indignation, for he swelled to think that his celebrity should not be notorious to every porter in the street. The Archdeacon, he told me, has a sermon upon the nature of moral good and evil, preparing for the press, and should he die before publication, he leaves fifty pounds for that purpose. He said he read some of it to him, but that as he had interrupted him to make some remarks, he hopes never to be troubled with another rehearsal I .
25th. Eddying winds in the forenoon rendered the streets very disagreeable with dust, which was laid in the evening by rain from three. Dined at Mr. Thrale's, where there were ten or more gentlemen, and but one lady besides Mrs. Thrale. The dinner was excellent 2 : first course, soups at head and foot removed by fish and a saddle of mutton ; second course, a fowl they call Galena at head, and a capon larger than some of our Irish turkeys at foot ; third course, four different sorts of Ices, Pineapple, Grape, Raspberry and a fourth ; in each remove, there were I think fourteen dishes. The two first courses were served in massy plate. I sat beside Baretti, which was to me the richest part of the entertainment. He and Mr. and Mrs. Thrale joyn'd in expressing to me Dr. Johnson's concern that he could not give me the meeting that day, but desired that I should go and see him. Baretti was very humourous about his new publication 3 , which he expects to put out next month. He there introduces a dialogue about Ossian, wherein he ridicules the idea of its double translation into Italian, in hopes, he said, of having it abused by the Scots, which would give it an im primatur for a second edition, and he had stipulated for twenty five guineas additional if the first should sell in a given time. He repeated to me upon memory the substance of the letters which passed between Dr. Johnson and Mr. McPherson. The latter tells the Doctor, that neither his age nor infirmity's should protect him if he came in his way. The Doctor responds that
Congreve has been here, I know not. Letters, i. 304. The sermon prob-
He told me he knew not how to find ably was not published ; it is not
me.' Letters^ i. 304. in the British Museum.
1 'He is going to print a sermon, 2 Life, iii. 423, n. I.
but I thought he appeared neither 3 Ib. ii. 449. very acute nor very knowing.'
no
�� �
