’DEARSIR，——WhatcanbethereasonthatIhearnothingfromyou？I
　　hopenothingdisablesyoufromwriting。WhatIhaveseen，andwhatIhavefelt，givesmereasontofeareverything。Donotomitgivingmethecomfortofknowing，thatafterallmylossesIhaveyetafriendleft。
　　’Iwanteverycomfort。Mylifeisverysolitaryandverycheerless。ThoughithaspleasedGODwonderfullytodelivermefromthedropsy，Iamyetveryweak，andhavenotpassedthedoorsincethe13thofDecember。Ihopeforsomehelpfromwarmweather，whichwillsurelycomeintime。
　　’Icouldnothavetheconsentofthephysicianstogotochurchyesterday；Ithereforereceivedtheholysacramentathome，intheroomwhereIcommunicatedwithdearMrs。Williams，alittlebeforeherdeath。O!myfriend，theapproachofdeathisverydreadful。
　　IamafraidtothinkonthatwhichIknowIcannotavoid。Itisvaintolookroundandroundforthathelpwhichcannotbehad。
　　Yetwehopeandhope，andfancythathewhohaslivedto-daymayliveto-morrow。ButletuslearntoderiveourhopeonlyfromGOD。
　　’Inthemeantime，letusbekindtooneanother。IhavenofriendnowlivingbutyouandMr。Hector，thatwasthefriendofmyyouth。
　　Donotneglect，dearSir，yoursaffectionately，’London，Easter-Monday，April12，1784。’
　　’SAM。JOHNSON。’
　　Whatfollowsisabeautifulspecimenofhisgentlenessandcomplacencytoayoungladyhisgod-child，oneofthedaughtersofhisfriendMr。Langton，thenIthinkinherseventhyear。Hetookthetroubletowriteitinalargeroundhand，nearlyresemblingprintedcharacters，thatshemighthavethesatisfactionofreadingitherself。Theoriginalliesbeforeme，butshallbefaithfullyrestoredtoher；andIdaresaywillbepreservedbyherasajewelaslongasshelives。
　　’TOMISSJANELANGTON，INROCHESTER，KENT。
　　’MYDEARESTMISSJENNY，——Iamsorrythatyourprettyletterhasbeensolongwithoutbeinganswered；but，whenIamnotprettywell，Idonotalwayswriteplainenoughforyoungladies。Iamglad，mydear，toseethatyouwritesowell，andhopethatyoumindyourpen，yourbook，andyourneedle，fortheyareallnecessary。Yourbookswillgiveyouknowledge，andmakeyourespected；andyourneedlewillfindyouusefulemploymentwhenyoudonotcaretoread。Whenyouarealittleolder，Ihopeyouwillbeverydiligentinlearningarithmetick，and，aboveall，thatthroughyourwholelifeyouwillcarefullysayyourprayers，andreadyourBible。Iam，mydear，yourmosthumbleservant，’May10，1784。’
　　’SAM。JOHNSON。’
　　OnWednesday，May5，IarrivedinLondon，andnextmorninghadthepleasuretofindDr。Johnsongreatlyrecovered。Ibutjustsawhim；foracoachwaswaitingtocarryhimtoIslington，tothehouseofhisfriendtheReverendMr。Strahan，wherehewentsometimesforthebenefitofgoodair，which，notwithstandinghishavingformerlylaughedatthegeneralopinionuponthesubject，henowacknowledgedwasconducivetohealth。
　　Onemorningafterwards，whenIfoundhimalone，hecommunicatedtome，withsolemnearnestness，averyremarkablecircumstancewhichhadhappenedinthecourseofhisillness，whenhewasmuchdistressedbythedropsy。Hehadshuthimselfup，andemployedadayinparticularexercisesofreligion——fasting，humiliation，andprayer。Onasuddenheobtainedextraordinaryrelief，forwhichhelookeduptoHeavenwithgratefuldevotion。Hemadenodirectinferencefromthisfact；butfromhismanneroftellingit，I
　　couldperceivethatitappearedtohimassomethingmorethananincidentinthecommoncourseofevents。Formyownpart，Ihavenodifficultytoavowthatcastofthinking，whichbymanymodernpretenderstowisdomiscalledSUPERSTITIOUS。ButhereIthinkevenmenofdryrationalitymaybelieve，thattherewasanintermediateinterpositionofDivineProvidence，andthat’theferventprayerofthisrighteousman’availed。
