Page:Johnsonian Miscellanies II.djvu/217

 visited Stourbridge, during his residence at Birmingham, before he removed to London x. (Pages 20, 66.)

Johnson's countenance was not so harsh and rugged as has been misrepresented, and no otherwise disfigured by the King's Evil than its having a scar under one of his jaws, where some humour had been opened, but afterwards healed. And this being only a simple scar, attended with no discoloration, excited no disgust 2. (Page 15.)

His countenance, when in a good humour, was not disagree able. His face clear, his complexion good, and his features not ill-formed, many ladies have thought they might not be unattractive when he was young 3. Much misrepresentation has prevailed on this subject among such as did not personally know him. (Page 49.)

That he had some whimsical peculiarities of the nature described [by Boswell, Life, i. 484], is certainly true ; but there is no reason to believe they proceeded from any superstitious motives, wherein religion was concerned ; they are rather to be ascribed to his ' mental distempers.' (Page 487.)

If Johnson appeared a little unwieldy, it was owing to the defect of his sight, and not from corpulency. (Page 468.)

Johnson was so extremely short-sighted 4, that he had no

1 That this is not likely is shown see so well as I do." I wondered at by a passage in one of his Letters Dr. Percy's venturing thus. Dr. (1.177) where speaking of a proposed Johnson said nothing at the time; visit to Mr. Lyttelton at Hagley, but inflammable particles were col- near Stourbridge, he says : ' I lecting for a cloud to burst. In a should have had the opportunity . . . little while Dr. Percy said something of recalling the images of sixteen more in disparagement of Pennant, and reviewing my conversations with JOHNSON (pointedly). " This is the poor Ford.' See Life, i. 49. He resentment of a narrow mind, be seems to have met Lyttelton at Mr. cause he did not find every thing in Fitzherbert's. Ante, i. 257. Northumberland." PERCY (feeling

2 Life, i. 94. the stroke). " Sir, you may be as

3 Ante, i. 344. rude as you please." JOHNSON.

4 ' PERCY. " But, my good friend, " Hold, Sir ! Don't talk of rudeness ; you are short-sighted, and do not remember, Sir, you told me (puffing

VOL. II. p conception

�� �