"TO MR. THOMAS DAVIES.

"18th June, 1783.

"SAM. JOHNSON."

It gives me great pleasure to preserve such a memorial of Johnson's regard for Mr. Davies, to whom I was indebted for my introduction to him. He indeed loved Davies cordially, of which I shall give the following little evidence:-One day when he had treated him with too much asperity, Tom, who was not without pride and spirit, went off in a passion; but he had hardly reached home, when Frank, who had been sent after him, delivered this note: "Come, come, dear Davies, I am always sorry when we quarrel; send me word that we are friends."

Letters, vol. ii. p. 273.

["TO MRS. THRALE.

"London, 20th June, 1783.

"You will forgive the gross images that disease must necessarily present. Dr. Lawrence said that medical treatises should be always in Latin.

"I never had any distortion of the countenance but what Dr. Brocklesby called a little prolapsus, which went away the second day.

"I was this day directed to eat flesh, and I dined very copiously upon roasted lamb and boiled pease. I then went to sleep in a chair; and when I waked, I found Dr. Brocklesby sitting by me, and fell to talking with him in such a manner as made me glad, and I hope made me thankful. The doctor fell to repeating Juvenal's ninth sa

Poor Derrick, however, though he did not himself introduce me to Dr. Johnson as he promised, had the merit of introducing me to Davies, the immediate introductor.-BosWELL.

tire; but I let him see that the province was mine.

"I am to take wine to-night, and hope it will do me good."

66

'DR. JOHNSON TO MRS. LUCY PORTER "London, 25th June, 1785. "DEAR MADAM,-Since the papers have given an account of Pearson illness, it is proper that I should give my friends some account of it myself.

my

MSS.

"Very early in the morning of the 16th 2 of this month I perceived my speech taken from me. When it was light I sat down and wrote such directions as appeared proper. Dr. Heberden and Dr. Brocklesby were called. Blisters were applied, and medicines given. Before night I began to speak with some freedom, which has been increasing ever since, so that I have now very little impediment in my utterance. Dr. Heberden took his leave this morning.

"Since I received this stroke I have in other respects been better than I was before, and hope yet to have a comfortable summer. Let me have your prayers.

"If writing is not troublesome, let me know whether you are pretty well, and how you have passed the winter and spring.

"Make my compliments to all my friends. I am, dear madam, your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON.”

"TO MRS. THRALE.

London, 28th June, 1783.

"Your letter is just such as I de- Letters, sire, and as from you I hope always vol. ii. to deserve.

p. 280.

"The black 3 dog I hope always to resist, and in time to drive, though I am deprived of almost all those that used to help me. The neighbourhood is impoverished. I had once Richardson and Lawrence in my reach. Mrs. Allen is dead. My home has lost Levett; a man who took interest in every thing, and therefore ready at conversation. Mrs. Williams is so weak that she can be a companion no longer. When I rise, my breakfast is solitary; the black dog waits to share it. From breakfast to dinner he continues barking, except that Dr. Brocklesby for a little keeps him at a distance. Dinner with a sick woman you may venture to suppose not much better than solitary. After dinner, what remains but to count the clock, and hope for that sleep which I can scarce expect? Night comes at last, and some hours of restlessness and confusion bring me again to a day of solitude. What shall exclude the black dog from an habitation like this? If I were a cheerful female into the house. little richer, I would perhaps take some

"Last night fresh flies were put to my head, and hindered me from sleeping. To-day I fancy myself incommoded with heat.

"I have, however, watered the garden both yesterday and to-day, just as I watered the laurels in the island"] [at Streatham.]

[Amidst all this distress and danger, ED. we find by the following and some subsequent letters to or concerning Mr. Lowe1, that he was still ready to exert himself for his humble friend.

MS.

66 TO MR. LOWE.

"Friday, 20th June, 1783. "SIR,-You know, I suppose, that a sudden illness makes it impracticable to me to wait on Mr. Barry, and the time is short. If it be your opinion that the end can be obtained by writing, I am very willing to write, and, perhaps, it may do as well it is, at least, all that can be expected at present from, sir, your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON.

"If you would have me write, come to me: I order your admission."]

TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

"London, 3d July, 1783.