　　OnSaturday，May15，IdinedwithhimatDr。Brocklesby’s，wherewereColonelVallancy，Mr。Murphy，andthatever-cheerfulcompanionMr。Devaynes，apothecarytohisMajesty。Ofthesedays，andothersonwhichIsawhim，Ihavenomemorials，exceptthegeneralrecollectionofhisbeingableandanimatedinconversation，andappearingtorelishsocietyasmuchastheyoungestman。Ifindonlythesethreesmallparticulars：——Whenapersonwasmentioned，whosaid，’Ihavelivedfifty-oneyearsinthisworldwithouthavinghadtenminutesofuneasiness；’heexclaimed，’Themanwhosaysso，lies：heattemptstoimposeonhumancredulity。’TheBishopofExeterinvainobserved，thatmenwereverydifferent。
　　HisLordship’smannerwasnotimpressive，andIlearntafterwardsthatJohnsondidnotfindoutthatthepersonwhotalkedtohimwasaPrelate；ifhehad，Idoubtnotthathewouldhavetreatedhimwithmorerespect；foroncetalkingofGeorgePsalmanazar，whomhereverencedforhispiety，hesaid，’IshouldassoonthinkofcontradictingaBISHOP。’Oneofthecompany*provokedhimgreatlybydoingwhathecouldleastofallbear，whichwasquotingsomethingofhisownwriting，againstwhathethenmaintained。
　　’What，Sir，criedthegentleman，doyousayto“Thebusyday，thepeacefulnight，Unfelt，uncounted，glidedby？“’——
　　Johnsonfindinghimselfthuspresentedasgivinganinstanceofamanwhohadlivedwithoutuneasiness，wasmuchoffended，forhelookeduponsuchaquotationasunfair。Hisangerburstoutinanunjustifiableretort，insinuatingthatthegentleman’sremarkwasasallyofebriety；’Sir，thereisonepassionIwouldadviseyoutocommand：whenyouhavedrunkoutthatglass，don’tdrinkanother。’
　　HerewasexemplifiedwhatGoldsmithsaidofhim，withtheaidofaverywittyimagefromoneofCibber’sComedies：’ThereisnoarguingwithJohnson；forifhispistolmissesfire，heknocksyoudownwiththebuttendofit。’Anotherwasthis：whenagentlemanofeminenceintheliteraryworldwasviolentlycensuredforattackingpeoplebyanonymousparagraphsinnews-papers；he，fromthespiritofcontradictionasIthought，tookuphisdefence，andsaid，’Come，come，thisisnotsoterribleacrime；hemeansonlytovexthemalittle。IdonotsaythatIshoulddoit；butthereisagreatdifferencebetweenhimandme；whatisfitforHephaestionisnotfitforAlexander。’Another，whenItoldhimthatayoungandhandsomeCountesshadsaidtome，’IshouldthinkthattobepraisedbyDr。Johnsonwouldmakeoneafoolallone’slife；’andthatIanswered，’Madam，Ishallmakehimafoolto-day，byrepeatingthistohim，’hesaid，’Iamtoooldtobemadeafool；butifyousayIammadeafool，Ishallnotdenyit。Iammuchpleasedwithacompliment，especiallyfromaprettywoman。’
　　*Boswellhimself，likelyenough——HILL。
　　OntheeveningofSaturday，May15，hewasinfinespirits，atourEssex-HeadClub。Hetoldus，’IdinedyesterdayatMrs。Garrick’s，withMrs。Carter，MissHannahMore，andMissFannyBurney。Threesuchwomenarenottobefound：IknownotwhereIcouldfindafourth，exceptMrs。Lennox，whoissuperiourtothemall。’
　　BOSWELL。’What!hadyouthemalltoyourself，Sir？’JOHNSON。’I
　　hadthemallasmuchastheywerehad；butitmighthavebeenbetterhadtherebeenmorecompanythere。’BOSWELL。’MightnotMrs。Montaguhavebeenafourth？’JOHNSON。’Sir，Mrs。Montagudoesnotmakeatradeofherwit；butMrs。Montaguisaveryextraordinarywoman；shehasaconstantstreamofconversation，anditisalwaysimpregnated；ithasalwaysmeaning。’BOSWELL。’Mr。
　　Burkehasaconstantstreamofconversation。’JOHNSON。’Yes，Sir；
　　ifamanweretogobychanceatthesametimewithBurkeunderashed，toshunashower，hewouldsay——“thisisanextraordinaryman。“IfBurkeshouldgointoastabletoseehishorsedrest，theostlerwouldsay——“wehavehadanextraordinarymanhere。“’
　　BOSWELL。’Footewasamanwhoneverfailedinconversation。Ifhehadgoneintoastable——’JOHNSON。’Sir，ifhehadgoneintoastable，theostlerwouldhavesaid，“herehasbeenacomicalfellow“；buthewouldnothaverespectedhim。’BOSWELL。’And，Sir，theostlerwouldhaveansweredhim，wouldhavegivenhimasgoodashebrought，asthecommonsayingis。’JOHNSON。’Yes，Sir；
　　andFootewouldhaveansweredtheostler——WhenBurkedoesnotdescendtobemerry，hisconversationisverysuperiourindeed。
