��knowledge of the virtues and amiable qualities of that excellent artist T . He delighted in the conversation of Mr. Burke 2 . He met him for the first time at Mr. Garrick's several years ago. On the next day he said, ' I suppose, Murphy, you are proud of your countryman. CUM TALIS SIT UTINAM NOSTER ESSEX ! ' From that time his constant observation was, ' That a man of sense could not meet Mr. Burke by accident, under a gateway to avoid a shower, without being convinced that he was the first man in England V Johnson felt not only kindness, but zeal and ardour for his friends 4 . He did every thing in his power to advance the reputation of Dr. Goldsmith. He loved him. though he knew his failings, and particularly the leaven of envy which corroded the mind of that elegant writer, and made him im patient, without disguise, of the praises bestowed on any person whatever 5 . Of this infirmity, which marked Goldsmith's char acter, Johnson gave a remarkable instance. It happened that he went with Sir Joshua Reynolds and Goldsmith to see the Fantoccini, which were exhibited some years ago in or near the Haymarket. They admired the curious mechanism by which the puppets were made to walk the stage, draw a chair to the
1 'Sir Joshua Reynolds,' writes 2 He praised its 'affluence.' Ib.
Boswell, 'was truly his duke decus? ii. 181. ' His stream of mind is per-
Life, i. 244. Sir Pearce Edgcumbe petual.' Ib. ii. 450. ' Burke is the
of Somerleigh Court, Dorchester, the only man whose common conversation
great-grandson of Sir Joshua's sister corresponds with the general fame
Mary, has pointed out to me how which he has in the world. Take up
many of the great painter's relations whatever topic you please, he is ready
were University men. On the paternal to meet you.' Ib. iv. 19. 'His talk
side, his grandfather was a B.A. of is the ebullition of his mind ; he does
Exeter ; his father a Fellow of Balliol ; not talk from a desire of distinction,
his uncle Joshua a Fellow of Corpus ; but because his mind is full.' Ib. iv.
and his cousin William a Fellow of 167. ' He is never what we call
Exeter, Oxford ; while his uncle John hum-drum ; never unwilling to begin
was a Fellow of King's College, to talk, nor in haste to leave off.'
Cambridge, and of Eton College. Ib. v. 33.
His mother's grandfather, the Rev. 3 ' If a man were to go by chance
Thomas Baker, an eminent mathe- at the same time with Burke under
matician, was a Scholar of Wadham. a shed to shun a shower, he would
This connection with the two uni- say "this is an extraordinary man." '
versities, especially with Oxford, Ib. iv. 275. See also ib. v. 34, and
would have endeared him all the ante, p. 290. 4 Ante, p. 279.
more to Johnson. 5 Life, i. 4U J 260; iii. 271.
table,
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