Page:Johnsonian Miscellanies I.djvu/312

 294 Anecdotes.

��sumptive : * I think (said Mr. Johnson when he heard the news), I am afraid, I should have been more concerned for the death of

the dog : but (hesitating a while) I am not wrong now in all

this, for the dog acted up to his character on every occasion that we know ; but that dunce of a fellow helped forward the general disgrace of humanity.' Why dear Sir (said I), how odd you are ! you have often said the lad was not capable of receiving further instruction. * He was (replied the Doctor) like a corked bottle, with a drop of dirty water in it, to be sure ; one might pump upon it for ever without the smallest effect ; but when every method to open and clean it had been tried, you would not have me grieve that the bottle was broke at last.'

This was the same youth who told us he had been reading Lucius Florus ; Flortis Delphini was the phrase ; and my mother (said he) thought it had something to do with Delphos : but of that I know nothing x. Who founded Rome then (enquired Mr. Thrale) ? The lad replied, Romulus. And who succeeded Romulus (said I) ? A long pause, and apparently distressful hesitation, followed the difficult question. * Why will you ask him in terms that he does not comprehend (said Mr. Johnson enraged) ? You might as well bid him tell you who phlebotom ised Romulus. This fellow's dulness is elastic (continued he), and all we do is but like kicking at a woolsack.'

The pains he took however to obtain the young man more patient instructors, were many, and oftentimes repeated. He was put under the care of a clergyman in a distant province 2 ; and Mr. Johnson used both to write and talk to his friend con cerning his education. It was on that occasion that I remember his saying, ' A boy should never be sent to Eton or Westminster school before he is twelve years old at least ; for if in his years of babyhood he 'scapes that general and transcendent 3 know-

1 The youth had been reading the Letters, i. 157.

edition of Florus ' In Usum Serenis- 3 Perhaps he said transcendental,

simi Delphini.' of which in his Dictionary he gives

2 He was perhaps the pupil about as the first definition: General, whom Johnson wrote to the Master pervading many particulars.

of Abingdon Grammar School.

ledge

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