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 accomplishments, and, above all, the peculiarity of his mis fortunes recommended him to Johnson's notice. They became united in the closest intimacy. Both had great parts, and they were equally under the pressure of want. Sympathy joined them in a league of friendship. Johnson has been often heard to relate, that he and Savage walked round Grosvenor-square till four in the morning ; in the course of their conversation reforming the world, dethroning princes, establishing new forms of government, and giving laws to the several states of Europe, till, fatigued at length with their legislative office, they began to feel the want of refreshment ; but could not muster up more than four pence halfpenny x. Savage, it is true, had many vices ; but vice could never strike its roots in a mind like Johnson's, seasoned early with religion, and the principles of moral recti tude. His first prayer was composed in the year I738 2. He had not at that time renounced the use of wine 3 ; and, no doubt, occasionally enjoyed his friend and his bottle. The love of late hours, which followed him through life, was, perhaps, originally

1 ' Johnson told Sir Joshua Key- said : ' It used to cost the rest a nolds, that one night in particular, shilling, for they drank wine ; but when Savage and he walked round I had a cut of meat for six-pence, St. James's-square for want of a and bread for a penny, and gave the lodging, they were not at all de- waiter a penny ; so that I was quite pressed by their situation ; but in well served, nay, better than the rest, high spirits and brimful of patriotism, for they gave the waiter nothing.' traversed the square for several Ib. i. 103.

hours, inveighed against the minister, In a marginal note Leigh Hunt

and " resolved they would stand by says : ' Lord Byron, in repeating

their country"* Life, i. 164. In this story, of which he was fond,

Grosvenor Square, when the Thrales used to dwell upon these particular

were living there, he had his own words, "a cut of meat," with great and

room (Ib. iv. 72, n. i), and recalling pleasant gusto.' A Shelf of Old Books >

the old days, thought perhaps how by Mrs. James T. Fields, p. 174. The

' the whirligig of time brings in his price of wine is shown in the follow-

revenge.' ing quotation : ' Her spirits grew

2 Ante, p. 7. very low ; and she was once or twice

3 Boswell, writing of Johnson's going to ring the bell, to send her first visit to London in 1737, says: maid for half a pint of white wine ; 4 He at this time, I beiieve, ab- but checked her inclination, in order stained entirely from fermented to save the little sum of sixpence.' liquors.' Life, i. 103. Amelia, Bk. x. ch. v. 'White wine'

Johnson describing his dinner at is sherry, the Pine Apple, in New Street,

B b 2 contracted

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