trymen, Burke displayed most accurate and extensive information.

How greatly Johnson delighted in convivial meetings, and how he relished the attractions of a tavern, and enjoyed that unrestrained conversation which it admits much more than domestic parties, is well known. A weekly club was instituded for his gratification, and for the instruction and entertainment of its several members. The place of meeting was the Turk's Head,* Gerrardstreet, Soho; the time every Monday, at seven in the evening. The club, at its institution, consisted of the following members: Johnson, Burke, Goldsinith, Reynolds, Mr. Topham Beauclerc, Dr. Nugent, Sir John Hawkins, Mr. Chamier, Mr. Bennet Langton.

Mr. Beauclerc united to the character of a man of parts, information, and taste, that of the man of fashion. Having spent much time in Italy, he improved his natural taste

* Now a private house, N. side of the street, inhabited by Col, Robertson, of the Westminster Volunteers.

for the fine arts by the contemplation of the most exquisite models. With classical literature, history, and antiquities, he was beyond most men acquainted. His conversation was variegated--learned, witty, generally gay, sometimes serious, and always polite, -admirably adapted for diffusing pleasure over a company. He was a great collector of books, and at his death left a library which yielded upwards of five thousand pounds. Though dissipated, his many amiable and respectable qualifications rendered him a great favourite with Burke and Johnson. Nugent was a physician, well esteemed for professional talents, general information, and agreeable manners. He was

father-in-law to Burke.

Hawkins* is since known as the executor and biographer of Johnson, and the historian

Sir John Hawkins appears to have implicitly adopted some of Johnson's opinions, especially those of a bigotted and illiberal cast. He was very austere and morose in his criticisms, though by no means acute or discriminating.

of music. Chamier, though bred a stockbroker, had received a liberal education, was a good scholar, and particularly well versed in modern languages. Mr. Langton, a gentleman of Lincolnshire, of parts and knowledge, and from congeniality of religious and political notions, a distinguished favourite with Johnson. Reynolds, long before that time eminent for his genius and skill. Goldsmith, rising to literary renown. Far above others stood Burke and Johnson.

From this account it is evident that every member of the club was qualified to contribute a considerable portion of pleasing and useful conversation. This society was, in the talents and learning of its members, not inferior to the famed Scriblerus-club of the preceding age. Two of the number stand higher than Pope or Swift. The greatest admirers of the wit, humour, and genius of those two extraordinary men will hardly consider them as equal to the capacity, fulness, powers, and exertion of Johnson; to the force, versatility, expansion, richness,

and invention of Burke. However much the world is indebted to the separate efforts of the members of this club, it does not appear that, like those of the Scriblerus, they employed their literary labours in any joint work. Indeed this is not difficult to account for: the leading men of the Scriblerus resembled one another in the species as well as the degree of their excellence; whereas Johnson and Burke were as different from each other in the species and direction of their talents, as they were superior to most men in the degrees of their mental powers. But though the members of the Turk's-head did not unite their talents in the production of any work, they derived very great advantages from mutual intercourse, communication of opinions, and the result of separate experience, closely examined and ably discussed. Though they did not join their talents in one work, they exerted themselves severally in the club, by speaking or writing on subjects of literature.

The members of the Turk's-head, like those of the Scriblerus club, very frequently unbent themselves by light amusements and frolics. A remark made on the latter may be equally applied to other literary societies. They (the Scriblerus-club) often experienced the truth of Horace's observation, Dule est desipere in loco. The time for wits to play the fool is when they meet together to relax from the severity of mental exertions. Their follies have frequently a degree of extravagance much beyond the phlegmatic merriment of sober dulness, and can be relished by those only who, having wit themselves, can trace the extravagance to the real source, and make a candid allowance for an effect arising from so noble a cause.**

The Turk's-head indulged themselves in agreeable trifling as well as important discussion. Goldsmith contributed no less to the

*See Lives of the Authors of the Spectator, published by G. Cawthorn, No. 132, Strand.