ten for him, ufed to come about him. He had then little for himself; but frequently fent money to Mr. Shiels, when in diftrefs. The friends who vifited him at that time, were chiefly Dr. Bathurst, and Mr. Diamond, an apothecary in Cork-Street, Burlington-Gardens, with whom he and Mifs Williams generally dined every Sunday. There was a talk of his going to Ireland with him, which would probably have happened had he lived. There were alfo Mr. Cave, Dr. Hakesworth, Mr. Ryland merchant on Tower-hill, Mrs. Masters the poetefs, who lived with Mr. Cave, Mrs. Carter, and fometimes Mrs. Macaulay; alfo Mrs. Gardiner, wife of a tallow-chandler in Snowhill, not in the learned way, but a worthy good woman; Mr. (now) Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr. Millar, Mr. Dodfley, Mr. Bouquet, Mr. Payne of Pater-nofter Row, bookfeller; Mr.

Strahan the printer; the Earl of Orrery', Lord Southwell, Mr. Garrick, &c."

Johnfon feems to have fought a remedy for this deprivation of domeftic fociety, in the company of his acquaintance, the circle of which was now very extensive. Among his more intimate companions at this time, are to be reckoned, Dr. Ba thurft, Dr. Hakefworth, Sir Joshua Reynolds; and Bennet Langton, Efq. and Topham Beauclerck, Efq. eldeft fon of Lord Sidney Beauclerck, young men of elegant manners, who conceived for him the most fincere veneration and esteem. Innumerable were the fcenes in which he was amufed by them, who, though their opinions and modes of life were different, formed an agreeable attachment.

Mr. Bofwell has given the following account of an adventure of Johnfon's, with his gay companions, which difplays the author of the Rambler in a new light, and

fhows that his conduct was not always fo folemn as his effays.

"One night when Beauclerck and Langton had fupped at a tavern in London, and fat till about three in the morning, it came into their heads to go and knock up Johnson, and fee if they could prevail on him to join them in a ramble. They rapped violently at the door of his chambers in the Temple, till, at last, he appeared in his fhirt, with his little black wig on the top of his head, instead of a night cap, and a poker in his hand; imagining, probably, that fome ruffians were coming to attack him. When he difcovered who they were, and was told their errand, he fmiled, and with great good humour, agreed to their propofal. "What is it you, ye dogs! I'll have a frifk with you." He was foon dreffed; and they fallied forth together into Govent-Garden, where the green grocers and fruiterers were begin

G

ning to arrange their hampers just come in from the country. Johnfon made fome attempts to help them; but the honeft gardeners ftared fo at his figure and manner, and odd interference, that he foon faw his fervices were not relished. They then repaired to one of the neighbouring taverns, and made a bowl of that liquor called Bishop, which Johnfon had always liked; while in joyous contempt of fleep, from which he had been roused, he repeated the feftive lines,

66

Short, O fhort then be thy reign,
And give us to the world again!

They did not ftay long, but walked down to the Thames, took a boat, and rowed to Billingfgate. Beauclerck and John-* fon were fo well pleased with their amusement, that they refolved to perfevere in diffipation for the reft of the day; but Langton deferted them, being engaged to breakfast with fome young ladies."

In the catalogue of Johnson's vifitants, given by his fervant, many are no doubt omitted; in particular, his humble friend Robert Levett, an obfcure practifer in phyfic amongst the lower people, with whom he had been acquainted from the year 1746. Such was his predilection för him, and fanciful estimation of his moderate abilities, that he confulted him in all that related to his health, and "made him fo neceffary to him, as hardly to be able to live without him." He now drew him into a clofer intimacy with him, and not long after, gave him an apartment in his houfe; of which he continued a conftant inmate during the remainder of his life. He waited upon him every morning through the whole courfe of his tedious breakfast, and was feen generally no more by him till midnight. He was of a ftrange grotefque appearance; ftiff and formal in his and feldom faid a word while

manner,

any

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