"DEAR SIR,-Your anxiety about my health is very friendly and very agreeable with your general kindness. I have indeed had a very frightful blow. On the 17th of last month, about three in the morning, as near as I can guess, I perceived myself almost totally deprived of speech. I had no pain. My organs were so obstructed that I could say no, but could scarcely say yes. I wrote the necessary directions, for it pleased God to spare my hand, and sent for Dr. Heberden and Dr. Brocklesby. Between the time in which I discovered my own disorder, and that in which I sent for the doctors, I had, I believe, in spite of my surprise and solicitude, a little sleep, and nature began to renew its operations. They came and gave the directions which the disease required, and from that time I have been continually improving in articulation. I can now speak; but the nerves are weak, and I cannot continue discourse long; but strength, I hope, will return. The physicians consider me as cured. I was last Sunday at church. On Tuesday I took an airing to Hampstead, and dined with the Club, where Lord Palmerston was proposed, and, against my opinion, was rejected 2. I designed to go next week with Mr. Langton to Rochester, where I pur

[Communicated by Mr. Markland from Mr. J. C. Freeling.-ED.]

2 His lordship was soon after chosen, and is now a member of the Club.-BOSWELL.

pose to stay about ten days, and then try some other air. I have many kind invitations. Your brother has very frequently inquired after me. Most of my friends have, indeed, been very attentive. Thank dear Lord Hailes for his present.

"I hope you found at your return every thing gay and prosperous, and your lady, in particular, quite recovered and confirmed. Pay her my respects. I am, dear sir, your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON."

["TO MRS. THRale.

"London, 3d July, 1785.

"Dr. Brocklesby yesterday dis- Letters, missed the cantharides, and I can vol. ii. now find a soft place upon my pillow. P. 286. Last night was cool, and I rested well; and this morning I have been a friend at a poetical difficulty. Here is now a glimpse of daylight again; but how near is the evening none can tell, and I will not prognosticate. We all know that from none of us it can be far distant: may none of us know this in vain!

"I went, as I took care to boast, on Tuesday to the Club, and hear that I was thought to have performed as well as usual.

"I dined on fish, with the wing of a small turkey-chick, and left roast beef, goose, and venison-pie untouched. I live much on pease, and never had them so good for so long a time in any year that I can remember.

"Along with your kind letter yesterday came one, likewise very kind, from the Astons at Lichfield; but I do not know whether, as the summer is so far advanced, I shall travel so far; though I am not without hopes that frequent change of air may fortify me against the winter, which has been, in modern phrase, of late years very inimical to, madam, your, &c."]

"TO MRS. LUCY PORTER, IN LICHFIEld. "London, 5th July, 1783.

"DEAR MADAM,-The account which you give of your health is but melancholy. May it please God to restore you. My disease affected my speech, and still continues, in some degree, to obstruct my utterance; my voice is distinct enough for a while, but the organs being still weak are quickly weary; but in other respects I am, I think, rather better than I have lately been, and can let you know my state without the help of any other hand.

"In the opinion of my friends, and in my own, I am gradually mending. The physicians consider me as cured, and I had leave four days ago to wash the cantharides from my head. Last Tuesday I dined at the Club.

"I am going next week into Kent, and purpose to change the air frequently this summer whether I shall wander so far as Staffordshire I cannot tell. I should be glad to come. Return my thanks to Mrs. Cobb, and Mr. Pearson 1, and all that have shown attention to me.

"Let us, my dear, pray for one another, and consider our sufferings as notices mercifully given us to prepare ourselves for another state.

66

"I live now but in a melancholy way. My old friend Mr. Levett is dead, who lived with me in the house, and was useful and companionable; Mrs. Desmoulins is gone away; and Mrs. Williams is so much decayed, that she can add little to another's gratifications. The world passes away, and we are passing with it; but there is, doubtless, another world, which will endure for ever. Let us all fit ourselves for it. I &c. "SAM. JOHNSON."

am,

[During his illness Mr. Murphy Murph. Essay, visited him, and found him reading p. 121. Dr. Watson's Chemistry: articulating with difficulty, he said, "From this book he who knows nothing may learn a great deal, and he who knows will be pleased to find his knowledge recalled to his mind in a manner highly pleasing."]

Such was the general vigour of his constitution, that he recovered from this alarming and severe attack with wonderful quickness; so that in July he was able to make a visit to Mr. Langton at Rochester, where he passed about a fortnight, and made little excursions as easily as at any time of his life.

["TO MRS. THRALE. "London, 8th July, 1783. "Langton and I have talked of passing a little time at Rochester together, till neither knows well how to refuse; though I think he is not eager to take me, and I am not desirous to be taken. His family is numerous, and his house little. I have let him know, for his relief, that I do not mean to burden him more than a week. He is, however, among those who wish me well, and would exert what power he has to do me good."

