第183章

The death of Mr.Thrale had made a very material alteration with respect to Johnson's reception in that family.The manly authority of the husband no longer curbed the lively exuberance of the lady;and as her vanity had been fully gratified,by having the Colossus of Literature attached to her for many years,she gradually became less assiduous to please him.Whether her attachment to him was already divided by another object,I am unable to ascertain;but it is plain that Johnson's penetration was alive to her neglect or forced attention;for on the 6th of October this year,we find him making a 'parting use of the library'at Streatham,and pronouncing a prayer,which he composed on leaving Mr.Thrale's family:--'Almighty God,Father of all mercy,help me by thy grace,that Imay,with humble and sincere thankfulness,remember the comforts and conveniences which I have enjoyed at this place;and that I may resign them with holy submission,equally trusting in thy protection when thou givest,and when thou takest away.Have mercy upon me,O Lord,have mercy upon me.

'To thy fatherly protection,O Lord,I commend this family.Bless,guide,and defend them,that they may so pass through this world,as finally to enjoy in thy presence everlasting happiness,for Jesus Christ's sake.Amen.'

One cannot read this prayer,without some emotions not very favourable to the lady whose conduct occasioned it.

In one of his memorandum-books I find,'Sunday,went to church at Streatham.Templo valedixi cam osculo.'

He met Mr.Philip Metcalfe often at Sir Joshua Reynolds's,and other places,and was a good deal with him at Brighthelmston this autumn,being pleased at once with his excellent table and animated conversation.Mr.Metcalfe shewed him great respect,and sent him a note that he might have the use of his carriage whenever he pleased.Johnson (3rd October,1782)returned this polite answer:--'Mr.Johnson is very much obliged by the kind offer of the carriage,but he has no desire of using Mr.Metcalfe's carriage,except when he can have the pleasure of Mr.Metcalfe's company.'

Mr.Metcalfe could not but be highly pleased that his company was thus valued by Johnson,and he frequently attended him in airings.

They also went together to Chichester,and they visited Petworth,and Cowdry,the venerable seat of the Lords Montacute.'Sir,(said Johnson,)I should like to stay here four-and-twenty hours.We see here how our ancestors lived.'

'TO SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS.

'DEAR SIR,--I heard yesterday of your late disorder,and should think ill of myself if I had heard of it without alarm.I heard likewise of your recovery,which I sincerely wish to be complete and permanent.Your country has been in danger of losing one of its brightest ornaments,and I of losing one of my oldest and kindest friends:but I hope you will still live long,for the honour of the nation:and that more enjoyment of your elegance,your intelligence,and your benevolence,is still reserved for,dear Sir,your most affectionate,&c.

'Brighthelmston,Nov.14,1782.'

'SAM.JOHNSON.'

1783:AETAT.74.]--In 1783,he was more severely afflicted than ever,as will appear in the course of his correspondence;but still the same ardour for literature,the same constant piety,the same kindness for his friends,and the same vivacity both in conversation and writing,distinguished him.

On Friday,March 21,having arrived in London the night before,Iwas glad to find him at Mrs.Thrale's house,in Argyll-street,appearances of friendship between them being still kept up.I was shewn into his room,and after the first salutation he said,'I am glad you are come.I am very ill.'He looked pale,and was distressed with a difficulty of breathing;but after the common inquiries he assumed his usual strong animated style of conversation.Seeing me now for the first time as a Laird,or proprietor of land,he began thus:'Sir,the superiority of a country-gentleman over the people upon his estate is very agreeable;and he who says he does not feel it to be agreeable,lies;for it must be agreeable to have a casual superiority over those who are by nature equal with us.'BOSWELL.'Yet,Sir,we see great proprietors of land who prefer living in London.'

JOHNSON.'Why,Sir,the pleasure of living in London,the intellectual superiority that is enjoyed there,may counterbalance the other.Besides,Sir,a man may prefer the state of the country-gentleman upon the whole,and yet there may never be a moment when he is willing to make the change to quit London for it.'

He talked with regret and indignation of the factious opposition to Government at this time,and imputed it in a great measure to the Revolution.'Sir,(said he,in a low voice,having come nearer to me,while his old prejudices seemed to be fermenting in his mind,)this Hanoverian family is isolee here.They have no friends.Now the Stuarts had friends who stuck by them so late as 1745.When the right of the King is not reverenced,there will not be reverence for those appointed by the King.'

He repeated to me his verses on Mr.Levett,with an emotion which gave them full effect;and then he was pleased to say,'You must be as much with me as you can.You have done me good.You cannot think how much better I am since you came in.

He sent a message to acquaint Mrs.Thrale that I was arrived.Ihad not seen her since her husband's death.She soon appeared,and favoured me with an invitation to stay to dinner,which I accepted.

There was no other company but herself and three of her daughters,Dr.Johnson,and I.She too said,she was very glad I was come,for she was going to Bath,and should have been sorry to leave Dr.

Johnson before I came.This seemed to be attentive and kind;and Iwho had not been informed of any change,imagined all to be as well as formerly.He was little inclined to talk at dinner,and went to sleep after it;but when he joined us in the drawing-room,he seemed revived,and was again himself.