��afforded a pretence, and Mr. Murphy brought Johnson to meet him, giving me general cautions not to be surprised at his figure, dress, or behaviour. What I recollect best of the day's talk, was his earnestly recommending Addison's works to Mr. Wood- house as a model for imitation. * Give nights and days, Sir (said he), to the study of Addison, if you mean either to be a good writer, or what is more worth, an honest man.' When I saw something like the same expression in his criticism on that author, lately published z , I put him in mind of his past in junctions to the young poet, to which he replied, ' That he wished the shoemaker might have remembered them as well.' Mr. Johnson liked his new acquaintance so much however, that from that time he dined with us every Thursday through the winter, and in the autumn of the next year he followed us to Brighthelmstone 2 , whence we were gone before his arrival ; so he was disappointed and enraged, and wrote us a letter expressive of anger 3 , which we were very desirous to pacify, and to obtain his company again if possible. Mr. Murphy brought him back to us again very kindly, and from that time his visits grew more frequent, till in the year 1766 his health,
he also much desir'd to see. As sons of Crispin have, to balance a confirmation of this Statement, their account, a not less dispro- this Anecdote is related in the In- portionate catalogue of poets.' Lock- troduction to one of the Folio Edi- hart's Scoff, iii. 90. tions of the Drs. Dictionary; where I 'Whoever wishes to attain an I have seen it, or my Memory English style, familiar but not coarse, greatly deceives me. A close In- and elegant but not ostentatious, timacy having grown up betwixt must give his days and nights to the the Dr. and Mrs. Thrale, I was volumes of Addison.' Works, vii. a second Time invited to dine at her 473. Dr. Beattie wrote to Sir W. Table with the Dr. at which Time Forbes on Sept. 10, 1776, more than the Circumstances took Place which five years before the Life of Addison are recorded in your Remarks on was published, ' If I were to give the Drs. Works.' advice to a young man on the For Johnson's 'contempt of the subject of English style I would notice taken of Woodhouse ' see desire him to read Addison day and Life, ii. 127. 'It is said that the night.' Yorbes'sjBeattte, ed. 1824, p. solitary and meditative generation 237. of cobblers have produced a larger 2 Letters, i. 120. list of murders and other domestic 3 This letter has not been pub- crimes than any other mechanical lished. trade except the butchers ; but the
which
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