an old friend of his used to say, that in general he thought too well of mankind J .
One day, on seeing an old terrier lie asleep by the fire-side at Streatham, he said. Presto, you are, if possible, a more lazy dog than I am 2 .
Being told that Churchill had abused him under the character of Pomposo, in his Ghost, I always thought, said he, he was a shallow fellow and I think so still 3 .
When some one asked him how he felt at the indifferent reception of his tragedy at Drury-lane ; Like the Monument, said he, and as unshaken as that fabrick 4 .
Being asked by Dr. Lawrence what he thought the best system of education, he replied, School in school-hours, and home-instruction in the intervals 5 .
I would never, said he, desire a young man to neglect his business for the purpose of pursuing his studies, because it is unreasonable ; I would only desire him to read at those hours when he would otherwise be unemployed. I will not promise that he will be a Bentley ; but if he be a lad of any parts, he will certainly make a sensible man 6 .
The picture of him by Sir Joshua Reynolds, which was painted for Mr. Beauclerk, and is now Mr. Langton's, and scraped in
1 f As he was ever one of the most had ; for he has shewn more fertility quick-sighted men I ever knew in than I expected. To be sure, he is discovering the good and amiable a tree that cannot produce good fruit : qualities of others, so was he ever he only bears crabs. But, Sir, a inclined to palliate their defects.' tree that produces a great many Hawkins, p. 50. crabs is better than a tree which
'Reynolds said of Johnson: produces only a few.' Life, 1.418. See
" He was not easily imposed upon also ib. i. 406.
by professions to honesty and can- 4 Ib. i. 199.
dour ; but he appeared to have little 5 See ante, i. 1 6 1, where he op- suspicion of hypocrisy in religion." ' posed the imposition of holiday tasks Taylor's Reynolds, ii. 459. See also by the schoolmaster. For Dr. Law- Life, ii. 236. rence see Life, ii. 296.
2 Ante, i. 189. 6 ' Snatches of reading (said John-
3 'No, Sir, I called the fellow a son) will not make a Bentley or blockhead at first, and I will call a Clarke. They are however in a him a blockhead still. However, I certain degree advantageous.' Ib. will acknowledge that I have a better iv. 21.
opinion of him now, than I once
mezzotinto
�� �
