savage, he never came into suspicious company without his spear in his hand and his bow and quiver at his back.

In conclusion, Johnson's era was not wanting in men to be distinguished for their talents; yet if one was to be selected out as the first great literary character of the time, I believe all voices would concur in naming him. Let me

here insert the following lines, descriptive of his charac

ter:

ON SAMUEL JOHNSON.

Herculean strength and a Stentorian voice,
Of wit, a fund, of words a countless choice:
In learning rather various than profound,
In truth intrepid, in religion sound:
A trembling form and a distorted sight,
But firm in judgment and in genius bright;
In controversy seldom known to spare,
But humble as the publican in prayer;
To more than merited his kindness, kind,
And, though in manners harsh, of friendly mind,
Deep tinged with melancholy's blackest shade,
And, though prepared to die, of death afraid-
Such JOHNSON was: of him with justice vain,
When will this nation see his like again?

PART VIII.

ANECDOTES BY MR. CRADOCK. (*)

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359. "Edipus."

THE first time I dined in company with Dr. Johnson was at T. Davies's, Russell Street, Covent Garden, as mentioned by Mr. Boswell, in his Life of Johnson. On mentioning my engagement previously to a friend, he said, "Do you wish to be well with Johnson?" "To be sure, sir,” I replied, or I should not have taken any pains to have been introduced into his company." "Why then, sir," says he, "let me offer you some advice: you must not leave him soon after dinner to go to the play; during dinner he will be rather silent-it is a very serious business with him; between six and seven he will look about him, and see who remains, and, if he then at all likes the party, he will be very civil and communicative." He exactly fulfilled what my friend had prophesied. Mrs. Davies did the honours of the table: she was a favourite with Johnson, who sat betwixt her and Dr. Harwood; I sat next, below, to Mr. Boswell opposite. Nobody could bring Johnson forward more civilly or properly than Davies. The subject of conver

(*) [From Mr. Cradock's Memoirs. These anecdotes are certainly very loose and inaccurate; but, as they have been republished in the Gentleman's Magazine for January, 1828, "with some corrections and additions from the author's MS.," I think it right to notice them; and, as they profess to be there enlarged from the MS., I copy this latter version, which differs, in some points, from the Memoirs.-C.]

sation turned upon the tragedy of "Edipus."(*) This was particularly interesting to me, as I was then employed in endeavouring to make such alterations in Dryden's play, as to make it suitable to a revival at Drury Lane Theatre. Johnson did not seem to think favourably of it; but I ventured to plead, that Sophocles wrote it expressly for the theatre, at the public cost, and that it was one of the most celebrated dramas of all antiquity. Johnson said, "Edipus was a poor miserable man, subjected to the greatest distress, without any degree of culpability of his own." I urged, that Aristotle, as well as most of the Greek poets, were partial to this character; that Addison considered that, as terror and pity were particularly excited, he was the properest here Johnson suddenly becoming loud, I paused, and rather apologised that it might not become me, perhaps, too strongly to contradict Dr. Johnson. Nay, sir," replied he, hastily, "if I had not wished to have heard your arguments, I should not have disputed with you at all." All went on quite pleasantly afterwards. We sat late, and something being mentioned about my going to Bath, when taking leave, Johnson very graciously said, "I should have a pleasure in meeting you there." Either Boswell or Davies immediately whispered to me, "You're landed."

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360. Garrick.-Burke.-Goldsmith.

66

The next time I had the pleasure of meeting him was at the Literary Club(†) dinner at the coffee-house in St. James's Street, to which I was introduced by my partial friend, Dr. Percy. Johnson that day was not in very good humour. We rather waited for dinner. Garrick came late, and apologised that he had been to the House of Lords, and Lord Camden insisted on conveying him in his

(*) [Boswell says it turned on Aristotle's opinion of the Greek tragedy in general; which may, however, have led to the subject of Edipus, though he does not notice it.-C.]

