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 parlour. Sir John soon followed us, and said he had been speaking about his will 1. Sir John started the idea of pro posing to him to make it on the spot ; that Sir John should dictate it, and that I should write it. He went up to propose it, and soon came down with the Doctor's acceptance. The will was then begun ; but before we proceeded far, it being necessary, on account of some alteration, to begin again, Sir John asked the Doctor whether he would choose to make any introductory declaration respecting his faith. The Doctor said he would. Sir John further asked if he would make any declaration of his being of the church of England : to which the Doctor said ' No ! ' but, taking a pen, he wrote on a paper the following words, which he delivered to Sir John, desiring him to keep it : ' I commit to the infinite mercies of Almighty God my soul, polluted 2 with many sins ; but purified, I trust, with re pentance and the death of Jesus Christ.' While he was at Mr. Strahan's, Dr. Brocklesby came in, and Dr. Johnson put the question to him, whether he thought he could live six weeks ? to which Dr. Brocklesby returned a very doubtful answer 3, and soon left us. After dinner the will was finished, and about six we came to town in Sir John Hawkins's carriage ; Sir John, Dr. Johnson, Mr. Ryland 4 (who came in after dinner), and myself. The Doctor appeared much better in the way home, and talked pretty cheerfully 5. Sir John took leave of us at the end of Bolt Court, and Mr. Ryland and myself went to his house with the Doctor, who began to grow very ill again. Mr. Ryland soon left us, and I remained with the Doctor till Mr. Sastres 6 came in. We stayed with him about an hour, when we left him on his saying he had some business to do. Mr. Sastres and myself went together homewards, discoursing

��1 Ante, ii. 124. ' Pope polluted his will with female

2 Life, iv. 404, 440. To the in- resentment.' Ib. viii. 307. stances given there of the use of 3 Ante, ii. 122; Life, iv. 415. polluted I would add the following 4 Letters, i. 56.

by Johnson. '"Pollute his canvas 5 ' In the way thither he appeared

with deformity.' Ib. i. 330. ' Dryden much at ease, and told stories.'

seldom pollutes his page with an Ante, ii. 126.

adverse name.' Works, vii. 294. 6 Ante, i. 292.

on

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