第93章

Mr。MetcalfecouldnotbutbehighlypleasedthathiscompanywasthusvaluedbyJohnson，andhefrequentlyattendedhiminairings。

TheyalsowenttogethertoChichester，andtheyvisitedPetworth，andCowdry，thevenerableseatoftheLordsMontacute。’Sir，(saidJohnson，)Ishouldliketostayherefour-and-twentyhours。Weseeherehowourancestorslived。’

’TOSIRJOSHUAREYNOLDS。

’DEARSIR，——Iheardyesterdayofyourlatedisorder，andshouldthinkillofmyselfifIhadheardofitwithoutalarm。Iheardlikewiseofyourrecovery，whichIsincerelywishtobecompleteandpermanent。Yourcountryhasbeenindangeroflosingoneofitsbrightestornaments，andIoflosingoneofmyoldestandkindestfriends：butIhopeyouwillstilllivelong，forthehonourofthenation：andthatmoreenjoymentofyourelegance，yourintelligence，andyourbenevolence，isstillreservedfor，dearSir，yourmostaffectionate，&c。

’Brighthelmston，Nov。14，1782。’

’SAM。JOHNSON。’

1783：AETAT。74。]——In1783，hewasmoreseverelyafflictedthanever，aswillappearinthecourseofhiscorrespondence；butstillthesameardourforliterature，thesameconstantpiety，thesamekindnessforhisfriends，andthesamevivacitybothinconversationandwriting，distinguishedhim。

OnFriday，March21，havingarrivedinLondonthenightbefore，I

wasgladtofindhimatMrs。Thrale’shouse，inArgyll-street，appearancesoffriendshipbetweenthembeingstillkeptup。Iwasshewnintohisroom，andafterthefirstsalutationhesaid，’Iamgladyouarecome。Iamveryill。’Helookedpale，andwasdistressedwithadifficultyofbreathing；butafterthecommoninquiriesheassumedhisusualstronganimatedstyleofconversation。SeeingmenowforthefirsttimeasaLaird，orproprietorofland，hebeganthus：’Sir，thesuperiorityofacountry-gentlemanoverthepeopleuponhisestateisveryagreeable；andhewhosayshedoesnotfeelittobeagreeable，lies；foritmustbeagreeabletohaveacasualsuperiorityoverthosewhoarebynatureequalwithus。’BOSWELL。’Yet，Sir，weseegreatproprietorsoflandwhopreferlivinginLondon。’

JOHNSON。’Why，Sir，thepleasureoflivinginLondon，theintellectualsuperioritythatisenjoyedthere，maycounterbalancetheother。Besides，Sir，amanmaypreferthestateofthecountry-gentlemanuponthewhole，andyettheremayneverbeamomentwhenheiswillingtomakethechangetoquitLondonforit。’

HetalkedwithregretandindignationofthefactiousoppositiontoGovernmentatthistime，andimputeditinagreatmeasuretotheRevolution。’Sir，(saidhe，inalowvoice，havingcomenearertome，whilehisoldprejudicesseemedtobefermentinginhismind，)

thisHanoverianfamilyisisoleehere。Theyhavenofriends。NowtheStuartshadfriendswhostuckbythemsolateas1745。WhentherightoftheKingisnotreverenced，therewillnotbereverenceforthoseappointedbytheKing。’

HerepeatedtomehisversesonMr。Levett，withanemotionwhichgavethemfulleffect；andthenhewaspleasedtosay，’Youmustbeasmuchwithmeasyoucan。Youhavedonemegood。YoucannotthinkhowmuchbetterIamsinceyoucamein。

HesentamessagetoacquaintMrs。ThralethatIwasarrived。I

hadnotseenhersinceherhusband’sdeath。Shesoonappeared，andfavouredmewithaninvitationtostaytodinner，whichIaccepted。

Therewasnoothercompanybutherselfandthreeofherdaughters，Dr。Johnson，andI。Shetoosaid，shewasverygladIwascome，forshewasgoingtoBath，andshouldhavebeensorrytoleaveDr。

JohnsonbeforeIcame。Thisseemedtobeattentiveandkind；andI

whohadnotbeeninformedofanychange，imaginedalltobeaswellasformerly。Hewaslittleinclinedtotalkatdinner，andwenttosleepafterit；butwhenhejoinedusinthedrawing-room，heseemedrevived，andwasagainhimself。

Talkingofconversation，hesaid，’Theremust，inthefirstplace，beknowledge，theremustbematerials；inthesecondplace，theremustbeacommandofwords；inthethirdplace，theremustbeimagination，toplacethingsinsuchviewsastheyarenotc

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