man's death, therefore, the brewery was to be fold. To find a purchafer for fo large a property was a difficult matter; and, after some time, it was fuggested, that it would be adviseable to treat with Thrale, a sensible, active, honest man, who had been long employed in the house, and to transfer the whole to him for thirty thoufand pounds, fecurity being taken upon the property. This was accordingly settled. In eleven years Thrale paid the purchase-money. He acquired a large fortune, and lived to be Member of Parliament for Southwark. But what was most remarkable was the liberality with which he used his riches. He gave his fon and daughters the best education. The esteem which his good conduct procured him from the nobleman who had married his mafter's daughter, made him be treated with much attention; and his fon, both at school and at the University of Oxford, affociated with young men of the first rank. His allowance from his father, after he left college, was fplendid; no less than a thousand a year. This, in a man who had rifen as old Thrale did, was a very extraordinary inftance of generofity. He used to say, 'If this young dog does not find so much after I am gone as he expects, let him remember that he has had a great deal in my own time." The fon, though in affluent circumstances, had good sense enough to carry on his father's trade, which was of fuch extent, that I remember he once told me, he would not quit it for an annuity of ten thousand a year; "Not (faid he,) that I get ten thousand a year by it, but it is an estate to a family." Having left daughters only, the property was fold for the immense sum of one hundred and thirty thoufand pounds; a magnificent proof of what may be done by fair trade in no long period of time. There may be fome who think that a new fyftem of gentility might be established, upon principles totally different from what have hitherto prevailed. Our prefent heraldry, it may be faid, is fuited to the barbarous times in which it had its origin. It is chiefly founded upon ferocious merit, upon military excellence. Why, in civilifed times, we may be asked, should there not be rank and honours, upon principles, which, independent of long custom, are certainly not lefs worthy, and which, when once allowed to be connected with elevation and precedency, would obtain the fame dignity in our imagination? Why fhould not the knowledge, the fkill, the expertnefs, the affiduity, and the fpirited hazards of trade and commerce, when crowned with fuccefs, be entitled to give thofe flattering distinctions by which mankind are fo univerfally captivated Such |