The anxiety of his friends to preserve so estimable a life,as long as human means might be supposed to have influence,made them plan for him a retreat from the severity of a British winter,to the mild climate of Italy.This scheme was at last brought to a serious resolution at General Paoli's,where I had often talked of it.One essential matter,however,I understood was necessary to be previously settled,which was obtaining such an addition to his income,as would be sufficient to enable him to defray the expence in a manner becoming the first literary character of a great nation,and independent of all his other merits,the Authour of THEDICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.The person to whom I above all others thought I should apply to negociate this business,was the Lord Chancellor,because I knew that he highly valued Johnson,and that Johnson highly valued his Lordship;so that it was no degradation of my illustrious friend to solicit for him the favour of such a man.I have mentioned what Johnson said of him to me when he was at the bar;and after his Lordship was advanced to the seals,he said of him,'I would prepare myself for no man in England but Lord Thurlow.When I am to meet with him I should wish to know a day before.'How he would have prepared himself I cannot conjecture.Would he have selected certain topicks,and considered them in every view so as to be in readiness to argue them at all points?and what may we suppose those topicks to have been?I once started the curious inquiry to the great man who was the subject of this compliment:he smiled,but did not pursue it.
I first consulted with Sir Joshua Reynolds,who perfectly coincided in opinion with me;and I therefore,though personally very little known to his Lordship,wrote to him,stating the case,and requesting his good offices for Dr.Johnson.I mentioned that Iwas obliged to set out for Scotland early in the following week,so that if his Lordship should have any commands for me as to this pious negociation,he would be pleased to send them before that time;otherwise Sir Joshua Reynolds would give all attention to it.
This application was made not only without any suggestion on the part of Johnson himself,but was utterly unknown to him,nor had he the smallest suspicion of it.Any insinuations,therefore,which since his death have been thrown out,as if he had stooped to ask what was superfluous,are without any foundation.But,had he asked it,it would not have been superfluous;for though the money he had saved proved to be more than his friends imagined,or than Ibelieve he himself,in his carelessness concerning worldly matters,knew it to be,had he travelled upon the Continent,an augmentation of his income would by no means have been unnecessary.
On Thursday,June 24,I dined with him at Mr.Dilly's,where were the Rev.Mr.(now Dr.)Knox,master of Tunbridge-school,Mr.Smith,Vicar of Southill,Dr.Beattie,Mr.Pinkerton,authour of various literary performances,and the Rev.Dr.Mayo.At my desire old Mr.
Sheridan was invited,as I was earnest to have Johnson and him brought together again by chance,that a reconciliation might be effected.Mr.Sheridan happened to come early,and having learned that Dr.Johnson was to be there,went away;so I found,with sincere regret,that my friendly intentions were hopeless.Irecollect nothing that passed this day,except Johnson's quickness,who,when Dr.Beattie observed,as something remarkable which had happened to him,that he had chanced to see both No.1,and No.
1000,of the hackney-coaches,the first and the last;'Why,Sir,(said Johnson,)there is an equal chance for one's seeing those two numbers as any other two.'
On Friday,June 25,I dined with him at General Paoli's,where,he says in one of his letters to Mrs.Thrale,'I love to dine.'There was a variety of dishes much to his taste,of all which he seemed to me to eat so much,that I was afraid he might be hurt by it;and I whispered to the General my fear,and begged he might not press him.'Alas!(said the General,)see how very ill he looks;he can live but a very short time.Would you refuse any slight gratifications to a man under sentence of death?There is a humane custom in Italy,by which persons in that melancholy situation are indulged with having whatever they like best to eat and drink,even with expensive delicacies.'
On Sunday,June 27,I found him rather better.I mentioned to him a young man who was going to Jamaica with his wife and children,in expectation of being provided for by two of her brothers settled in that island,one a clergyman,and the other a physician.JOHNSON.
'It is a wild scheme,Sir,unless he has a positive and deliberate invitation.There was a poor girl,who used to come about me,who had a cousin in Barbadoes,that,in a letter to her,expressed a wish she should come out to that Island,and expatiated on the comforts and happiness of her situation.The poor girl went out:
her cousin was much surprised,and asked her how she could think of coming."Because,(said she,)you invited me.""Not I,"answered the cousin.The letter was then produced."I see it is true,(said she,)that I did invite you:but I did not think you would come."They lodged her in an out-house,where she passed her time miserably;and as soon as she had an opportunity she returned to England.Always tell this,when you hear of people going abroad to relations,upon a notion of being well received.In the case which you mention,it is probable the clergyman spends all he gets,and the physician does not know how much he is to get.'