　　Thereisnoproportionbetweenthepowerswhichheshewsinserioustalkandinjocularity。Whenheletshimselfdowntothat，heisinthekennel。’Ihaveinanotherplaceopposed，andIhopewithsuccess，Dr。Johnson’sverysingularanderroneousnotionastoMr。
　　Burke’spleasantry。Mr。Windhamnowsaidlowtome，thathedifferedfromourgreatfriendinthisobservation；forthatMr。
　　Burkewasoftenveryhappyinhismerriment。ItwouldnothavebeenrightforeitherofustohavecontradictedJohnsonatthistime，inaSocietyallofwhomdidnotknowandvalueMr。Burkeasmuchaswedid。Itmighthaveoccasionedsomethingmorerough，andatanyratewouldprobablyhavecheckedtheflowofJohnson’sgood-
　　humour。Hecalledtouswithasuddenairofexultation，asthethoughtstartedintohismind，’O!Gentlemen，Imusttellyouaverygreatthing。TheEmpressofRussiahasorderedtheRamblertobetranslatedintotheRussianlanguage：soIshallbereadonthebanksoftheWolga。HoraceboaststhathisfamewouldextendasfarasthebanksoftheRhone；nowtheWolgaisfartherfrommethantheRhonewasfromHorace。’BOSWELL。’Youmustcertainlybepleasedwiththis，Sir。’JOHNSON。’Iampleased，Sir，tobesure。
　　Amanispleasedtofindhehassucceededinthatwhichhehasendeavouredtodo。’
　　Oneofthecompanymentionedhishavingseenanoblepersondrivinginhiscarriage，andlookingexceedinglywell，notwithstandinghisgreatage。JOHNSON。’Ah，Sir；thatisnothing。Baconobserves，thatastouthealthyoldmanislikeatowerundermined。’
　　OnSunday，May16，Ifoundhimalone；hetalkedofMrs。Thralewithmuchconcern，saying，’Sir，shehasdoneeverythingwrong，sinceThrale’sbridlewasoffherneck；’andwasproceedingtomentionsomecircumstanceswhichhavesincebeenthesubjectofpublickdiscussion，whenhewasinterruptedbythearrivalofDr。Douglas，nowBishopofSalisbury。
　　Inoneofhislittlemanuscriptdiaries，aboutthistime，Ifindashortnotice，whichmarkshisamiabledispositionmorecertainlythanathousandstudieddeclarations——’Afternoonspentcheerfullyandelegantly，IhopewithoutoffencetoGODorman；thoughinnoholyduty，yetinthegeneralexerciseandcultivationofbenevolence。’
　　OnMonday，May17，IdinedwithhimatMr。Dilly’s，wherewereColonelVallancy，theReverendDr。Gibbons，andMr。CapelLofft，who，thoughamostzealousWhig，hasamindsofulloflearningandknowledge，andsomuchexercisedinvariousdepartments，andwithalsomuchliberality，thatthestupendouspowersoftheliteraryGoliath，thoughtheydidnotfrightenthislittleDavidofpopularspirit，couldnotbutexcitehisadmiration。TherewasalsoMr。
　　BraithwaiteofthePost-office，thatamiableandfriendlyman，who，withmodestandunassumingmanners，hasassociatedwithmanyofthewitsoftheage。Johnsonwasveryquiescentto-day。PerhapstooI
　　wasindolent。Ifindnothingmoreofhiminmynotes，butthatwhenImentionedthatIhadseenintheKing’slibrarysixty-threeeditionsofmyfavouriteThomasaKempis，amongstwhichitwasineightlanguages，Latin，German，French，Italian，Spanish，English，Arabick，andArmenian，hesaid，hethoughtitunnecessarytocollectmanyeditionsofabook，whichwereallthesame，exceptastothepaperandprint；hewouldhavetheoriginal，andallthetranslations，andalltheeditionswhichhadanyvariationsinthetext。HeapprovedofthefamouscollectionofeditionsofHoracebyDouglas，mentionedbyPope，whoissaidtohavehadaclosetfilledwiththem；andheadded，everymanshouldtrytocollectonebookinthatmanner，andpresentittoapublicklibrary。’
　　OnWednesday，May19，Isatapartoftheeveningwithhim，byourselves。Iobserved，thatthedeathofourfriendsmightbeaconsolationagainstthefearofourowndissolution，becausewemighthavemorefriendsintheotherworldthaninthis。Heperhapsfeltthisasareflectionuponhisapprehensionastodeath；andsaid，withheat，’HowcanamanknowWHEREhisdepartedfriendsare，orwhethertheywillbehisfriendsintheotherworld？Howmanyfriendshipshaveyouknownformeduponprinciplesofvirtue？Mostfriendshipsareformedbycapriceorbychance，mereconfederaciesinviceorleaguesinfolly。’