it was to lose a wife. I had almost broke my heart."*. Boswell. Such were Johnson's tender remembrances of his wife, that after her death, though he had a whole house at command, he would study nowhere but in a garret. Being asked the reason why he chose a situation so incommodious, he answered, "Because in that room only I never saw Mrs. Johnson."-George Steevens. Her wedding-ring, when she became his wife, was, after her death, preserved by him, as long as he lived, with an affectionate care, in a little round wooden box, in the inside of which he pasted a slip of paper, thus inscribed by him in fair characters, as follows: "Eheu! Eliz. Johnson, Mart. 17° 1752." -Boswell. He burned many letters during the last week, I am told; and those written by his mother drew from him a flood of tears when the paper they were written on was all consumed. Mr. Sastres saw him cast a melancholy look upon their ashes, which he took up and examined, to see if a word was still visible.-Mrs. Piozzi. I shall never forget the impression I felt in Dr. Johnson's favor the first time I was in his company, on his saying that, as he returned to his lodgings, at one or two o'clock in the morning, he often saw poor children asleep on thresholds and stalls, and that he used to put pennies into their hands to buy them a breakfast.-Miss Reynolds. *This was twenty-six years after his wife's death. I intended to set out for Scotland next morning;* but Sir Joshua cordially insisted that I should stay another day, that Johnson and I might dine with him, that we three might talk of his Italian tour, and, as Sir Joshua expressed himself, "have it all out." I hastened to Johnson, and was told by him that he was rather better to-day. Boswell: "I am very anxious about you, sir, and particularly that you should go to Italy for the winter, which I believe is your own wish." Johnson: "It is, sir." Boswell: "You have no objections, I presume, but the money it would require." Johnson: "Why, no, sir." Upon which I gave him a particular account of what had been done, and read to him the Lord Chancellor's letter. He listened with much attention, then warmly said, "This is taking prodigious pains about a man." "Oh, sir," said I, with most sincere affection, "your friends would do everything for you." He paused, grew more and more agitated, till tears started into his eyes, and he exclaimed, with fervent emotion, "God bless you all!" I was so affected that I also shed tears. After a short silence, he renewed and extended his grateful benediction: "God bless you all, for Jesus Christ's sake!" We both remained for some time unable to speak. He rose suddenly and quitted the room, quite melted in tenderness. He stayed but a short time, till he had recovered his firmness. Soon after he returned I left him, having first engaged him to dine at Sir Joshua Reynolds's next day. I never was again under that roof which I had so long reverenced.—Boswell. *This was in the spring of 1784, six months before Johnson's death. His friends were anxious that he should go abroad, hoping that his life might thus be prolonged; and a letter had been written to Thurlow, the Lord Chancellor, recommending an increase of Johnson's pension. To this letter Thurlow had given a favorable answer. AUTHORITY AND PREDOMINANCE. THAT superiority over his fellows which he maintained with so much dignity in his march through life was not assumed from vanity and ostentation, but was the natural and constant effect of those extraordinary powers of mind of which he could not but be conscious by comparison; the intellectual difference which in other cases of comparison of characters is often a matter of undecided contest being as clear in his case as the superiority of stature in some men above others. Johnson did not strut or stand on tiptoe; he only did not stoop. From his earliest years his superiority was perceived and acknowledged. He was from the beginning ȧvat avopuva king of men. His school-fellow, Mr. Hector, has obligingly furnished me with many particulars of his boyish days, and assured me that he never knew him corrected at school but for talking, and diverting other boys from their business. He seemed to learn by intuition; for, though indolence and procrastination were inherent in his constitution, whenever he made an exertion he did more than any one else. In short, he is a memorable instance of what has been often observed -that the boy is the man in miniature, and that the distinguishing characteristics of each individual are the same through the whole course of life. His favorites used to receive very liberal assistance from him; and such was the submission and deference with which he was treated, such the desire to obtain his regard, that three of the boys-of whom Mr. Hector was sometimes one-used to come in the morning as his humble attendants, and carry him to school. One in the middle stooped, while he sat upon his back, and one on each side supported him; and thus he was borne triumphant. Such a proof of the early predominance of intellectual vigor is very remarkable, and does honor to human nature. Talking to me once himself of his being much distinguished at school, he told me "they never thought to raise me by comparing me to any one; they never said, 'Johnson is as good a scholar as such a one;' but such a one is as good a scholar as Johnson;' and this was said but of one-but of Lowe; and I do not think he was as good a scholar."-Boswell. We dined at Sir Alexander Gordon's. The Provost, Professor Ross, Professor Dunbar, Professor Thomas Gordon, were there. After dinner came in Dr. Gerard, Professor Leslie, Professor Macleod. We had little or no conversation in the morning; now we were but barren. The professors seemed afraid to speak.-Boswell. We had a calm after the storm,* stayed the evening and supped, and were pleasant and gay. But Dr. Percy told me he was very uneasy at what had passed; for there was a gentleman there who was acquainted with the Northumberland family, to whom he hoped to have appeared more respectable, by showing how intimate he was with Dr. Johnson, and who might now, on the contrary, go away with an opinion to his disadvantage. He begged I would mention this to Dr. Johnson, which I afterward did. His observation upon it was, "This comes of stratagem. Had he told me that he wished to appear to advantage before that gentleman, he should have been at the top of the house all the time." He spoke of Dr. Percy in the handsomest manner. -Boswell. Dr. Johnson was again all himself; and so civil to me!— even admiring how I dress myself! Indeed, it is well I have so much of his favor; for it seems he always speaks his mind concerning the dress of ladies, and all ladies who are here. obey his injunctions implicitly, and alter whatever he disapproves. When Dr. Johnson was gone, Mrs. Thrale told me of my mother's being obliged to change her dress. "Now," said she, "Mrs. Burney had on a very pretty linen jacket and coat, and was going to church; but Dr. Johnson, who, I suppose, did not like her in a jacket, saw something was the matter, and so found fault with the linen; and he looked and peered, and then said, 'Why, madam, this won't do! you must not go to church so!' So away went poor Mrs. Burney and changed her gown! And when she had done so, he did not like it; but he did not know why; so he told her she should not wear a black hat and cloak in summer! Last time she came she was in a white cloak, and she told Dr. Johnson she had got her old white cloak scoured on purpose to oblige him! 'Scoured!' says he; 'ay-have you, madam?" So he seesawed; for he could not for shame find fault; but he did not seem to like the scouring."-Madame D'Arblay. On Wednesday, April 29th, I dined with him at Mr. Allan Ramsay's, where were Lord Binning, Dr. Robertson the historian, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and the Honorable Mrs. Boscawen, widow of the admiral. Before Johnson came, we talked a good deal of him. Ramsay said he had always found him a very polite man, and that he treated him with great respect, which he did very sincerely. I said I worshipped him. Robertson: "But some of you spoil him; you should not worship him; you should worship no man." Boswell: "I cannot help worshipping him, he is so much superior to other men." Robertson: "In criticism, and in wit and conversation, he is no doubt very excellent; but in other respects he is not above other men; he will believe anything, and will strenuously defend the most minute, circumstances connected with the Church of England." Boswell: "Believe me, Doctor, you are much mistaken as to this; for when you talk with him calmly in private, he is very liberal in his way of thinking." Robertson: “He and I have been always very gracious. The first time I met him was one evening at Strahan's, when he had just had an un |