第207章

By a letter from Sir Joshua Reynolds I was informed,that the Lord Chancellor had called on him,and acquainted him that the application had not been successful;but that his Lordship,after speaking highly in praise of Johnson,as a man who was an honour to his country,desired Sir Joshua to let him know,that on granting a mortgage of his pension,he should draw on his Lordship to the amount of five or six hundred pounds;and that his Lordship explained the meaning of the mortgage to be,that he wished the business to be conducted in such a manner,that Dr.Johnson should appear to be under the least possible obligation.Sir Joshua mentioned,that he had by the same post communicated all this to Dr.Johnson.

How Johnson was affected upon the occasion will appear from what he wrote to Sir Joshua Reynolds:--'Ashbourne,Sept.9.Many words I hope are not necessary between you and me,to convince you what gratitude is excited in my heart by the Chancellor's liberality,and your kind offices....

'I have enclosed a letter to the Chancellor,which,when you have read it,you will be pleased to seal with a head,or any other general seal,and convey it to him:had I sent it directly to him,I should have seemed to overlook the favour of your intervention.'

'TO THE LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR.

'MY LORD,--After a long and not inattentive observation of mankind,the generosity of your Lordship's offer raises in me not less wonder than gratitude.Bounty,so liberally bestowed,I should gladly receive,if my condition made it necessary;for,to such a mind,who would not be proud to own his obligations?But it has pleased GOD to restore me to so great a measure of health,that if I should now appropriate so much of a fortune destined to do good,I could not escape from myself the charge of advancing a false claim.My journey to the continent,though I once thought it necessary,was never much encouraged by my physicians;and I was very desirous that your Lordship should be told of it by Sir Joshua Reynolds,as an event very uncertain;for if I grew much better,Ishould not be willing,if much worse,not able,to migrate.Your Lordship was first solicited 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 refusal;yet,as I have had no long time to brood hope,and have not rioted in imaginary opulence,this cold reception has been scarce a disappointment;and,from your Lordship's kindness,I have received a benefit,which only men like you are able to bestow.I shall now live mihi carior,with a higher opinion of my own merit.I am,my Lord,your Lordship's most obliged,most grateful,and most humble servant,'September,1784.'

'SAM.JOHNSON.'

Upon this unexpected failure I abstain from presuming to make any remarks,or to offer any conjectures.

Let us now contemplate Johnson thirty years after the death of his wife,still retaining for her all the tenderness of affection.

'TO THE REVEREND MR.BAGSHAW,AT BROMLEY.

'SIR,--Perhaps you may remember,that in the year 1753,you committed to the ground my dear wife.I now entreat your permission to lay a stone upon her;and have sent the inion,that,if you find it proper,you may signify your allowance.

'You will do me a great favour by showing the place where she lies,that the stone may protect her remains.

'Mr.Ryland will wait on you for the inion,and procure it to be engraved.You will easily believe that I shrink from this mournful office.When it is done,if I have strength remaining,Iwill visit Bromley once again,and pay you part of the respect to which you have a right from,Reverend Sir,your most humble servant,'July 12,1784.'

'SAM.JOHNSON.'

Next day he set out on a jaunt to Staffordshire and Derbyshire,flattering himself that he might be in some degree relieved.

During his absence from London he kept up a correspondence with several of his friends,from which I shall select what appears to me proper for publication,without attending nicely to chronological order.

TO DR.BROCKLESBY,he writes,Ashbourne,Sept.9:--'Do you know the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire?And have you ever seen Chatsworth?I was at Chatsworth on Monday:I had indeed seen it before,but never when its owners were at home;I was very kindly received,and honestly pressed to stay:but I told them that a sick man is not a fit inmate of a great house.But I hope to go again some time.'

Sept.11.'I think nothing grows worse,but all rather better,except sleep,and that of late has been at its old pranks.Last evening,I felt what I had not known for a long time,an inclination to walk for amusement;I took a short walk,and came back again neither breathless nor fatigued.This has been a gloomy,frigid,ungenial summer,but of late it seems to mend;Ihear the heat sometimes mentioned,but I do not feel it:

"Praeterea minimus gelido jam in corpore sanguis Febre calet sola.--"I hope,however,with good help,to find means of supporting a winter at home,and to hear and tell at the Club what is doing,and what ought to be doing in the world.I have no company here,and shall naturally come home hungry for conversation.To wish you,dear Sir,more leisure,would not be kind;but what leisure you have,you must bestow upon me.'

Lichfield,Sept.29.'On one day I had three letters about the air-balloon:yours was far the best,and has enabled me to impart to my friends in the country an idea of this species of amusement.

In amusement,mere amusement,I am afraid it must end,for I do not find that its course can be directed so as that it should serve any purposes of communication;and it can give no new intelligence of the state of the air at different heights,till they have ascended above the height of mountains,which they seem never likely to do.