given to Mr Boswell, by Francis Barber, * his faithful negro-servant, who came into his family about a fortnight after the dismal event.

"He was in great affliction. Miss Williams was then living in his house, which was in Gough-square. He was busy with his Dictionary; Mr Shiels, and some others of the gentlemen who had formerly written for him, used to come about him. He had then little for himself; but frequently sent money to

He was born in Jamaica, and brought to England in 1750, by Colonel Bathurst, father of Johnson's friend, Dr Bathurst. Upon the death of the Colonel, who left his affairs in total ruin, he went to live with his son, who willingly parted with him to Johnson. In 1758, upon some difference with his master, he went and served an apothecary in Cheapside, but at the end of two years returned, and was taken again into his service. He placed him at a school at Bishops-Stortford, and kept him there five years, that he might have the advantage of some learning. He married a white woman, who, Mrs Piozzi says, "was eminently pretty." He was a great favourite with his master; but it has been supposed, that he was scarcely so much the object of Johnson's personal kindness, as the representative of Dr Bathurst; for whose sake he would have loved any body, or any thing..

Mr Shiels, when in distress. The friends. who visited him at that time were chiefly Dr Bathurst, and Mr Diamond, an apothecary in Cork-street, Burlington-gardens, with whom he and Miss 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 also Mr Cave, Dr Hawkesworth, Mr Ryland, merchant on Tower-hill, Mrs Masters, the poetess, who lived with Mr Cave, Miss Carter, and sometimes Mrs Macaulay; also Mrs Gardiner, wife of a tallow-chandler in Snowhill, not in the learned way, but a worthy good woman; Mr Reynolds; Mr Millar, Mr Dodsley, Mr Bouquet, and Mr Payne, booksellers; Mr Strahan the printer; the Earl of Orrery, Lord Southwell, * Mr Garrick."

In the catalogue of Johnson's visitants, given by his servant, many are no doubt omitted; in

*This is believed to be a mistake. He was intimate with the Hon. Mr Southwell, brother of a lord of that title, an elderly gentleman, who had a literary taste. BISHOP PERCY.

particular, his humble friend Robert Levett, an obscure practiser in physic amongst the lower people, with whom he had been acquainted from the year 1746. Such was his predilection for him, and fanciful estimation of his moderate abilities, that he consulted him in all that related to his health, and "made him so necessary to him, as hardly to be able to live without him." He now drew him into a closer intimacy with him, and not long after gave him an apartment in his house; of which he continued a constant inmate during the remainder of his life. He waited upon him every morning, through the whole course of his tedious breakfast, and was seen generally no more by him till midnight. He was of a strange grotesque appearance; stiff and formal in his manner, and seldom said a word while any company was present. * He married, when he was near sixty, a street

This is misrepresented. Levett was a modest reserved man; humble and unaffected; ready to execute any commission for Johnson; and grateful for his patronage. BISHOP PERCY.

walker, who persuaded him that she was a woman of family and fortune. His character was rendered valuable by repeated proofs of honesty, tenderness, and gratitude to his benefactor, as well as by an unceasing diligence in his profession. His single failing was an occasional departure from sobriety.

In the state of emptiness and desolation, which left him nothing to exercise fortitude or flatter hope, he sought a remedy for the irreparable deprivation of domestic society in the company of his acquaintance; the circle of which was now enlarged by the general admiration that followed the circulation of his Rambler, collected into volumes.

*

In the accession to the number of his acquaintance at this time, are to be reckoned Sir Joshua Reynolds and Mr Bennet Langton, young men of elegant manners, and of the most unexceptionable moral and reli

* He received the honour of knighthood from his present Majesty, soon after his nomination to the office of President of the Royal Academy, instituted in 1768.

gious character, who conceived for him the most sincere veneration and esteem. His acquaintance with Sir Joshua Reynolds, the most accomplished artist which this country has produced, commenced in 1752, soon after his settlement in London, and was productive of the most affectionate and permanent friendship. Mr Langton, of Langton, in Lincolnshire, descended of an ancient and most respectable family, solicited his acquaintance soon after the conclusion of The Rambler; and was introduced to him by Mr Levett; who readily obtained his permission to bring him to Gough-square; as, indeed, he had no shyness, being always accessible, and even desirous to see persons properly recommended, in his morning circle of company.

"Mr Langton," as Mr Boswell relates, "was exceedingly surprised when the sage first appeared. He had not received the smallest information of his figure, dress, or manner. From perusing his writings, he fancied he should see a decent, well dressed, in short, a remarkably decorous philosopher: in