1776. you to contribute, in my name, what is Etat. 67. nothing be wanting in such a case.

proper. Let Dr. Drum

mond,' I see, is superseded. His father would have grieved; but he lived to obtain the pleasure of his son's election, and died before that pleasure was abated.

"Langton's lady has brought him a girl, and both are well; I dined with him the other day.

*****.

"It vexes me to tell you, that on the evening of the 29th of May I was seized by the gout, and am not quite well. The pain has not been violent, but the weakness and tenderness, were very troublesome, and what is said to be very uncommon, it has not alleviated my other disorders. Make use of youth and health while you have them; make my compliments to Mrs. Boswell. I am, my dear Sir, "Your most affectionate

"Your letter of the second of this month was rather a harsh medicine; but I was delighted with that spontaneous tenderness, which, a few days afterwards, sent forth such balsam as your next brought

I found myself for some time so ill that all I

The son of Johnson's old friend, Mr. William Drummond. (See Vol. II. p. 28.) He was a young man of such distinguished merit, that he was nominated to one of the medical professorships in the College of Edinburgh without solicitation, while he was at Naples. Having other views, he did not accept of the honour, and soon afterwards died.

Ætat. 67.

could do was to preserve a decent appearance, while 1776. all within was weakness and distress. Like a reduced garrison that has some spirit left, I hung out flags, and planted all the force I could muster, upon the walls. I am now much better, and I sincerely thank you for your kind attention and friendly counsel."

*

I

*

"Count Manucci came here last week from travelling in Ireland. I have shown him what civilities I could on his own account, on your's, and on that of Mr. and Mrs. Thrale. He has had a fall from his horse, and been much hurt. I regret this unlucky accident, for he seems to be a very amiable man."

As the evidence of what I have mentioned at the beginning of this year, I select from his private register the following passage:

July 25, 1776. O GOD, who hast ordained that whatever is to be desired should be sought by labour, and who, by thy blessing, bringest honest labour to good effect, look with mercy upon my studies and endeavours. Grant me, O LORD, to design only what is lawful and right; and afford me calmness of mind, and steadiness of purpose, that I may so do thy will in this short life, as to obtain happiness in the world to come, for the sake of JESUS CHRIST Our Lord. Amen." 2

It appears from a note subjoined, thst this was composed when he "purposed to apply vigorously to study, particularly of the Greek and Italian tongues.”

A Florentine nobleman, mentioned by Johnson, in his "Notes of his Tour in France." I had the pleasure of becoming ace quainted with him in London, in the spring of this year. 2 Prayers and Meditations, p. 151;'

Etat. 67..

1776. Such a purpose, so expressed, at the age of sixtyseven is admirable and encouraging; and it must 'impress all the thinking part of my readers with a consolatory confidence in habitual devotion, when they see a man of such enlarged intellectual powers as Johnson, thus in the genuine earnestness of secrecy, imploring the aid of that Supreme Being, "from whom cometh down every good and every perfect gift,"

66 SIR,

6 TO SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS.

"A YOUNG man, whose name is Paterson, offers himself this evening to the Academy. He is the son of a man✶ for whom I have long had a kindness, and who is now abroad in distress. I shall be glad that you will be pleased to shew him any little countenance, or pay him any small distinction. How much it is in your power to favour or to forward a young man I do not know; nor do I know how much this candidate deserves favour by his personal merit, or what hopes his proficiency may now give of future eminence. I recommend him as the son of my friend. Your character and station enable you to give a young man great encouragement by You have heard of a man who very easy means. asked no other favour of Sir Robert Walpole, than that he would bow to him at his levee. I am, Sir, "Your most humble servant,

•

**Aug. 3, 1776.

"SAM. JOHNSON."

[Samuel Paterson, formerly a bookseller, latterly an auc tioneer, and well known for his skill in forming catalogues of books. He died in London, October 29, 1802. M.]

"MR. BOSWELL TO DR. JOHNSON.

"Edinburgh, August 30, 1776.

[After giving him an account of my having examined the chests of books which he had sent to me, and which contained what may be truly called a numerous and miscellaneous Stall Library, thrown together at random :-]

Lord Hailes was against the decree in the case of my client, the minister; not that he justified the minister, but because the parishioner both provoked and retorted. I sent his Lordship your able argument upon the case for his perusal. His observation upon it in a letter to me was, Dr. Johnson's Suasorium is pleasantly and artfully composed. I suspect, however, that he has not convinced himself; for, I believe that he is better read in ecclesiastical history, than to imagine that a Bishop or a Presbyter has a right to begin censure or discipline è cathedra." +

3

"For the honour of Count Manucci, as well as to observe that exactness of truth which you have: taught me, I must correct what I said in a former letter. He did not fall from his horse, which might:

Why his Lordship uses the epithet pleasantly, when speaking of a grave piece of reasoning, I cannot conceive. But different men have different notions of pleasantry. I happened to sit by a gentleman one evening at the Opera-house in London, who at the moment when Medea appeared to be in great agony at the thought of killing her children, turned to me with a smile, and said, “funny enough."

4 Dr. Johnson afterwards told me, that he was of opinion that a clergyman had this right..

1776.

Ætat. 67.

1776. have been an imputation on his skill as an officer of cavalry; his horse fell with him.

Ætat. 67.

I have, since I saw you, read every word of "Granger's Biographical History.' It has entertained me exceedingly, and I do not think him the Whig that you supposed. Horace Walpole's being his patron is, indeed, no good sign of his political principles. But he denied to Lord Mountstuart that he was a Whig, and said he had been accused by both parties of partiality. It seems he was like Pope,

While Tories call me Whig, and Whigs a Tory.'

I wish you would look more into his book; and as Lord Mounstuart wishes much to find a proper person to continue the work upon Granger's plan, and has desired I would mention it to you; if such a man occurs, please to let me know. His Lordship will give him generous encouragement."

66 TO MR. ROBERT LEVETT.

"DEAR SIR,

"HAVING spent about six weeks at this place, we have at length resolved upon returning. I expect to see you all in Fleet- street on the 30th of this month.

"I did not go into the sea till last Friday, but think to go most of this week, though I know not that it does me any good. My nights are very restless and tiresome, but I am otherwise well.

I have written word of my coming to Mrs.