"London, 23d July, 1783.

"I have been thirteen days at Rochester, and am now just returned. I came back by water in a common boat twenty miles for a shilling, and when I landed at Billingsgate I carried my budget myself to Cornhill before I could get a coach, and was not much incommoded."]

The Reverend Mr. Pearson, to whom Mrs. Lucy Porter bequeathed the greater part of her property.-MALONE. 45 VOL. II.

"London, 18th August, 1783.

vol. ii.

p. 300.

["TO MRS. THRALE. "Of this world, in which you Letters, represent me as delighting to live, I can say little. Since I came home I have only been to church, once to Burney's, once to Paradise's, and once to Reynolds's. With Burney I saw Dr. Rose, his new relation, with whom I have been many years acquainted. If I discovered no reliques of disease, I am glad; but Fanny's trade is fiction 2.

"I have since partaken of an epidemical disorder; but common evils produce no dejection.

"Paradise's company, I fancy, disappointed him; I remember nobody. With Reynolds was the Archbishop of Tuam, a man coarse of voice and inelegant of language 3.

"I am now broken with disease, without the alleviation of familiar friendship or domestick society: I have no middle state between clamour and silence, between general conversation and self-tormenting solitude. Levett is dead, and poor Williams is making haste to die: I know not if she will ever come out of her chamber.

"I am now quite alone; but let me turn my thoughts another way."

me.

Thou thy weary task hast done,

Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages'. "Had she had good humour and prompt elocution, her universal curiosity and comprehensive knowledge would have made her the delight of all that knew her. She left her little to your charity school."]

I shall here insert a few particulars concerning him, with which I have been favoured by one of his friends.

"He had once conceived the design of writing the Life of Oliver Cromwell, saying, that he thought it must be highly curious to trace his extraordinary rise to the supreme power from so obscure a beginning. He at length laid aside his scheme, on discovering that all that can be told of him is already in print; and that it is impracticable to procure any authentick information in addition to what the world is already in possession of 2.

"He had likewise projected, but at what part of his life is not known, a work to show how small a quantity of REAL FICTION there is in the world; and that the same images, with very little variation, have served all the authours who have ever written."

"His thoughts in the latter part of his life were frequently employed on his deceased friends. He often muttered these or such like sentences: 'Poor man! and then he died.'"

"Speaking of a certain literary friend, 'He is a very pompous puzzling fellow,' said he: he lent me a letter once that somebody had written to him, no matter what it was about; but he wanted to have the letter back, and expressed a mighty value for it: he hoped it was to be met with again; he would not lose it for a thousand pounds. I laid my hand upon it soon after

1 [Dirge in Cymbeline.—ED.]

was very glad to have met with it. O, then he did not know that it signified any thing. So you see, when the letter was lost it was worth a thousand pounds, and when it was found it was not worth a farthing.'

"The style and character of his conversation is pretty generally known: it was certainly conducted in conformity with a precept of Lord Bacon, but it is not clear, I apprehend, that this conformity was either perceived or intended by Johnson. The precept alluded to is as follows: 'In all kinds of speech, either pleasant, grave, severe, or ordinary, it is convenient to speak leisurely, and rather drawlingly than hastily: because hasty speech confounds the memory, and oftentimes, besides the unseemliness, drives a man either to stammering, a nonplus, or harping on that which should follow; whereas a slow speech confirineth the memory, addeth a conceit of wisdom to the hearers, besides a seemliness of speech and countenance 3. Dr. Johnson's method of conversation was certainly calculated to excite attention, and to amuse and instruct (as it happened), without wearying or confusing his company. He was always most perfectly clear and conspicuous; and his language was so accurate, and his sentences so neatly constructed, that his conversation might have been all printed without any correction. At the same time, it was easy and natural; the accuracy of it had no appearance of labour, constraint, or stiffness: he seemed more correct than others by the force of habit, and the customary exercises of his powerful mind."

"He spoke often in praise of French literature. The French are excellent in this,' he would say, 'they have a book on every subject.' From what he had seen of them he denied them the praise of superior politeness, and mentioned, with very visible disgust, the custom they have of spitting on the floors of their apartments. This,' said the Doctor, is as gross a thing as can well be done; and one wonders how any man, or set of men, can persist in so offensive. a practice for a whole day together: one should expect that the first effort towards civilization would remove it even among savages.'

3 Hints for Civil Conversation.-Bacon's Works, 4to. vol. i. p. 571.--MALONE.