loud) and suddenly turned away from them both. S Though Mr. Johnson had but little reverence either for talents or fortune, when he found them unsupported by virtue; yet it was sufficient to tell him a s man was very pious, or very charitable, and he would at least begin with him on good terms, however the conversation might end. He would, sometimes too, good-naturedly enter into a long chat for the inftruction or entertainment of people he despised. I perfectly recollect his condescending to delight my daughter's dancing-master with a long argument about his art; which the man protested, at the close of the discourse, the Doctor knew more of than himself; who remained astonished, enlightened, and amused by the talk of a perfon little likely to make a good disquifition upon dancing. I have sometimes indeed been rather pleased than vexed when Mr. Johnfon has given a rough answer to a man who perhaps deserved one 'only half as rough, because I knew he would repent of his hasty reproof, and make us all amends by some conversation at once instructive and entertaining, as in the following cafes: A young fellow asked him abruptly one day, Pray, Sir, what and where is Palmira? I heard somebody talk last night of the ruins of Palmira. " 'Tis a hill in Ireland (replies Johnson), with palms growing on the top, and a bog at the bottom, and fo they call it Palm-mira." Seeing however that the lad thought him serious, and thanked him for the information, he undeceived him very gently indeed; told him the history, geography, and chronology of Tadmor in the wilderness, with every incident that literature could furnish I think, or eloquence express, from the building of Solomon's palace to the voyage of Dawkins and Wood. On another occafion, when he was muling over the fire in our drawingroom at Streatham, a young gentleman called to him fuddenly, and I suppose he thought disrespectfully, in these words: Mr. Johnson, Would you advife me to marry? " I would advise no man to marry, Sir (returns for answer in a very angry tone Dr. Johnson), who is not likely to propagate understanding;" and fo left the room. Our companion looked confounded, and I believe had scarce recovered the consciousness of his own existence, when Johnson came back, and drawing his chair among us, with altered looks and a foftened voice, joined in the general chat, insensibly led the conversation to the fubject of marriage, where he laid himself out in a differta-, tion so useful, fo elegant, fo founded on the true knowledge of human life, and fo adorned with beauty of sentiment, that no one ever recollected the offence, except to rejoice in its consequences. H He repented just as certainly however, if he had been led to praise any person or thing by accident more than he thought it deserved; and was on such occasions comically earnest to destroy the praise or pleasure he had unintentionally given. Sir Joshua Reynolds mentioned fome picture as excellent. "It has often grieved me, Sir (faid Mr. Johnson), to fee so much mind as the science of painting requires, laid out upon such perifhable materials: why do not you oftener make use of copper? I could wish your fuperiority in the art you profess, to be preserved in stuff more durable than canvas." Sir Joshua urged the difficulty of procuring a plate large enough for historical subjects, and was going to raise further observations: " What foppish obstacles are these! (exclaims on a fudden Dr. Johnson :) Here is Thrale has a thousand tun of copper; you may paint it all round if you will, I suppose; it will serve him to brew in afterwards: Will it not, Sir?" (to my husband who fat by.) Indeed Dr. Johnson's utter scorn of painting was fuch, that I have heard him say, that he should fit very quietly in a room hung round with the works of the greatest masters, and never feel the flightest difposition to turn them if their backs were outermoft, unless it might be for the fake of telling Sir Joshua that he had turned them. Such speeches may appear offensive to many, but those who knew he was too blind to difcern the perfections of an art which applies itself immediately to our eye-fight, must acknowledge he was not in the wrong. |