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mendation to your Lord, a quarterly allowance of ten pounds, the last of which, due July 26, he has not received he was in hourly hope of his remittance, and flattered himself that on October 26, he should have received the whole half year's bounty, when he was struck with the dreadful news of his benefactor's death.

66

May I presume to hope, that his want, his relation, and his merit, which excited his Lordship's charity, will continue to have the same effect upon those whom he has left behind; and that, though he has lost one friend, he may not yet be destitute. Your Ladyship's charity cannot easily be exerted where it is wanted more; and to a mind like yours, distress is a sufficient recommendation.

"I hope to be allowed the honour of being,

"Madam,

"Your Ladyship's

"Most humble Servant,

"Bolt-court, Fleet-street, London, Sept. 9, 1780.

"SAM. JOHNSON."

On his birth-day, Johnson has this note: "I am now beginning the seventy-second year of my life, with more strength of body and greater vigour of mind, than I think is common at that age." But still he complains of sleepless nights and idle days, and forgetfulness, or neglect of resolutions. He thus pathetically expresses

vol. iv. p. 177. His younger brother, Edmund Southwell, lived in intimacy with Johnson for many years. (See an account of him in Hawkins's Life of Johnson, p. 405.) He died in London, Nov. 22, 1772.

In opposition to the Knight's unfavourable representation of this gentleman, to whom I was indebted for my first introduction to Johnson, I take this opportunity to add, that he appeared to me a pious man, and was very fond of leading the conversation to religious subjects. MALONE.]

himself: "" Surely I shall not spend my whole life with my own total disapprobation.” 1

Mr. Macbean, whom I have mentioned more than once, as one of Johnson's humble friends, a deserving but unfortunate man, being now oppressed by age and poverty, Johnson solicited the Lord Chancellor Thurlow, to have him admitted into the Charter-house.2 I take the liberty to insert his Lordship's answer, as I am eager to embrace every occasion of augmenting the respectable notion which should ever be entertained of my illustrious friend:

66 SIR,

"TO DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON.

66

London, October 24, 1780. "I HAVE this moment received your letter dated the 19th, and returned from Bath.

"In the beginning of the summer I placed one in

I Prayers and Meditations, p. 185.

2 Mr. Alexander Macbean, on Lord Thurlow's nomination, was admitted into the Chartreux in April, 1781; on which occasion Dr. Johnson, with that benevolence by which he was uniformly actuated, wrote the following letter, which, for the sake of connexion, may properly be introduced here:

-66

"REV. SIR,

TO THE REV. DR. VYSE, AT LAMBETH.

"THE bearer is one of my old friends, a man of great learning whom the Chancellor has been pleased to nominate to the Chartreux. He attends his Grace the Archbishop, to take the oath required, and being a modest scholar, will escape embarrassment, if you are so kind as to introduce him, by which you will do a kindness to a man of great merit, and add another to those favours, which have already been conferred by you on,

"Sir,

Bolt-court, Fleet-street,

"April 10, 1781.

"Your most humble servant,

"SAM. JOHNSON." MALONE.]

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the Chartreux, without the sanction of a recommenda

tion so distinct and so authoritative as yours of Macbean; and I am afraid, that according to the establishment of the House, the opportunity of making the charity so good amends will not soon recur. But whenever a vacancy shall happen, if you'll favour me with notice of it, I will try to recommend him to the place, even though it should not be my turn to nominate. "I am, Sir, with great regard,

"Your most faithful

"And obedient servant,

"THURLOW."

"TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

"DEAR SIR,

"I AM sorry to write you a letter that will not please you, and yet it is at last what I resolve to do. This year must pass without an interview; the summer has been foolishly lost, like many other of my summers and winters. I hardly saw a green field, but staid in town to work, without working much.

"Mr. Thrale's loss of health has lost him the election; he is now going to Brighthelmstone, and expects me to go with him; and how long I shall stay, I cannot tell. I do not much like the place, but yet I shall go and stay while my stay is desired. We must, therefore, content ourselves with knowing what we know as well as man can know the mind of man, that we love one another, and that we wish each other's happiness, and that the lapse of a year cannot lessen our mutual kindness.

"I was pleased to be told that I accused Mrs. Boswell unjustly, in supposing that she bears me ill-will. I love you so much, that I would be glad to love all

that love you, and that you love; and I have love very ready for Mrs. Boswell, if she thinks it worthy of acceptance. I hope all the young ladies and gentlemen are well.

"I take a great liking to your brother. He tells me that his father received him kindly, but not fondly: however, you seem to have lived well enough at Auchinleck, while you staid. staid. Make your father as happy as you can.

Make

"You lately told me of your health: I can tell you in return, that my health has been for more than a year past, better than it has been for many years before. Perhaps it may please GOD to give us some time together before we are parted.

"Oct. 17, 1780.

"I am, dear Sir,

66

Yours, most affectionately,
"SAM. JOHNSON."

["TO THE REVEREND DR. VYSE, AT LAMBETH.

66 SIR,

"I HOPE you will forgive the liberty I take, in soliciting your interposition with his Grace the Archbishop my first petition was successful, and I therefore venture on a second.

"The matron of the Chartreux is about to resign her place, and Mrs. Desmoulins, a daughter of the late Dr. Swinfen,3 who was well known to your father, is desirous of succeeding her. She has been accustomed by keeping a boarding-school to the care of children, and I think is very likely to discharge her duty. She is in great distress, and therefore may properly receive the benefit of a charitable foundation. If you wish to see her, she will be willing to give an account of herself.

3 [See Vol. i. p. 49. MALONE.]

446

THE LIFE OF DR. JOHNSON.

[1780

"If you shall be pleased, Sir, to mention her favourably to his Grace, you will do a great act of kindness to,

Sir,

"Dec. 30, 1780.

"Your most obliged,

"And most humble Servant,
“SAM. JOHNSON."]

C. Baldwin, Printer, New Bridge-street, London.

END OF VOL. III.

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