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never get a system. What is said upon a subject is to be gathered from a hundred people. parts of a truth, which a man gets thus, are at such a distance from each other that he never attains to a full view."

LETTER 210. TO BENNET LANGTON, ESQ.

66 April 17. 1775. "DEAR SIR,—I have inquired more minutely about the medicine for the rheumatism, which I am sorry to hear that you still want. The receipt is this:

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"Take equal quantities of flour of sulphur, and flour of mustard-seed, make them an electuary with honey or treacle; and take a bolus as big as a nutmeg several times a day, as you can bear it; drinking after it a quarter of a pint of the infusion of the root of lovage. 66 Lovage, in Ray's Nomenclature,' is levisticum: perhaps the botanists may know the Latin name. this medicine I pretend not to judge. There is all the Of appearance of its efficacy, which a single instance can afford the patient was very old, the pain very violent, and the relief, I think, speedy and lasting.

"My opinion of alterative medicine is not high, but quid tentasse nocebit? if it does harm, or does no good, may be omitted; but that it may do good, you have, I hope, reason to think is desired by, Sir, your most affectionate, humble servant,

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"SAM. JOHNSON."

CHAPTER X.

1775.

Dinner at Owen Cambridge's.
S.- Female
Painters. "Good-humoured Fellows."

Flattery.

SAL

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History. Early
Richard

Walton's "Lives."
Habits. "The Beggar's Opera."

Brinsley Sheridan. de Coverley.

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· Modern Politics. Sir Roger

Visit to Bedlam.

ations. Gray's Letters.

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Alchymy.

Sunday ConsultJohnson's Laugh. Letters to Langton, Mrs. Thrale, &c.Ramble into the Middle Counties.—Tour to France.

ON Tuesday, April 18., he and I were engaged to go with Sir Joshua Reynolds to dine with Mr. Cambridge, at his beautiful villa on the banks of the Thames, near Twickenham. Dr. Johnson's tardiness was such, that Sir Joshua, who had an appointment at Richmond early in the day, was obliged to go by himself on horseback, leaving his coach to Johnson and me. Johnson was in such good spirits, that every thing seemed to please him as we drove along.

Our conversation turned on a variety of subjects. He thought portrait-painting an improper employment for a woman. (1) "Public practice of any

(1) This topic was probably suggested to them by Miss Reynolds, who practised that art; and we shall see that one of the last occupations of Johnson's life was to sit for his picture to that lady.

C.

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art," he observed, "and staring in men's faces, is very indelicate in a female." I happened to start a question, whether when a man knows that some of his intimate friends are invited to the house of another friend, with whom they are all equally intimate, he may join them without an invitation. JOHNSON. "No, Sir; he is not to go when he is not invited. They may be invited on purpose to abuse him,” smiling.

As a curious instance how little a man knows, or wishes to know, his own character in the world, or rather as a convincing proof that Johnson's roughness was only external, and did not proceed from his heart, I insert the following dialogue. JOHNSON. "It is wonderful, Sir, how rare a quality good humour is in life. We meet with very few goodhumoured men." I mentioned four of our friends, none of whom he would allow to be good-humoured. One was acid, another was muddy, and to others he had objections which have escaped me. Then shaking his head and stretching himself at eas t the coach, and smiling with much complacency, ne turned to me and said, "I look upon myself as a good-humoured fellow." The epithet fellow, applied to the great lexicographer, the stately moralist, the masterly critic, as if it had been Sam Johnson, a mere pleasant companion, was highly diverting; and this light notion of himself struck me with wonder. I answered, also smiling, "No, no, Sir; that will not do. You are good-natured, but not good-humoured; you are irascible. You have not patience with folly and absurdity. I believe you

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