Page:Johnsonian Miscellanies II.djvu/177

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on foot a subscription, and established her in a milliner's shop in the country, where she was living some years ago in very con siderable repute *. (Page 24.)

His last advice to his friends was upon this subject [the re ligious duties], and, like a second Socrates, though under the sentence of death, from his infirmities, their eternal welfare was his principal theme To some he enjoy ned it with tears in his eyes, reminding them, 'it was the dying request of a friend, who had no other way of paying the large obligations he owed them but by this advice 2 .' (Page 1 1 8.)

[The five following anecdotes, attributed to Kearsley by Croker (vol. x. p. 99), are not in my edition of the Life of Johnson published by him.]

The emigration of the Scotch to London being a conversation between the Doctor and Foote, the latter said he believed the number of Scotch in London were as great in the former as the present reign. ' No, Sir ! ' said the Doctor, ' you are certainly wrong in your belief : but I see how you're deceived ; you can't distinguish them now as formerly, for the fellows all come here breeched of late years V

' Pray, Doctor,' said a gentleman to him, * is Mr. Thrale a man of conversation, or is he only wise and silent ? ' ' Why, Sir, his conversation does not show the minute hand ; but he strikes the hour very correctly V

On Johnson's return from Scotland, a particular friend of his was saying, that now he had had a view of the country, he was in hopes it would cure him of many prejudices against that

1 Life, iv. 321. in the Duke of Cumberland's army

2 Ante, ii. 146, 151. had been compelled in part to adopt

3 After the Rebellion of 1745 to the southern garb. When they passed wear the Highland dress was for- in review before him he said : bidden by law. Any one wearing it, * They look very well ; have breeches, 1 not being a landed man, or the son and are the better for that.' Foot- of a landed man,' was, on conviction, steps of Dr. Johnson in Scotland, 'to be delivered over to serve as p. 171.

a soldier.' The loyal Highlanders 4 Ante, i. 423 ; Life, i. 494.

nation

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