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LETTER LV.

To Mr. L. C.

[Extract.]

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Broad-Hembury, Feb. 13, 1775

T is Dr. Samuel Johnfon, whom lord Chesterfield terms "a refpectable Hottentot:" and whom his lordship, by a caricature abundantly too fevere and over-charged, reprefents as the living effence of aukwardness, and ill-breeding. I can testify, upon my own knowledge, that the fhades are too deepened, and the lines too diftorted. But the doctor is pretty even, it feems, with the noble defamer: and ftyles thofe letters, "A fyftem of morals for a whore, and a system of manners for a dancing-master.” I totally agree with the doctor, as to the morals: and partly agree with him, as to the manners. Seriously, poor Mr. Phil. Stanhope was greatly to be pitied, for falling under the management of fuch a father: a father, who was at once capable of guiding a fon into the ruinous paths of vice; and of pretending, at other times, to give him a few fqueamifh cautions against it. Like fome hypocritical prostitute, who entices with an air of affected modefty; and affumes that air of modefty, only to render her enticements the more effectual. Moreover, after all his lordship's attention to the "graces" of his difciple; the poor young gentleman lived and died almoft as great a ftranger to the graces of politenefs, as to thofe of the Holy Spirit. So that the difappointed father had the mortification of perceiving, that he had only been raining upon a rock. Few men of education and high connection were ever more clumfy and ungainly in their devoir, than Mr. Stanhope.

I take the true original of lord Chesterfield's dif guft against Dr. J to have been, the doctor's

having too much Chriffianity for his lordship's taste. Not but what Johnfon has, on fome occafions, a great deal of pofitivenefs about him: and lord C was fo much of the fine gentleman, as to think, that nothing, either in religion or philofophy, was worth contending for, in oppofition to whatever genteel company a perfon might happen to be with. It would be committing an act of hutility "on the graces," were a man not to fwim implicitly with the current, whether good or bad. Johnson, I believe, was never guilty, fo much as once in his life, of fuch mean, cowardly diffimulation. And I honour him for it. If he likes his company, no man is more affable and communicative. If he meets with a coxcomb, he is fure of taking him down without mercy. Or, if people of fenle affront him, he difcovers very great and quick fenfibility, and generally makes them pay dear for their temerity: for his reproofs are weighty with fentiment, and his repartees cuttingly ímart. It must have been pleasant, to have feen him and lord Chesterfield together.

The fmooth diffimulation of the latter, extended, in fome measure, even to me. The year after I was in orders (viz. 1763), I asked his lordflip for a fcarf. "I am extremely forry, fir," replied he, "that you did not mention it early enough, Had you asked me two days fooner a fcarf thould have been at your fervice: but, no longer ago than yesterday, I gave away my only vacant one." I anfwered, that I fhould be glad to hope for the honour of the next that fell. He replied, "The very next is already promised: but you shall certainly have the next after that." You can difcern, without my pointing it out, the flat felf-contradiction of thefe two plaufible fpeeches.-I never afked him again but looked upon him, as a finished courtier, from that day forward. When I was a boy, he used to give me a guinea now and then and generally prefaced his donation (which to me, was then a ca

pital fum) with fome fuch proper advice as this "Now, do not buy too many apples, or nuts, or oranges, to make yourself fick." He certainly had a great fund of good nature, at bottom: though it was half fmothered and corrupted by art and fineffe.

Have you read Mrs. Macaulay's Addrefs to the People? I am greatly pleafed with the ftrength of fenfe, which appears in that concife, but folid performance. Alas, too folid! Would to God, that the facts, which it cenfures, were ill founded. But his Providence governs and orders all. No thanks to them, that they are, involuntarily and unknowingly, accomplishing the decree of heaven. "Leaches," as a good man fomewhere obferves, "when they draw blood of a patient, do it to gratify themfelves: they know nothing of the wife end, for which the phyfician ordered them to be applied."

