account of the expected consultation. We went away, leaving Mr. Langton and Mr. Desmoulins, a young man who was employed in copying his Latin epigrams. Wednesday, Dec. 1.—At his house in the evening: drank tea and coffee with Mr. Sastres, Mr. Desmoulins, and Mrs. Hall: went into the Doctor's chamber after tea, when he gave me an epitaph to copy, written by him for his father, mother, and brother. He continued much the same. Thursday, Dec. 2.-Called in the morning, and left the epitaph: with him in the evening about seven; found Mr. Langton and Mr. Desmoulins; did not see the Doctor; he was in his chamber, and afterwards engaged with Dr. Scott. Friday, Dec. 3.-Called; but he wished not to see any body. Consultation of physicians to be held that day: called again in the evening; found Mr. Langton with him; Mr. Sastres and I went together into his chamber; he was extremely low. "I am very bad indeed, dear gentlemen," he said; "very bad, very low, very cold, and I think I find my life to fail." In about a quarter of an hour he dismissed Mr. Sastres and me; but called me back again, and said that next Sunday, if he lived, he designed to take the sacrament, and wished me, my wife, and son to be there. We left Mr. Langton with him. Saturday, Dec. 4.-Called on him about three: he was much the same; did not see him, he had much company that day. Called in the evening with Mr. Sastres about eight; found he was not disposed for company; Mr. Langton with him; did not see him. Sunday, Dec. 5.-Went to Bolt Court with Mrs. Hoole after eleven; found there Sir John Hawkins, Rev. Mr. Strahan, Mrs. Gardiner, and Mr. Desmoulins, in the dining-room. After some time the Doctor came to us from the chamber, and saluted us all, thanking us all for this visit to him. He said he found himself very bad, but hoped he should go well through the duty which he was about to do. The sacrament was then administered to all present, Frank being of the number. The Doctor repeatedly desired Mr. Strahan to speak louder; seeming very anxious not to lose any part of the service, in which he joined in very great fervour of devotion. The service over, he again thanked us all for attending him on the occasion; he said he had taken some opium to enable him to support the fatigue: he seemed quite spent, and lay in his chair some time in a kind of doze: he then got up and retired into his chamber. Mr. Ryland then called on him. I was with them: he said to Mr. Ryland, "I have taken my viaticum I hope I shall arrive safe at the end of my journey, and be accepted at last." He spoke very despondingly several times: Mr. Ryland comforted him, observing that "we had great hopes given us." "Yes," he replied, "we have hopes given us; but they are conditional, and I know not how far I have fulfilled those conditions."1 He afterwards said, "However, I think that I have now corrected all bad and vicious habits." Sir Joshua Reynolds called on him: we left them together. Sir Joshua being gone, he called Mr. Ryland and me again to him: he continued talking very seriously, and repeated a prayer or collect with great fervour, when Mr. Ryland took his leave. He ate a tolerable dinner, but retired directly after dinner. My son came to us from his church: we were at dinner-Dr. Johnson, Mrs. Gardiner, myself, Mrs. Hoole, my son, and Mr. Desmoulins. He had looked out a sermon of Dr. Clarke's, "On the Shortness of Life," for me to read to him after dinner, but he was too ill to hear it. After six o'clock he called us all into his room, when he dismissed us for that night with a prayer, delivered as he sat in his great chair in the most fervent aud affecting manner, his mind appearing wholly employed with the thoughts of another life. He told Mr. Ryland that he wished not to come to God with opium, but that he hoped he had been properly attentive. He said before us all, that when he recovered the last spring, he had only called it a reprieve, but that he did think it was for a longer time; however, he hoped the time that had been prolonged to him might be the means of bringing forth fruit meet for repentance. Monday, Dec. 6.-Sent in the morning to make inquiry after him : he was much the same: called in the evening; found Mr. Cruikshanks the Surgeon with him: he said he had been that day quarrelling with all his physicians: he appeared in tolerable spirits. Tuesday, Dec. 7.-Called at dinner time: saw him eat a very good dinner he seemed rather better, and in spirits. Wednesday, Dec. 8.-Went with Mrs. Hoole and my son, by appointment found him very poorly and low, after a very bad night. Mr. Nichols the printer was there. My son read the Litany, the Doctor several times urging him to speak louder. After prayers Mr. Langton came in: much serious discourse: he warned us all to profit by his situation; and, applying to me, who stood next him, exhorted me to lead a better life than he had done. "A better life than you, my dear Sir!" I repeated. He replied warmly, "Don't compliment III. 1 See his letter to Mrs. Thrale, vol. ii., p. 350.-J. Hoole. now." He told Mr. Langton that he had the night before enforced a powerful argument to a powerful objection against on Christianity. He had often thought it might seem strange that the Jews, who refused belief to the doctrine supported by the miracles of our Saviour, should after his death raise a numerous church; but he said that they expected fully a temporal prince, and with this idea the multitude was actuated when they strewed his way with palm-branches on his entry into Jerusalem; but finding their expectations afterwards disappointed, rejected him, till in process of time, comparing all the circumstances and prophecies of the Old Testament, confirmed in the New, many were converted; that the Apostles themselves once believed him to be a temporal prince. He said that he had always been struck with the resemblance of the Jewish passover and the Christian doctrine of redemption. He thanked us all for our atten dance, and we left him with Mr. Langton. Thursday, Dec. 9.-Called in the evening; did not see him, as he was engaged. Friday, Dec. 10.