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 454 Essay on

��saw a constant succession of well -accomplished visitors. In that

society he began to wear off the rugged points of his own

character. He saw the advantages of mutual civility, and

endeavoured to profit by the models before him x. He aimed at

what has been called by Swift the lesser morals, and by Cicero

minor es virttttes 2. His endeavour, though new and late, gave

/ pleasure to all his acquaintance. Men were glad to see that he

\ was willing to be communicative on equal terms and reciprocal

complacence. The time was then expected when he was to

cease being what George Garrick, brother to the celebrated

actor, called him the first time he heard him converse,

>A TREMENDOUS COMPANION 3 .' He certainly wished to be

f polite, and even thought himself so 4 ; but his civility still

Vetained something uncouth and harsh. His manners took

a^ milder tone, but the endeavour was too palpably seen. He

laboured even in trifles 5. He was a giant gaining a purchase^

to lift a feather.

It is observed by the younger Pliny, that in the confines of virtue and great qualities there are generally vices of an opposite nature. In Dr. Johnson not one ingredient can take the name of vice. From his attainments in literature grew the pride

1 Life, i. 495 ; iii. 325; ante, p. 318. died two days after his brother's

2 'Those inferiour duties of life, funeral. His first question on his which the French call les petites entering the theatre after a temporary morales, or the smaller morals, are absence was invariably, " Has my with us distinguished by the name of brother wanted me?" Old Charles good manners or breeding.' Swift, Bannister, with a sort of tender Tatler, No. 20. pleasantry, when he heard of his

' Great talents and great virtues (if death said, " His brother wanted

you should have them) will procure him." ' Garrick Carres., vol. i. Pre-

you the respect and the admiration face, p. 62.

of mankind ; but it is the lesser 4 ' " Sir, I look upon myself as a

talents, the leniores virtutes, which very polite man ; " and he was right

must procure you their love and in a proper manly sense of the

affection.' Chesterfield's Letters, ii. word.' Life, v. 363. See also ib. iii.

304. 337, and ante, p. 168.

4 To kinder skies, where gentler 5 ' It appears to me that I labour

manners reign, when I say a good thing.' Ib. v.

I turn.' The Traveller, 1. 239. 76.

3 Life, iii. 139. George Garrick had 6 Purchase used in this sense is been Johnson's pupil. Ib. i. 97. ' He not in Johnson's Dictionary.

of

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