GALLANTRY.

He particularly piqued himself upon his nice observance of ceremonious punctilios toward ladies. A remarkable instance of this was his never suffering any lady to walk from his house to her carriage, through Bolt Court, unattended by himself to hand her into it (at least I have reason to suppose it to be his general custom, from his constant performance of it to those with whom he was most intimately acquainted); and if any obstacle prevented it from driving off, there he would stand by the door of it, and gather a mob around him; indeed, they would begin to gather the moment he appeared handing the lady down the steps into Fleet Street. But to describe his appearance-his important air-that, indeed, cannot be described; and his morning habiliments would excite the utmost astonishment in my reader that a man in his senses could think of stepping outside his door in them, or even to be seen at home. Sometimes he exhibited himself at the distance of eight or ten doors from Bolt Court, to get at the carriage, to the no small diversion of the populace.—Miss Reynolds.

Here let me not forget a curious anecdote, as related to me by Mr. Beauclerk, which I shall endeavor to exhibit as well as I can in that gentleman's lively manner; and in justice to him it is proper to add that Dr. Johnson told me I might rely both on the correctness of his memory and the fidelity of his narrative. "When Madame de Boufflers was first in England," said Beauclerk, "she was desirous to see Johnson. I accordingly went with her to his chambers in the Temple, where she was entertained with his conversation for some time. When our visit was over, she and I left him, and were got into Inner Temple Lane, when all at once I heard a noise like thunder. This was occasioned by Johnson, who, it seems, upon a little recollection, had taken it into his head that he ought to have done the honors of his

literary residence to a foreign lady of quality, and, eager to show himself a man of gallantry, was hurrying down the staircase in violent agitation. He overtook us before we reached the Temple gate, and, brushing in between me and Madame de Boufflers, seized her hand and conducted her to her coach. His dress was a rusty-brown morning suit, a pair of old shoes by way of slippers, a little shrivelled wig sticking on the top of his head, and the sleeves of his shirt and the knees of his breeches hanging loose. A considerable crowd of people gathered round, and were not a little struck by this singular appearance.”—Boswell.

Mrs. Percy told me that Johnson once stayed near a month at their parsonage; that Dr. Percy looked out all sorts of books to be ready for his amusement after breakfast; and that Johnson was so attentive and polite to her that, when Dr. Percy mentioned the literature prepared in the study, he said, "No, sir, I shall first wait upon Mrs. Percy, to feed the ducks."-Cradock (abridged).

When Mrs. Siddons came into the room, there happened to be no chair ready for her, which he observing, said, with a smile, “Madam, you who so often occasion a want of seats to other people will the more easily excuse the want of one yourself."-J. P. Kemble.

On Tuesday, October 12th, I dined with him at Mr. Ramsay's, with Lord Newhaven and some other company, none of whom I recollect, but a beautiful Miss Graham, a relation of his lordship's, who asked Dr. Johnson to hob or nob with her. He was flattered by such pleasing attention, and politely told her he never drank wine: but if she would drink a glass of water, he was much at her service. She accepted. "Oh, sir," said Lord Newhaven, "you are caught." Johnson: "Nay, I do not see how I am caught; but if I am caught, I don't want to get free again. If I am caught, I

hope to be kept." Then, when the two glasses of water were brought, smiling placidly to the young lady, he said, "Madam, let us reciprocate."-Boswell.

At the time that Miss Linley was in the highest esteem as a public singer, Dr. Johnson came in the evening to drink tea with Miss Reynolds; and when he entered the room she said to him, "See, Dr. Johnson, what a preference I give to your company; for I had an offer of a place in a box at the Oratorio to hear Miss Linley; but I would rather sit with you than hear Miss Linley sing." "And I, madam," replied Johnson, "would rather sit with you than sit upon a throne."-Northcote.