-Called about eleven in the morning; saw Mr. La Trobe there neither of us saw the Doctor, as we understood he wished not to be visited that day. In the evening I sent him a letter, recommending Dr. Dalloway (an irregular physician) as an extraordinary person for curing the dropsy. He returned me a verbal answer that he was obliged to me, but that it was too late. My son read prayers with him this day. Saturday, Dec. 11.-Went to Bolt Court about twelve; met there Dr. Burney, Dr. Taylor, Sir John Hawkins, Mr. Sastres, Mr. Paradise, Count Zenobia, and Mr. Langton. Mrs. Hoole called for me there: we both went to him: he received us very kindly; told me he had my letter, but "it was too late for doctors, regular or irregular." His physicians had been with him that day, but prescribed nothing. Mr. Cruikshanks came: the Doctor was rather cheerful with him; he said, "Come, give me your hand," and shook him by the hand, adding, "You shall make no other use of it now;" meaning he should not examine his legs. Mr. Cruikshanks wished to do it, but the Doctor would not let him. Mr. Cruikshanks said he would call in the evening. Sunday, Dec. 12.-Was not at Bolt Court in the forenoon; at St. Sepulchre's school in the evening with Mrs. Hoole, where we saw Mrs. Gardiner and Lady Rothes; heard that Dr. Johnson was very bad, and had been something delirious. Went to Bolt Court about : nine, and found there Mr. Windham and the Rev. Mr. Strahan. The Doctor was then very bad in bed, which I think he had only taken to that day he had now refused to take any more medicine or food. Mr. Cruikshanks came about eleven: he endeavoured to persuade him to take some nourishment, but in vain. Mr. Windham then went again to him, and, by the advice of Mr. Cruikshanks, put it upon this footing that by persisting to refuse all sustenance he might probably defeat his own purpose to preserve his mind clear, as his weakness might bring on paralytic complaints that might affect his mental powers. The Doctor, Mr. Windham said, heard him patiently; but when he had heard all, he desired to be troubled no more. He then took a most affectionate leave of Mr. Windham, who reported to us the issue of the conversation, for only Mr. Desmoulins was with them in the chamber. I did not see the Doctor that day, being fearful of disturbing him, and never conversed with him again. I came away about half-past eleven with Mr. Windham. Monday, Dec. 13.-Went to Bolt Court at eleven o'clock in the morning; met a young lady coming down stairs from the Doctor, whom, upon inquiry, I found to be Miss Morris' (a sister to Miss Morris, formerly on the stage). Mrs. Desmoulins told me that she had seen the Doctor; that by her desire he had been told she came to ask his blessing, and that he said, "God bless you!" I then went up into his chamber, and found him lying very composed in a kind of doze: he spoke to nobody. Sir John Hawkins, Mr. Langton, Mrs. Gardiner, Rev. Mr. Strahan and Mrs. Strahan, Doctors Brocklesby and Butter, Mr. Steevens, and Mr. Nichols the printer, came; but no one chose to disturb him by speaking to him, and he seemed to take no notice of any person. While Mrs. Gardiner and I were there, before the rest came, he took a little warm milk in a cup, when he said something upon its not being properly given into his hand he breathed very regular, though short, and appeared to be mostly in a calm sleep or dozing. I left him in this state, and never more saw him alive. In the evening I supped with Mrs. Hoole and my son at Mr. Braithwaite's, and at night my servant brought me word that my dearest friend died that evening about seven o'clock: and next morning I went to the house, where I met Mr. Seward; we went together into the chamber, and there saw the most awful sight of Dr. Johnson laid out in his bed, without life! 1 See antè, p. 489. : ON THE PORTRAITS OF JOHNSON. T will be observed that in the note, p. 493-4, Boswell enumerates makes mention of several portraits painted by Reynolds, one by his sister, one by Zoffany, and one by Opie. Of those by Reynolds few portraits are better known; and rarely has it been the fortune of an eminent man to have as his friend so consummate an artist to portray his features and his form, and to hand them down to posterity. Not to speak, for the present at least, of another picture which has been attributed to Reynolds, there are four distinct portraits of Johnson by this great artist; and several repetitions of these by the master's hand-in the phraseology of Art, replicas. 1. Boswell's portrait, i.e., the portrait which Reynolds gave to Boswell, a three-quarter length, representing Johnson sitting at a table, with his head inclined to the right side; his left hand on a sheet of paper, and his right, supported by the arm of the chair, holding a pen. The Dictionary is on the table; the title distinctly marked. On the admirable engraving of it by Heath, prefixed to the first edition of the Life, there is the subscription which determines the date of the portrait, "Sir Joshua Reynolds, pinxit 1756." It represents Johnson, then, shortly after he had published the Dictionary. This fine portrait seems to have come into the possession of Boswell's second son, James. It was sold at his sale, in 1822, by Christie and Manson, and bought by Mr. J. Graves. This picture was exhibited at the National Portrait Exhibition in 1867. It is now in the possession of Mr. Morrison, 93, Harley Street, where I had the pleasure of seeing it, at the end of October, 1883. No repetition of this portrait seems to have been painted. 2. In the Exhibition of the Academy, 1770, Reynolds had a second portrait, three-quarter length, representing Johnson with a nervous gesticulation of his arms and hands, and with his own hair. After the Exhibition, it seems to have been sent to Lichfield; for Johnson, writing from Ashbourne, July 17th, 1771, to Sir Joshua, tells him, that when he came to Lichfield he found that his portrait-no doubt that exhibited in 1770—had been much visited and much admired.' This, then, was Lucy Porter's portrait, which Reynolds presented See Life, vol. i,, p. 531. |