There was a cutter for you! But this I must say, for the honour of both, Mrs. Thrale speaks to Dr Johnson with as much sincerity (though with greater softness) as he does to her.

Soon after he went, I went and shut myself up in a sweet cool summer-house, to read Irene:—which, indeed, though not a good play, is a beautiful poem.

As my dear father spent the rest of the day here, I will not further particularise, but leave accounts to his better communication. He probably told you that the P family came in

to tea; and, as he knows Mrs. P—, pray tell him what Dr. Johnson says of her. When they were gone, Mrs. Thrale complained that she was quite worn out with that tiresome silly woman, who had talked of her family and affairs till she was sick to death of hearing her.

66

Madam," said he, "why do you blame the woman for the only sensible thing she could do-talking of her family and her affairs? For how should a woman who is as empty as a drum, talk upon any other subject ?—If you speak to her of the sun, she does not know it rises in the east ;-if you speak to her of the moon, she does not know it changes at the full;—if you speak to her of the queen, she does not know she is the king's wife ;—how, then, can you blame her for talking of her family and affairs?”

[FEB. 1779.] Mrs. Thrale and Dr. Johnson vied with each other in the kindness of their reception of me. Mr. Thrale was,

as usual at first, cold and quiet, but soon, as usual also, warmed into sociality.

The next day Sir Philip Jennings Clerke came. He is not at all a man of letters, but extremely well bred, nay, elegant, in his manners, and sensible and agreeable in his conversation. He is a professed minority man, and very active and zealous in the opposition. He had, when I came, a bill in agitation concerning contractors too long a matter to explain upon paper-but which was levelled against bribery and corruption in the ministry, and which he was to make a motion upon in the House of Commons the next week.

Men of such different principles as Dr. Johnson and Sir Philip, you may imagine, can not have much sympathy or cordiality in

their political debates; however, the very superior abilities of the former, and the remarkable good breeding of the latter, have kept both upon good terms; though they have had several arguments, in which each has exerted his utmost force for conquest.

The heads of one of their debates I must try to remember, because I should be sorry to forget. Sir Philip explained his bill; Dr. Johnson at first scoffed it; Mr. Thrale betted a guinea the motion would not pass, and Sir Philip, that he should divide a hundred and fifty upon

it.

Sir Philip, addressing himself to Mrs. Thrale, hoped she would not suffer the Tories to warp her judgment, and told me he hoped my father had not tainted my principles; and then he further explained his bill, and indeed made it appear so equitable, that Mrs. Thrale gave in to it, and wished her husband to vote for it. He still hung back; but to our general surprise, Dr. Johnson having made more particular inquiries into its merits, first softened towards it, and then declared it a very rational and fair bill, and joined with Mrs. Thrale in soliciting Mr. Thrale's

vote.

Sir Philip was, and with very good reason, quite delighted. He opened upon politics more amply, and freely declared his opinions, which were so strongly against the government, and so much bordering upon the republican principles, that Dr. Johnson suddenly took fire; he called back his recantation, begged Mr. Thrale not to vote for Sir Philip's bill, and grew very animated against his antagonist.

"The bill,” said he, “ought to be opposed by all honest men! in itself, and considered simply, it is equitable, and I would forward it; but when we find what a faction it is to support and encourage, it ought not to be listened to. All men should oppose it who do not wish well to sedition!

These, and several other expressions yet more strong, he made use of; and had Sir Philip had less unalterable politeness, I believe they would have had a vehement quarrel. He maintained his ground, however, with calmness and steadiness, though he had neither argument nor wit at all equal to such an opponent.

Dr. Johnson pursued him with unabating vigour and dexterity, and at length, though he could not convince, he so entirely baffled him, that Sir Philip was self-compelled to be quietwhich, with a very good grace, he confessed.

Dr. Johnson then, recollecting himself, and thinking, as he owned afterwards, that the dispute grew too serious, with a skill all his own, suddenly and unexpectedly turned it to burlesque ; and taking Sir Philip by the hand at the moment we arose after supper, and were separating for the night,

66

Sir Philip," said he, "you are too liberal a man for the party to which you belong; I shall have much pride in the honour of converting you; for I really believe, if you were not spoiled by bad company, the spirit of faction would not have possessed you. Go, then, sir, to the House, but make not your motion! Give up your bill, and surprise the world by turning to the side of truth and reason. Rise, sir, when they least expect you, and address your fellow-patriots to this purpose :-Gentlemen, I have, for many a weary day, been deceived and seduced by you. I have now opened my eyes; I see that you are all scoundrels-the subversion of all government is your aim. Gentlemen, I will no longer herd among rascals in whose infamy my name and character must be included. I therefore renounce you all, gentlemen, as you deserve to be renounced."