When I told him that a young and handsome countess had said to me, "I should think that to be praised by Dr. Johnson would make one a fool all one's life;" and that I answered, "Madam, I shall make him a fool to-day, by repeating this to him;" he said, "I am too old to be made a fool; but if you say I am made a fool, I shall not deny it. I am much pleased with a compliment, especially from a pretty woman.”—Boswell.

The next morning we rose at four o'clock, and when we came down-stairs, to our great surprise, found Dr. Johnson waiting to receive and breakfast with us, though the night before he had taken leave of us. We therefore drank our coffee with him, and then he handed us both into the chaise. -Madame D'Arblay.

Dr. Johnson (looking earnestly at me): "Nay, it's very handsome!" "What, sir?" cried I, amazed. "Why, your cap. I have looked at it some time, and I like it much. It has not that vile bandeau across it which I have so often cursed." Mrs. Thrale: "Well, sir, that bandeau you quarrelled with was worn by every woman at court the last

birthday, and I observed that all the men found fault with it." Dr. Johnson: "The truth is, that women, take them in general, have no idea of grace. Fashion is all they think of. I don't mean Mrs. Thrale and Miss Burney when I talk of women! they are goddesses! and therefore I except them." Mrs. Thrale: "Lady Ladd never wore the bandeau, and said she never would, because it is unbecoming." Dr. Johnson (laughing): "Did she not? Then is Lady Ladd a charming woman, and I have yet hopes of entering into engagements with her!"-Madame D'Arblay.

When we were summoned to dinner, Mrs. Thrale made my father and me sit on each side of her. I said that I hoped I did not take Dr. Johnson's place-for he had not yet appeared. "No," answered Mrs. Thrale, "he will sit by you, which I am sure will give him great pleasure." Soon after we were seated, this great man entered. Mrs. Thrale introduced me to him, and he took his place. We had a noble dinner and a most elegant dessert. Dr. Johnson, in the middle of dinner, asked Mrs. Thrale what was in some little pies that were near him. "Mutton," answered she; "so I don't ask you to eat any, because I know you despise it." "No, madam, no," cried he; "I despise nothing that is good of its sort; but I am too proud now to eat of it. Sitting by Miss Burney makes me very proud to-day." "Miss Burney," said Mrs. Thrale, laughing, "you must take great care of your heart if Dr. Johnson attacks it; for I assure you he is not often successless." What's that you say, madam?" cried he; "are you making mischief between the young lady and me already ?"-Madame D'Arblay.

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Mr. Metcalf, with much satire, and much entertainment, kept chattering to me,* till Dr. Johnson found me out and brought a chair to me. "So," said he to Mr. Metcalf, "it is

*At an evening entertainment.

you, is it, that are engrossing her thus ?" "He's jealous!" said Mr. Metcalf, dryly. "How these people talk of Mrs. Siddons!" said the Doctor. "I came hither in full expectation of hearing no name but the name I love and pant to hear, when from one corner to another they are talking of that jade, Mrs. Siddons! till at last, wearied out, I went yonder into a corner, and repeated to myself, ‘Burney! Burney! Burney! Burney!" "Ay, sir," said Mr. Metcalf," you should have carved it upon the trees.” "Sir, had there been any trees, so I should; but being none, I was content to carve it upon my heart.”—Madame D'Arblay.

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EXTEMPORE VERSE-MAKING.

HE observed that a gentleman of eminence in literature had got into a bad style of poetry of late. "He puts," said he, "a very common thing in a strange dress till he does not know it himself, and thinks other people do not know it." Boswell: "That is owing to his being so much versant in old English poetry." Johnson: "What is that to the purpose, sir? If I say a man is drunk, and you tell me it is owing to his taking much drink, the matter is not mended. No, sir, has taken to an odd mode. For ex

ample, he'd write thus:

'Hermit hoar, in solemn cell,

Wearing out life's evening gray.'

Gray evening is common enough; but evening gray he'd think fine. Stay; we'll make out the stanza:

Boswell: "But why smite his bosom, sir?" Johnson: “Why,