(†) [Here seems to be a mistake. No stranger is ever invited to the Club. It is probable that Mr. Cradock mistook an occasional meeting at the St. James's coffee-house (such a one did really produce "Retaliation") for a meeting of the Club. Mr. Colman, in his "Random Records," makes the same mistake, and wonders at finding noticed in "Retaliation" persons who did not belong to the Club.-C.]

carriage: Johnson said nothing, but he looked a volume. The party was numerous. I sat next Mr. Burke at dinner. There was a beef-steak pie placed just before us; and I remarked to Mr. Burke that something smelt very disagreeable, and looked to see if there was not a dog under the table. Burke, with great good humour, said, “I believe, sir, I can tell you what is the cause; it is some of my country butter in the crust that smells so disagreeably." Dr. Johnson just at that time, sitting opposite, desired one of us to send him some of the beef-steak pie. We sent but little, which he soon despatched, and then returned his plate for more. Johnson particularly disliked that any notice should be taken of what he eat, but Burke ventured to say he was glad to find that Dr. Johnson was anywise able to relish the beef-steak pie. Johnson, not perceiving what he alluded to, hastily exclaimed, "Sir, there is a time of life when a man requires the repairs of the table!" The company rather talked for victory than social intercourse. I think it was in consequence of what passed that evening, that Dr. Goldsmith wrote his "Retaliation." Mr. Richard Burke (*) was present, talked most, and seemed to be the most free and easy of the company. I had never met him before. Burke seemed desirous of bringing his relative forward. In Mr. Chalmers's account of Goldsmith, different sorts of liquor are offered as appropriate to each guest. To the two Burkes ale from Wicklow, and wine from Ferney to me: my name is in italics, as supposing I am a wine-bibber; but the author's allusion to the wines of Ferney was meant for me, I rather think, from my having taken a plan of a tragedy from Voltaire.

361. Mrs. Percy.-Easton Mauduit.

Mrs. Percy, afterwards nurse to the Duke of Kent, at Buckingham House, told me that Johnson once stayed near a month with them at their dull parsonage at Easton Mauduit; (†) that Dr. Percy looked out all sorts of books to be ready for his amusement after breakfast, and that

(*) [Mr. Richard Burke, collector, of Grenada, the brother, not the son of Mr. Burke.-C.]

(†) [In the summer of 1764, Johnson paid a visit to Dr. Percy at his vicarage in Easton Mauduit, and spent parts of the months of June, July, and August with him.]

Johnson was so attentive and polite to her, that, when Dr. Percy mentioned the literature prepared in the study, he said, "No, sir, I shall first wait upon Mrs. Percy to feed the ducks." But those halcyon days were about to change, not as to Mrs. Percy, for to the last she remained a favourite with him.

362. Dr. Percy's Charity Sermon.—“The Idler."

I happened to be in London once when Dr. Percy returned from Northumberland, and found that he was expected to preach a charity sermon almost immediately. This had escaped his memory; and he said, that "though much fatigued, he had been obliged to sit up very late to furnish out something from former discourses; but suddenly recollecting that Johnson's fourth Idler' (*) was exactly suited to his purpose, he had freely engrafted the greatest part of it." He preached, and his discourse was much admired; but being requested to print it, he most strenuously opposed the honour intended him, till he was assured by the governors, that it was absolutely necessary, as the annual contributions greatly depended on the account that was given in the appendix. In this dilemma, he earnestly requested that I would call upon Dr. Johnson, and state particulars. I assented, and endeavoured to introduce the subject with all due solemnity; but Johnson was highly diverted with his recital, and, laughing, said, Pray, sir, give my kind respects to Dr. Percy, and tell him, I desire he will do whatever he pleases in regard to my Idler;' it is entirely at his service."

66

363. Gibbon.

But these days of friendly communication were, from various causes, speedily to pass away, and worse than indifference to succeed: for, one morning Dr. Percy said to Mr. Cradock, "I have not seen Dr. Johnson for a long time. I believe I must just call upon him, and greatly wish that you would accompany me. I intend," said he, "to tease him a little about Gibbon's pamphlet." "I hope not, Dr. Percy," was my reply. "Indeed I shall, for I have a great pleasure in combating his narrow pre

(*) [On Charities and Hospitals.]