slightest intimation of it. For having written a minute descrip tion of his Figure, from his wig to his slippers, a thought occurred that it might probably excite some person to delineate it, and I might have the mortification of seeing it hung up at a Print- shop as the greatest curiosity ever exhibited.
His best dress was, at that time, so very mean, that one after noon as he was following some ladies up stairs, on a visit to a lady of fashion *, the Housemaid, not knowing him, suddenly seized him by the shoulder, and exclaimed, ' Where are you going ? ' striving at the same time to drag him back ; but a gentleman who was a few steps behind prevented her from doing / or saying more, and Mr. Johnson growled all the way up stairs, V as well he might. He seemed much chagrined and apparently disposed to revenge the insult of the maid upon the mistress. Unluckily, whilst in this humour, a lady of high rank 2 happening to call on Miss Cotterel, he was much offended with her for not introducing him to her Ladyship, at least not in the manner he liked, and still more for her seeming to shew more attention to this Lady than to him. After sitting some time silent, meditating how to down 3 Miss C., he address'd himself to Mr. Reynolds, who sat next him, and, after a few introductory words, with a loud voice said, * I wonder which of us two could get most money by his trade in one week, were we to work hard at it from morning till night.' I don't remember the answer ; but I know that the lady, rising soon after, went away without knowing what trade they were of. She might probably suspect Mr. Johnson to be a poor author by his dress, and because neither a Porter, a Chair man, or a blacksmith, Trades much more suitable to his apparent abilities, were not quite so suitable to the place she saw him in. This incident Dr. Johnson used to mention with great glee how he had downed Miss C., though at the same time he professed a great friendship and esteem for that lady.
1 Miss Cotterell. Life, i. 246. Duchess of Argyle.
See ib. n. 2 for Northcote's version 3 Johnson talking of Robertson
of this story. said : ' I downed him with the King
2 Lady Fitzroy. Miss REYNOLDS. of Prussia.' Ib. iii. 335. He wrote According to the account Sir Joshua to Mrs. Thrale : ' Long live Mrs. gave to Boswell there were two ladies G that downs my mistress.' Letter s y of high rank, one of whom was the ii. 73. See also ante, i. 169.
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