Some other gentlemen came in.The conversation concerning the person whose character Dr.Johnson had treated so slightingly,as he did not know his merit,was resumed.Mrs.Thrale said,'You think so of him,Sir,because he is quiet,and does not exert himself with force.You'll be saying the same thing of Mr.there,who sits as quiet--.'This was not well-bred;and Johnson did not let it pass without correction.'Nay,Madam,what right have you to talk thus?Both Mr.and I have reason to take it ill.You may talk so of Mr.;but why do you make me do it?
Have I said anything against Mr.?You have set him,that Imight shoot him:but I have not shot him.'
One of the gentlemen said,he had seen three folio volumes of Dr.
Johnson's sayings collected by me.'I must put you right,Sir,(said I,)for I am very exact in authenticity.You could not see folio volumes,for I have none:you might have seen some in quarto and octavo.This is inattention which one should guard against.'
JOHNSON.'Sir,it is a want of concern about veracity.He does not know that he saw any volumes.If he had seen them he could have remembered their size.'
Mr.Thrale appeared very lethargick to-day.I saw him again on Monday evening,at which time he was not thought to be in immediate danger;but early in the morning of Wednesday,the 4th,he expired.
Johnson was in the house,and thus mentions the event:'I felt almost the last flutter of his pulse,and looked for the last time upon the face that for fifteen years had never been turned upon me but with respect and benignity.'Upon that day there was a Call of The LITERARY CLUB;but Johnson apologised for his absence by the following note:--'MR.JOHNSON knows that Sir Joshua Reynolds and the other gentlemen will excuse his incompliance with the call,when they are told that Mr.Thrale died this morning.--Wednesday.'
Mr.Thrale's death was a very essential loss to Johnson,who,although he did not foresee all that afterwards happened,was sufficiently convinced that the comforts which Mr.Thrale's family afforded him,would now in a great measure cease.He,however,continued to shew a kind attention to his widow and children as long as it was acceptable;and he took upon him,with a very earnest concern,the office of one of his executors,the importance of which seemed greater than usual to him,from his circumstances having been always such,that he had scarcely any share in the real business of life.His friends of THE CLUB were in hopes that Mr.
Thrale might have made a liberal provision for him for his life,which,as Mr.Thrale left no son,and a very large fortune,it would have been highly to his honour to have done;and,considering Dr.Johnson's age,could not have been of long duration;but he bequeathed him only two hundred pounds,which was the legacy given to each of his executors.I could not but be somewhat diverted by hearing Johnson talk in a pompous manner of his new office,and particularly of the concerns of the brewery,which it was at last resolved should be sold.Lord Lucan tells a very good story,which,if not precisely exact,is certainly characteristical:that when the sale of Thrale's brewery was going forward,Johnson appeared bustling about,with an ink-horn and pen in his button-hole,like an excise-man;and on being asked what he really considered to be the value of the property which was to be disposed of,answered,'We are not here to sell a parcel of boilers and vats,but the potentiality of growing rich,beyond the dreams of avarice.'
On Friday,April 6,he carried me to dine at a club,which,at his desire,had been lately formed at the Queen's Arms,in St.Paul's Church-yard.He told Mr.Hoole,that he wished to have a City Club,and asked him to collect one;but,said he,'Don't let them be PATRIOTS.'The company were to-day very sensible,well-behaved men.
On Friday,April 13,being Good-Friday,I went to St.Clement's church with him as usual.There I saw again his old fellow-collegian,Edwards,to whom I said,'I think,Sir,Dr.Johnson and you meet only at Church.'--'Sir,(said he,)it is the best place we can meet in,except Heaven,and I hope we shall meet there too.'
Dr.Johnson told me,that there was very little communication between Edwards and him,after their unexpected renewal of acquaintance.'But,(said he,smiling),he met me once,and said,"I am told you have written a very pretty book called The Rambler."I was unwilling that he should leave the world in total darkness,and sent him a set.'
Mr.Berrenger visited him to-day,and was very pleasing.We talked of an evening society for conversation at a house in town,of which we were all members,but of which Johnson said,'It will never do,Sir.There is nothing served about there,neither tea,nor coffee,nor lemonade,nor any thing whatever;and depend upon it,Sir,a man does not love to go to a place from whence he comes out exactly as he went in.'I endeavoured,for argument's sake,to maintain that men of learning and talents might have very good intellectual society,without the aid of any little gratifications of the senses.Berrenger joined with Johnson,and said,that without these any meeting would be dull and insipid.He would therefore have all the slight refreshments;nay,it would not be amiss to have some cold meat,and a bottle of wine upon a side-board.'Sir,(said Johnson to me,with an air of triumph,)Mr.Berrenger knows the world.Every body loves to have good things furnished to them without any trouble.I told Mrs.Thrale once,that as she did not choose to have card tables,she should have a profusion of the best sweetmeats,and she would be sure to have company enough come to her.'
On Sunday,April 15,being Easter-day,after solemn worship in St.
Paul's church,I found him alone;Dr.Scott of the Commons came in.
