' that your lordship should be told of it by Sir ( Jofhua Reynolds, as an event very uncertain, for, if I grew much better, I fhould not be willing, if much worfe, I fhould not be able, to migrate.• Your lordship was first folicited without my knowledge; but, when I was told, that you were pleased to honour me with your patronage, I did not expect to hear of a refufal; yet, as I have had no long time to brood hope, and have not rioted in imaginary opulence, this cold reception has been fcarce a disappointment; and, from your lordship's kindness, I have received a benefit, which only men like you are able to bestow. I fhall now live mihi carior, with a higher opinion of my own merit, I am, my lord, Sept. 1784. Your lordship's most obliged, • Moft grateful, And most humble fervant, SAM. JOHNSON.' An incorrect copy of the above letter, though of a private nature, found its way into the public papers in this manner, It was given to Sir Joshua Reynolds, unfealed, to be delivered to lord Thurlow. Sir Joshua, looking upon it as a handsome teftimony of gratitude, and, as it related to a tranfaction in which he had concerned himself, took a copy of it, and fhewed it to a few of his friends. Among thefe, was a lady of quality, who, having heard it red, the next day defired to be gratified with the perufal of it at home the ufe fhe made of this favour was, the copying and fending it to one of the news-papers, * Among the corruptions in the printed copies, are the words, you was pleafed, for you were pleafed, and refled for ricted. whence whence it was taken and inferted in others, as alfo in the Gentleman's and many other Magazines. Johnfon, upon being told that it was in print, exclaimed in my hearing I am betrayed,'-but foon after forgot, as he was ever ready to do all real or fuppofed injuries, the error that made the publication possible. Dr. Brocklesby was one of those physicians who would not encourage Johnson in a wifh to vifit the continent; nevertheless, to confole him for his late difappointment, and that the fuppofed narrowness of his circumftances might be no hindrance to fuch a defign, he made him a voluntary offer of 100l. a year, payable quarterly, towards his fupport abroad, but could not prevail on him to accept it*. Actuated by a like fpirit of beneficence, the fame perfon, by his intereft with his friends, and in conjunction with that chriftianlike jew, Sampfon Gideon, procured a contribution, amounting to upwards of 100l. a year, for the fupport, during the remaining years of his life, of old captain Coram, the original mover in the establishment of the Foundling-hofpital. Upon Dr. Brocklefby's applying to the good old man, to know whether his fetting on foot a fubfcription for his benefit would not offend him, he received this noble anfwer:- - I have not wafted the little wealth, of which I was formerly poffeffed, in self-indulgence, or vain expences, and am not ashamed to confefs, that in this my old age I am poor.'--Upon the death of Coram, this penfion was continued to Leveridge, a worn-out finger at the theatres, who, at the age of ninety, had scarce any other profpect than that of a parish fubfiftence, Those writers on morality, fuch as Hobbes and Mandeville, who refolve all beneficence into felf-love, would be hard put to it to reconcile fuch acts as thefe with their tenets. They would fay, that the motive to them was a defire to get rid of those fenfations which the diftreffes of others are apt to excite, and, by confequence, that the exertions of beneficence are felfish. Never confidering that, before these fenfations can arife, a man must be kindly affectioned to his fellow-creatures, and poffefs that benevolence which the objection fuppofes to be wanting. His excurfion to Afhbourn was lefs beneficial than he hoped it would be: his diforders began to return, and he wanted company and amufement. During his ftay there, he compofed fundry prayers, adapted to the state of his body and mind; and tranflated from Horace, lib. IV. the ode, Diffugêre nives, redeunt jam gramina campis,' in the words following: The fnow, diffolv'd, no more is seen; The fprightly nymph and naked grace Rough winter's blafts to fpring give way; Who knows if Jove, who counts our score, с Or eloquence, or fplendid birth, Or virtue fhall replace on earth : Hippolytus Hippolytus unjustly slain, Diana calls to life in vain ; Nor can the might of Thefeus rend The chains of hell that hold his friend.' Nov. 1784. In his return to London, he stopped at Lichfield, and from thence wrote to me feveral letters, that served but to prepare me for meeting him in a worse ftate of health than I had ever feen him in. The concluding paragraph of the laft of them is as follows: I am relapfing into the dropfy very fast, and shall make fuch hafte to town that it will be useless to write to me; but when I come, let me have the benefit of your advice, and the confolation of your 'company.' [dated Nov. 7, 1784.] After about a fortnight's ftay there, he took his leave of that city, and of Mrs. Porter, whom he never afterwards faw, and arrived in town on the fixteenth day of November. After the declaration he had made of his intention to provide for his fervant Frank, and before his going into the country, I had frequently preffed him to make a will, and had gone fo far as to make a draft of one, with blanks for the names of the executors and refiduary legatee, and directing in what manner it was to be executed and attefted; but he was exceedingly averfe to this bufinefs; and, while he was in Derbyshire, I repeated my folicitations, for this purpose, by letters. When he arrived in town, he had done nothing in it, and, to what I formerly faid, I now added, that he had never mentioned to me the difpofal of the refidue of his eftate, which, after after the purchase of an annuity for Frank, I found would be fomething confiderable, and that he would do well to bequeath it to his relations. His answer was, I care not what becomes of the refidue.’—— A few days after, it appeared that he had executed the draft, the blanks remaining, with all the folemnities of a real will. I could get him no farther, and thus, for fome time, the matter refted. He had scarce arrived in town, before it was found to be too true, that he was relapfing into a dropfy; and farther, that he was at times grievoufly afflicted with an asthma. Under an apprehenfion that his end was approaching, he enquired of Dr. Brocklesby, with great earneftness indeed, how long he might probably live, but could obtain no other than unfatisfactory answers: and, at the fame time, if I remember right, under a feeming great preffure of mind, he thus addreffed him, in the words of Shakespeare: Canft thou not minifter to a mind difeas'd; MACBETH. To which the doctor, who was nearly as well red in the above author as himself, readily replied, Therein the patient • Muft minifter unto himself.' Upon which Johnson exclaimed - Well applied :that's more than poetically true.' He |