Page:Footsteps of Dr. Johnson.djvu/337

Rh for many years gave the laws of elegance to Scotland. She is in full vigour of mind, and not much impaired in form. She is only eighty-three. She was remarking that her marriage was in the year eight; and I told her my birth was in nine. 'Then,' says she, 'I am just old enough to be your mother, and I will take you for my son.' She called Boswell the boy. 'Yes, Madam,' said I, 'we will send him to school.' 'He is already,' said she, 'in a good



school;' and expressed her hope of his improvement. At last night came, and I was sorry to leave her." "She had been," writes Boswell, "the admiration of the gay circles of life, and the patroness of poets." To her Allan Ramsay had dedicated his Gentle Shepherd, and Hamilton of Bangour had addressed verses. With his reception Johnson was delighted, so congenial were their principles in church and state. "In her bed-rooms," says Dr. Robert Chambers, "was hung a portrait of her sovereign de jure, the ill-starred Charles Edward, so situated as to be the first object which met her sight on awaking in the morning." She who