On Monday,May 26,I found him at tea,and the celebrated Miss Burney,the authour of Evelina and Cecilia,with him.I asked if there would be any speakers in Parliament,if there were no places to be obtained.JOHNSON.'Yes,Sir.Why do you speak here?
Either to instruct and entertain,which is a benevolent motive;or for distinction,which is a selfish motive.'I mentioned Cecilia.
JOHNSON.(with an air of animated satisfaction,)'Sir,if you talk of Cecilia,talk on.'
We talked of Mr.Barry's exhibition of his pictures.JOHNSON.
'Whatever the hand may have done,the mind has done its part.
There is a grasp of mind there which you find nowhere else.'
I asked whether a man naturally virtuous,or one who has overcome wicked inclinations,is the best.JOHNSON.'Sir,to YOU,the man who has overcome wicked inclinations is not the best.He has more merit to HIMSELF:I would rather trust my money to a man who has no hands,and so a physical impossibility to steal,than to a man of the most honest principles.There is a witty satirical story of Foote.He had a small bust of Garrick placed upon his bureau.
"You may be surprized (said he,)that I allow him to be so near my gold;--but you will observe he has no hands."'
On Friday,May 29,being to set out for Scotland next morning,Ipassed a part of the day with him in more than usual earnestness;as his health was in a more precarious state than at any time when I had parted from him.He,however,was quick and lively,and critical as usual.I mentioned one who was a very learned man.
JOHNSON.'Yes,Sir,he has a great deal of learning;but it never lies straight.There is never one idea by the side of another;'tis all entangled:and their he drives it so aukwardly upon conversation.'
He said,'Get as much force of mind as you can.Live within your income.Always have something saved at the end of the year.Let your imports be more than your exports,and you'll never go far wrong.
I assured him,that in the extensive and various range of his acquaintance there never had been any one who had a more sincere respect and affection for him than I had.He said,'I believe it,Sir.Were I in distress,there is no man to whom I should sooner come than to you.I should like to come and have a cottage in your park,toddle about,live mostly on milk,and be taken care of by Mrs.Boswell.She and I are good friends now;are we not?'
He embraced me,and gave me his blessing,as usual when I was leaving him for any length of time.I walked from his door to-day,with a fearful apprehension of what might happen before I returned.
My anxious apprehensions at parting with him this year,proved to be but too well founded;for not long afterwards he had a dreadful stroke of the palsy,of which there are very full and accurate accounts in letters written by himself,to shew with what composure of mind,and resignation to the Divine Will,his steady piety enabled him to behave.
'TO MR.EDMUND ALLEN.
'DEAR SIR,--It has pleased GOD,this morning,to deprive me of the powers of speech;and as I do not know but that it may be his further good pleasure to deprive me soon of my senses,I request you will on the receipt of this note,come to me,and act for me,as the exigencies of my case may require.I am,sincerely yours,'June 17,1783.'
'SAM.JOHNSON.'
Two days after he wrote thus to Mrs.Thrale:--'On Monday,the 16th,I sat for my picture,and walked a considerable way with little inconvenience.In the afternoon and evening I felt myself light and easy,and began to plan schemes of life.Thus I went to bed,and in a short time waked and sat up,as has been long my custom,when I felt a confusion and indistinctness in my head,which lasted,I suppose,about half a minute.I was alarmed,and prayed God,that however he might afflict my body,he would spare my understanding.This prayer,that I might try the integrity of my faculties,I made in Latin verse.The lines were not very good,but I knew them not to be very good:I made them easily,and concluded myself to be unimpaired in my faculties.
'Soon after I perceived that I had suffered a paralytick stroke,and that my speech was taken from me.I had no pain,and so little dejection in this dreadful state,that I wondered at my own apathy,and considered that perhaps death itself,when it should come,would excite less horrour than seems now to attend it.
'In order to rouse the vocal organs,I took two drams.Wine has been celebrated for the production of eloquence.I put myself into violent motion,and I think repeated it;but all was vain.I then went to bed,and strange as it may seem,I think slept.When I saw light,it was time to contrive what I should do.Though God stopped my speech,he left me my hand;I enjoyed a mercy which was not granted to my dear friend Lawrence,who now perhaps overlooks me as I am writing,and rejoices that I have what he wanted.My first note was necessarily to my servant,who came in talking,and could not immediately comprehend why he should read what I put into his hands.
'I then wrote a card to Mr.Allen,that I might have a discreet friend at hand,to act as occasion should require.In penning this note,I had some difficulty;my hand,I knew not how nor why,made wrong letters.I then wrote to Dr.Taylor to come to me,and bring Dr.Heberden;and I sent to Dr.Brocklesby,who is my neighbour.
My physicians are very friendly,and give me great hopes;but you may imagine my situation.I have so far recovered my vocal powers,as to repeat the Lord's Prayer with no very imperfect articulation.
My memory,I hope,yet remains as it was;but such an attack produces solicitude for the safety of every faculty.'
'TO MR.THOMAS DAVIES.