The mention of my valuable friend, Mrs. Macaulay, reminds me of the aforefaid Dr. Johnson: whofe high principles, both political and ecclefiaftical, are very different from thofe of the fair hiftorian. A few years ago, Mrs. M. and the doctor (who never had a very cordial eftcem for each other) met at the house of a third perfon, who had invited. them to spend the day. Before dinner, the converfation turned on the nature of civil government. Johnfon, as ufual, declared, in very ftrong terms, for monarchy. Mrs. M. for a republic. Some fparring paft on both fides: and Johnson happening to cite fome paffage of Scripture, which he thought fpoke in favour of his own fyftem; Mrs. M. undertook him on the fcriptural fcore, and (as I was told, for I was not prefent) was rather more potent and pertinent, in her quotations, than he. Johnfon, who does not eafily digeft contradiction, grew rather four: and he well knows, that he acquits himfelf better in a political, an hiftoric, or a philofophic war, than in an holy one. The annunciation of

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dinner occafioned a truce to debate. tor, with more ill manners than I ever heard authentically placed to his account, except in this inftance, took occafion, when the company were all feated at table, to renew hoftilities with his amiable antagonist. Mrs. M's. footman was ftanding, according to custom, at the back of his lady's chair; when Johnfon addreffed him thus: "Henry, what makes you ftand? Sit down. Sit down. Take your place at table with the best of us. We are all Republicans, Henry. There's no diftinction here. The rights of human nature are equal. Your mistress

will not be angry, at your afferting your privilege of peerage. We are all on a level. Do, take your chair, and fit down." This was very indelicate, and rude. Nor was it arguing fairly: for a master or mistress (let the natural rights of mankind be, originally, ever fo equal) has not only a just claim to fuperiority, but a title to the fervices of every perfon, who, by voluntary ftipulation, engages to render thofe fervices for a confideration agreed upon. Mrs. Macaulay, it feems, coloured a little, and drew up her head, but made no anfwer. If I had been there, I fhould not have let the doctor off fo eafily, for this favage piece of fpurious wit. It is true, his great parts are entitled to proper refpect: but, as Mrs. Macaulay was obferving to me, when fhe was laft in Devonshire, with reference to this very doctor Johnson, "A learned man is not fo miraculous a phenomenon in this kingdom, that he fhould expect to be honoured with divine worship." Though, it must be owned, there are very few Johnfon's, in. any kingdom, or in any age.

It is, however, this great man's foible, to look for more homage and attention, than every body will give him. How little he brooks oppofition, may be inferred from the droll (but which might have been a very ferious) adventure, between him and Ofborne, the Lincoln's Inn bookfeller. Ofborne called upon

him

him one morning, foon after the publication of his Dictionary. The particulars of the converfation I have forgot: but, in the course of it, fome reference was had to a paffage in that work. The doctor was for confulting the particular place itfelf: and, afcending a fet of moveable fteps, reaching down his Dictionary from one of the higher-moft fhelves, while Johnfon was thus mounted, and holding the Dictionary in his hands, Ofborne, who was ftanding beneath, happened to fay fome faucy thing that the doctor did not relifh: on which, without farther ceremony, he hurled the mafly folio at the poor bookfeller's head, who fell to the floor with the blow, but foon recovered his feet again. "An im

pertinent puppy;" faid Johnfon to him, "I will teach you to behave with infolence to me; I will." But, furely, this was not acting very philofophically.

One more anecdote, while my hand is in and then I will release you. I knew this Ofborne; and, by the way, a very refpectable man he was. In the fpring of 1762, a month or two before I took deacon's orders, I was cheapening fome books of him. After that bufinefs was over, he took me to the fartheft end of his long fhop, and, in a low voice, faid thus: " Sir, you will foon be ordained. I suppose, you have not laid in a very great ftock of Sermons. I can fupply you with as many fetts as you pleafe. All originals: very excellent ones: and they will come for a trifle.' My answer was, "I certainly fhall never be a cuftomer to you, in that way: for I am of opinion, that the man, who cannot or will not make his own Sermons, is quite unfit to wear the gown. How could you think of my buying ready made Sermons? I would much fooner, if I muft do one or the other, buy ready-made cloaths.” His answer fhocked me: "Nay, young gentleman, do not be surprised at my offering you ready-made Sermons: for, I affure you, I have fold ready-made Sermons to many a bishop in my time." My reply

was:

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