Then shaking his hand heartily, he added,

66

Go, sir, go to bed; meditate upon this recantation, and rise in the morning a more honest man than you laid down."

[MARCH, 1779.] Dr. Johnson has more fun, and comical humour, and love of nonsense about him, than almost anybody I ever saw: I mean when with those he likes; for otherwise, he can be as severe and as bitter as report relates him.

THURSDAY, JUNE 19TH, 1783.-We heard to-day that Dr. Johnson had been taken ill, in a way that gave a dreadful shock to himself, and a most anxious alarm to his friends. Mr. Seward brought the news here, and my father and I instantly went to his house. He had earnestly desired me, when we lived so much together at Streatham, to see him frequently if he should be ill. He saw my father, but he had medical people with him, and could not admit me up stairs, but he sent me down a most kind message, that he thanked me for calling, and when he was better

should hope to see me often. I had the satisfaction to hear from Mrs. Williams that the physicians had pronounced him to be in no danger, and expected a speedy recovery.

The stroke was confined to his tongue. Mrs. Williams told me a most striking and touching circumstance that attended the attack. It was at about four o'clock in the morning: he found himself with a paralytic affection; he rose, and composed in his own mind a Latin prayer to the Almighty," that whatever were the sufferings for which he must prepare himself, it would please Him, through the grace and mediation of our blessed Saviour, to spare his intellects, and let them all fall upon his body." When he had composed this, internally, he endeavoured to speak it aloud, but found his voice was gone.

*

*

*

(Vol. II., page 282.)

*

THURSDAY, OCт. 29тн, 1783.—This morning, at breakfast, Mr. Hoole called. I wanted to call upon Dr. Johnson, and it is so disagreeable to me to go to him alone, now poor Mrs. Williams is dead, on account of the quantity of men always visiting him, that I most gladly accepted, and almost asked, his 'squireship. We went together. The dear Doctor received me with open

arms.

66

Ah, dearest of all dear ladies!" he cried, and made me sit in his best chair.

He had not breakfasted.

"Do you forgive my coming so soon?" said I.

66

'I cannot forgive your not coming sooner," he answered.

I asked if I should make his breakfast, which I have not done since we left Streatham; he readily consented.

66

away

But, sir," quoth I, "I am in the wrong chair." For I was

from the table.

"It is so difficult," quoth he, "for any thing to be wrong that belongs to you, that it can only be I am in the wrong chair, to keep you from the right one."

And then we changed.

You will see by this how good were his spirits and his health. I stayed with him two hours, and could hardly get away; he wanted me to dine with him, and said he would send home to excuse me; but I could not possibly do that. Yet I left him with real regret.

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 19TH, 1783.-I received a letter from Dr. Johnson, which I have not by me, but will try to recollect.

TUESDAY, DEC. 30, 1783.-I went to Dr. Johnson, and spent the evening with him. He was very indifferent, indeed. There were some very disagreeable people with him; and he once affected me very much, by turning suddenly to me, and grasping my hand, and saying,—

"The blister I have tried for my breath has betrayed some very bad tokens; but I will not terrify myself by talking of them: ah, priez Dieu pour moi!"

You may believe I promised that I would!-Good and excellent as he is, how can he so fear death?-Alas, my Susy, how awful is that idea!—He was quite touchingly affectionate to me. How earnestly I hope for his recovery!

NORBURY PARK, SUNDAY, Nov. 28TH, 1784.--How will my Susan smile at sight of this date! Let me tell her how it has all happened. Last Thursday, Nov. 25th, my father set me down at Bolt-court, while he went on upon business. I was anxious to again see poor Dr. Johnson, who has had terrible health since his return from Lichfield. He let me in, though very ill. He was alone, which I much rejoiced at; for I had a longer and more satisfactory conversation with him than I have had for many months. He was in rather better spirits, too, than I have lately seen him; but he told me he was going to try what sleeping out of town might do for him.

"I remember," said he, "that my wife, when she was near her end, poor woman, was also advised to sleep out of town; and when she was carried to the lodgings that had been prepared for her, she complained that the staircase was in very bad condition -for the plaster was beaten off the wall in many places. 'Oh,' said the man of the house, that's nothing but by the knocks against it of the coffins of the poor souls that have died in the lodgings!""

6

He laughed, though not without apparent secret anguish, in telling me this. I felt extremely shocked, but, willing to confine