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 happiness. Take not from me, O Lord, thy Holy Spirit, but let me have support and comfort for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

Transc. June 26, 1768. Of this prayer there is no date, nor can I conjecture when it was composed x.

74. STUDY OF TONGUES.

Almighty God, giver of all knowledge, enable me so to pursue the study of tongues, that I may promote thy glory and my own. salvation.

Bless my endeavours, as shall seem best unto Thee ; and if it shall please Thee to grant me the attainment of my purpose, preserve me from sinful pride ; take not thy Holy Spirit from me, but give me a pure heart and humble mind, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Of this Prayer there is no date, nor can I tell when it was written ; but I think it was in Gough-square, after the Dictionary was ended 2. I did not study what I then intended.

Transcribed June 26, 1768.

75.

July 26, 1768. I shaved my nail by accident in whetting the knife, about an eighth of an inch from the bottom, and about a fourth from the top. This I measure that I may know the growth of nails ; the whole is about five eighths of an inch 3.

76.

Sept. 1 8, 1768, at night.

Townmalling, in Kent*.

I have now begun the sixtieth year of my life. How the last year has past I am unwilling to terrify myself with thinking.

1 Croker's.&me/^ed. i844,x. 130. Brooke, 'an eminent attorney-at-

2 This prayer is not in the Pern- law.' ' His house,' Johnson wrote, broke College MSS. See Ante, ' is one of my favourite places. His p. 17, for his prayer ' on the Study water is very commodious, and the of Philosophy as an Instrument of whole place has the true appearance Living,' made after the Dictionary of a little country town.' Letters, ii. was ended. 23. ' His water ' was, no doubt, ' the

3 Life, iii. 398. square canals which drop into one

4 He was staying with Mr. Francis another.' Ib. n. 2.

This

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