Page:Johnsonian Miscellanies II.djvu/106

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��>ut he was a great contributor to the mirth of conversation, by the many witty sayings he uttered, and the many excellent \stories which his memory had treasured up, and he would on

>ccasion relate; so that those are greatly mistaken who infer, 'either from the general tendency of his writings, or that appear ance of hebetude which marked his countenance when living, and is discernible in the pictures and prints of him, that he

In the talent of humour there hardly ever was his equal 1 ,
 * ould only reason and discuss, dictate and controul.

���1 Ante,i.4$2. The following extract is from a letter which I received from the late Master of Balliol College, dated West Malvern, Dec. 30, 1883 : Boswell has unconsciously misrepre sented Johnson in any respect. I think, judging from the materials which are supplied chiefly by himself,
 * It is a curious question whether

hat in one respect he has : He has represented him more as a sage and

hilosopher in his conduct as well as

is conversation than he really was, and less as a rollicking " King of Society." The gravity of Johnson's own writings tends to confirm this,

s, I suspect, erroneous impression. His religion was fitful and inter mittent, and when once the ice was broken he enjoyed Jack Wilkes, though he refused to shake hands with Hume. I was much struck by a remark of Sir John Hawkins (ex cuse me if I have mentioned this to you before), " He was the most humorous man I ever knew." ... I shall be most happy to talk about the subject when you return to England ; e/zot TTfpi ScoKpdrovs flneiv re Km aKovaai del fj8i(TTov.'

Though Boswell does not fully bring out in his narrative this hu- orous side of Johnson, yet in the

haracter which he draws of him at the end of the Life he does not pass over. ' Though usually grave, and

��even aweful in his deportment, he possessed uncommon and peculiar powers of wit and humour ; he fre quently indulged himself in colloquial pleasantry ; and the heartiest merri ment was often enjoyed in his com pany.' Life, iv. 428.

Boswell asked Miss Burney to give him material ' to shew Johnson in a new light. Grave Sam, and great Sam, and solemn Sam, and learned Sam all these he has appeared over and over. I want to show him as gay Sam, agreeable Sam, pleasant Sam.' Mme. D'Arblay's Diary, v. [67. It is in her Diary that he is

ms best shown. It abounds in such

ssages as the following :

' At night, Mrs. Thrale asked if I would have anything ? I answered, " No ; " but Dr. Johnson said,

1 " Yes : she is used, madam, to suppers ; she would like an egg or two, and a few slices of ham, or a rasher a rasher, I believe, would please her better."

' How ridiculous ! However, nothing could persuade Mrs. Thrale not to have the cloth laid : and Dr. Johnson was so facetious, that he challenged Mr. Thrale to get drunk !

' " I wish," said he, " my master would say to me, Johnson, if you will oblige me, you will call for a bottle of Toulon, and then we will set to it, glass for glass, till it is done; and

except

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