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 Anecdotes.

��very early days from dear Mr. Hogarth, whose regard for my father induced him perhaps to take notice of his little girl, and give her some odd particular directions about dress, dancing, and many other matters interesting now only because they were his. As he made all his talents, however, subservient to the great purposes of morality, and the earnest desire he had to mend mankind, his discourse commonly ended in an ethical disserta tion, and a serious charge to me, never to forget his picture of the Lady's last Stake' 1. Of Dr. Johnson, when my father and he were talking together about him one day : That man (says Hogarth) is not contented with believing the Bible, but he fairly resolves, I think, to believe nothing but the Bible. Johnson (added he), though so wise a fellow, is more like king David than king Solomon ; for he says in his haste that all men are liars. This charge, as I afterwards came to know, was but too well founded : Mr. Johnson's incredulity amounted almost to disease 2 , and I have seen it mortify his companions exceedingly. But the truth is, Mr. Thrale had a very powerful influence over the Doctor, and could make him suppress many rough answers : he could likewise prevail on him to change his shirt, his coat, or his plate, almost before it came indispensably necessary to the comfortable feelings of his friends 3 : But as I never had any

This truth was uttered in the face of Hayward's Piozzi, i. 44 ; ii. 309. his own Sigismonda, which is ex- 2 ' He was indeed so much im- actly a maudlin w, tearing off the pressed with the prevalence of false- trinkets that her keeper had given hood, voluntary or unintentional, that her, to fling at his head.' I never knew any person who upon

1 The picture was founded on hearing an extraordinary circum- Colley Gibber's play. Mrs. Thrale, stance told, discovered more of the according to Mr. Hay ward, when a incredulus odi. He would say, with girl of fourteen, sat to Hogarth for a significant look and decisive tone, the Lady in this picture. According " It is not so. Do not tell this to her account he said to her : ' You again." ' Life, iii. 229. are not fourteen years old yet, I 3 According to Boswell, ' by asso- think, but you will be twenty-four, ciating with Mrs. Thrale Johnson's and this portrait will then be like external appearance was much im- you. 'Tis the lady's last stake ; see proved.' Jb. iii. 325. Her state- how she hesitates between her money ment that it was her husband who and her honour. Take you care ; I brought about the change is con- see an ardour for play in your eyes firmed by the two following passages and in your heart ; don't indulge it.' in Johnson's letters to her : * My

VOL. I. R ascendency

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