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 140 Anecdotes by Miss Hawkins.

whom I thought rather a disgraceful visitor at our house, and who was never mentioned by ladies but with a smile, was to be one day an honour not only to us but to his country.

I remember a tailor's bringing his pattern-book to my brothers, and pointing out a purple, such as no one else wore, as the doctor's usual choice 1. We all shouted with astonishment, at hearing that Polypheme, as, shame to say, we had nicknamed him, ever had a new coat ; but the tailor assured us he was a good customer. (Vol. i. p. 86.)

On the death of Mr. Thrale it was concluded by some that he would marry the widow ; by others that he would entirely take up his residence in her house, which, resembling the situation of many other learned men 2, would have been nothing extraordinary or censurable. The path he would pursue was not evident, when on a sudden he came out again, and sought my father with kind eagerness. Calls were exchanged ; he would now take his tea with us ; and in one of these evening visits, which were the pleasantest periods of my knowledge of him, saying, when taking leave, that he was leaving London, Lady H. said, ' I suppose you are going to Bath ? ' ' Why should you suppose so ? ' said he. ' Because/ said my mother, ' I hear Mrs. Thrale is gone there V to you.' The state of affairs was soon made known. (Vol. i. p. 96.)
 * / know nothing of Mrs. Thrale,' he roared out ; ' good evening

It is greatly to the honour of Johnson that he never ac customed himself ' to descant 4 ' on the ingratitude of mankind, or to comment on the many causes he had to think harshly of the world. He said once to my youngest brother, ' I hate a complainer 5 ; ' this hatred might preserve him from the habit. (Vol. i. p. 97.)

To Warburton's great powers he did full justice. He did not

1 It was a brown coat that he in Bath. Letters, ii. 404, n. 3. usually wore. ' He never deviated 4 ' Descant on mine own infirmity.' from a dark colour.' Life, i. 396 ; Richard III, Act i. sc. I. 1. 27. iii. 54, n. 2, 325. 5 'Sir, I have never complained of

2 Dr. Watts, for instance. Works, the world ; nor do I think that I viii. 383. have reason to complain.' Life, iv.

3 She was married to Mr. Piozzi 116. See also ante, i. 263.

always,

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