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 always, my brother says, agree with him in his notions ; ' but/ said he, ' with all his errors, si non errasset, fecerat ille minus! Speaking of Warburton's contemptuous treatment of some one who presumed to differ from him, I heard him repeat with such glee the coarse expressions in which he had vented this feeling, that there could be no doubt of his hearty approbation x. (Vol. i. p. 108.)

Mrs. Anna Williams I remember as long as I can remember any one. ... I see her now, a pale shrunken old lady, dressed in scarlet 2 made in the handsome French fashion of the time, with a lace cap, with two stiffened projecting wings on the temples, and a black lace hood over it ; her grey or powdered hair ap pearing. Her temper has been recorded as marked with the Welsh fire, and this might be excited by some of the meaner inmates of the upper floors ; but her gentle kindness to me I never shall forget, or think consistent with a bad temper 3. (Vol. i. p. 151.)

What the economy of Dr. Johnson's house might be under his wife's administration, I cannot tell ; but under Miss Williams's management, and, indeed, afterwards, when he was even more at the mercy of those around him, it always exceeded my expecta tion, as far as the condition of the apartment into which I was admitted could enable me to judge. It was not, indeed, his to recollection ; but I saw him only in a decent drawing-room of a house not inferior to others in the same local situation, and with stout old-fashioned mahogany chairs and tables 5. I have said that he was a liberal customer to his tailor, and I can remember that his linen was often a strong contrast to the colour of his hands 6. (Vol. i. p. 208.)

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��JOHNSON. "When I read War- 2 For Hannah More ' all gorgeous

burton first, and observed his force in scarlet ' see Life, iv. 325, n. 2.

and his contempt of mankind, I 3 For Miss Williams's temper see

thought he had driven the world be- ib. iii. 26, 220.

fore him ; but I soon found that was 4 Ante, ii. 87.

not the case ; for Warburton, by ex- 5 Ante, ii. 135.

tending his abuse, rendered it in- 6 Nevertheless Johnson owned that

effectual." ' Life, v. 93. See also he ' had no passion for clean linen.'

ante, i. 381 n. ; ii. 15 n. Ib. i. 397.

In

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